Just by doing that, one will be free

Karma Yoga

Chapter 3, Verse 34

 

indriyasyendriyasyārthe 

rāga-dveṣau vyavasthitau 

tayor-na vaśam āgacchet 

tau hyasya paripanthinau

 

Attachment and aversion for sense objects abide in the sense-organs; let none come under their sway for they are the obstacles of the soul in its path.

 

Krishna tells Arjuna, “Don’t go into the game of the senses! Don’t let yourself be attracted or repulsed by anything.” Whatever one comes into contact with, there is always a certain attraction to it or a certain repulsion from it. These are all games of the sense objects. If one gives way to this game, one gets trapped! If you let go of attraction and repulsion and have them under control, if you see the oneness in all, you will attain the supreme bliss. 

 

“Let none come under their sway, for they are the obstacles of the soul in its path.” When you go into the game of judgement, it becomes a big obstacle to Self-Realisation. When you start judging others, you think you are judging others, but in reality you are judging yourself! Christ says that the fault that you see in others, is indeed inside of you. This means that the fault which you see in other people, the judgement which you project onto the outside, is actually a judgement of yourself. This is a big obstacle on the path to your Self. This will make you suffer. 

 

These two impulses of attraction and repulsion sometimes appear in a very friendly way, especially on the spiritual path. When one goes into this game, it quietly enters the mind and the mind starts judging. Who judges the most? Spiritual people judge a lot! They think that they are better. They think that they know best. They are proud of their knowledge, proud of their way. They consider everybody else as sinners and themselves as the best. But this is already the corruption of the mind. Here Krishna says, “Don’t go into this game! Be alert and be vigilant! Don’t let yourself go into the game of judging, because by doing that, you are tempted. Be aware that there is no judgement in whatever you do.”

 

Here Krishna emphasises that the evil which is described in the scriptures comes from attraction and aversion. On the other hand, normal deeds, inspired by faith and devotion, make one strong, make one renounce all evil deeds, make one free. Letting go of vices, which are cherished in the heart, one should devote oneself to God, devote oneself to devotional practices, by keeping the mind focused on the Divine. If one does such an action, it will only bear good deeds. Even if someone is in the world outside and can’t let go of the world, but the mind, from time to time, runs to the Divine – for even five minutes a day – just by doing that, one will be free!

Bhagavad Gita