Category Archives: dvandva

Bhagavad Gita Verse 27, Chapter 7

24 Sunday Jun 2012

Posted by in 7.27, bhaarata, chapter 7 verse 27, dvandva, dvesha, ichchaa, mohena, parantapa, sammoham, samutthena, sarge, sarvabhootani, yaanti

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ichchaadveshasamutthena dvandvamohena bhaarata |
sarvabhootani sammoham sarge yaanti parantapa || 27 ||
 
O Bhaarata, ever since the creation (of this world), all beings attain ignorance by the delusion born of duality, O Arjuna.
 
ichchaa : desire
dvesha : hatred
samutthena : born of
dvandva : duality
mohena : delusion
bhaarata : O Bhaarata
sarvabhootani : all beings
sammoham : deluded
sarge : creation
yaanti : attain
parantapa : O Parantapa
 
If someone says “I love my job” or “I love to go to this city” we have no doubt in understanding that there is satisfaction in that emotion of loving something. But if someone says “I hate my boss”, we may not admit it but there is satisfaction in expressing hatred as well. It is next to impossible for our mind to think of anything without a tinge of love or hate.
 
Shri Krishna says that the moment we are born, we are cast into this double or dualistic thinking. We can never think an integrated, holistic thought because we are forced to think is terms of likes and dislikes. We run after a certain object because we like it so much and cannot live without it. We finally acquire it. But once that happens, that we begin to dislike that very object that we could not live without. Ultimately every such pursuit results in sorrow.
 
So therefore, how do we get rid of our likes and dislikes, and begin to think holistically? Karma yoga is the answer. By relentlessly performing actions for the service of a higher ideal, we eliminate likes and dislikes to a great extent. Every sense organ has a like and dislike for its respective objects. That is an undeniable truth. But whether or not we fuel these likes and dislikes is up to us. Breaking away from the clutches of the sense organs prepares us for piercing the screen of maaya.
 
Now, if we summarize the shlokas so far, we have the entire problem laid in front of us. Maaya caused by our dualistic disposition blocks us, prevents us from accessing the true nature of Ishvara. Unless we gain this access, we are trapped in samsaara or earthly existence. What should we now do?

Bhagavad Gita Verse 22, Chapter 4

12 Sunday Feb 2012

Posted by in 4.22, api, asiddhau, ateetaha, cha, chapter 4 verse 22, dvandva, kritvaa, laabha, matsaraha, na, nibhadyate, samaha, santushtah, siddhau, vi, yadriccha

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yadricchaalaabhasantushto dvandvaateeto vimatsaraha |
samaha sidhhavasidhhau cha kritvaapi na nibhadyate || 22 ||

Content in whatever comes of its own accord, transcending duality, free from envy, balanced in success and in failure, (he) is not bound even when performing actions.

yadricchaa-laabha-santushtaha : content in what comes of its own accord
dvandva-ateetaha : transcending duality
vimatsaraha : free from envy
samaha : balanced
sidhhau : in success
asidhhau : in failure
cha : and
kritvaa : performing actions
api : even when
na : not
nibhadyate : bound

While progressing in our project, we may encounter several situations, some of which we expected and some that we did not. Shri Krishna guides us on how to deal with these situations in this shloka.

By definition, karma yoga inspires us to work relentlessly. The output of our project may be sometimes favourable, and sometimes not. The follower of karma yoga knows that he is one of the many variables that determine the output of his work, and is therefore content with whatever comes his way. He does not let unfavourable outcomes impact his level of work. This is the “prasaada buddhi” that we say earlier.

Favourable and unfavourable, success and failure, heat and cold, praise and criticism – this is duality. It arises because our minds tends to label one aspect of nature as positive, and reject the other as negative. But the follower of karma yoga knows that nothing is absolutely good or bad. It is all part of Ishvaraa and therefore remains equanimous. This is nothing but “samatva buddhi”.

Our mind has a natural tendency to compare ourselves with others like us. If it perceives us “better” than others, it generates pride. If it perceives us “inferior” to others, it generates envy. The follower of karma yoga knows that ultimately we are all part of the same higher ideal – Ishvaraa. Any envy generated in the mind only strengthens the ego. So he never lets envy distract him  from his work. It is a quality that he does not encourage.

So the refrain here is that such a follower of karma yoga will continue to perform actions in this world, yet remain unattached because he never lets external situations destabilize his equanimity.