Verse 64
Raagadwesha viyuktaistu
Vishayaanindriyaishcharan;
Aatmavashyair vidheyaatmaa
Prasaadamadhigacchati.
But the self-controlled
man,
moving amongst objects
with the senses under restraint,
and free from attraction
and repulsion,
attains to peace.
In
the last shloka, Shri Krishna explained the “ladder of fall”, or how constant
thinking about material objects leads to a fall from equanimity. In this verse,
He explains the exact opposite scenario, where bringing the senses and the mind
under control brings us to a state of happiness. Here’s the sequence of events:
Bring senses and
mind under control à one becomes devoid of attraction and revulsion
à he can experience the material world without
any problem à his mind becomes tranquil à his intellect becomes steady à he has no more sorrow à he attains the state of happiness.
Attachment
and aversion are two sides of the same coin. Aversion is nothing but negative
attachment. Just as, in attachment, the object of attachment repeatedly comes
to one’s mind; similarly, in aversion, the object of hatred keeps popping into
the mind.
When
the mind is free from both attachment and aversion, uses only the intellect for
any action outward and is inwardly absorbed in devotion to God / contemplation
on the SELF, one receives the grace of God and experiences unlimited divine love
/ bliss of SELF.
On
experiencing that higher taste, the mind no longer feels attracted to the sense
objects, even while using them. Thus, even while tasting, touching, smelling,
hearing, and seeing, like all of us, the sthithaprajña is
free from both attachment and aversion.
The jñānīs who propound the worship of the
undifferentiated attributeless Brahman do not
understand this point when they recommend giving up all attachments. However,
Shri Krishna states: “Those who attach their minds to me with unadulterated
devotion rise above the three modes of material nature and attain the level of
the supreme Brahman.” (Bhagavad Gita 14.26)
Swami
Sivananda writes on a Jivan mukta, thus:
"The
sage lives forever. He has attained life everlasting. Cravings
torture him not. Sins stain him not. Birth and death touch him not.
Pains and tribulations torment him not.
The
Jivanmukta is freed from the trammels of mind and matter. He is absolutely
free, perfect, independent. He is absolutely free from hatred, lust,
cares, worries, and anxieties.
There,
at the summit of the Hill of Eternal Bliss, you can see now the Jivanmukta or a
full-blown Yogi. He has climbed the stupendous heights through intense and
constant struggle.
He
did profound Nididhyasana or meditation. He spent sleepless nights. He kept
long vigils on several halting stages. He persevered with patience and
diligence. He has surmounted many obstacles. He conquered despair, gloom, and
depression. "
Love.
