The forteenth in a series of talks by Swami Nirmalananda Giri (Abbot George Burke) on the Bhagavad Gita, India’s most famous scripture: the unforgettable dialog between Sri Krishna and Arjuna about the essence of spiritual life.
In this talk, starting with Chapter 3:36, Swamiji discusses the Hindu concept of sin (papam–wrong-doing), and the nature of desire and anger as the prime obstacles in spiritual life. He also includes a story about Paramhansa Yogananda plus other aspects of Krishna’a teachings in the Gita.
Here are the Gita verses (3:36–3:37) covered in this talk:
Arjuna said:
Then by what is a man impelled
To commit evil, Varshneya,9
Seemingly against his own will,
As if urged thereunto by force? (36)
The Holy Lord said:
It is desire, it is anger,
That’s born of the rajo-guna:
Of great craving, and of great sin;
Know that to be the enemy. (37)
Here is a summary of the Gita Talk on The Dangers of Desire and Anger
- Question of Wrongdoing: Arjuna asks Krishna what compels a person to act wrongly even when they know it’s against their will. Krishna explains that this isn’t caused by external forces like evil spirits, but by internal forces within oneself.
- Sin and Demerit: The concept of ‘papa’ (sin or demerit) is discussed, not as an act of evil but as a failure to meet one’s true potential or duty, akin to falling short of a mark.
- Internal Forces – Rajo Guna:
- The talk delves into the Rajo guna, which is characterized by activity, compulsion, and desire. This mode of energy can both drive positive action and lead to negative behaviors when unchecked.
- Two Faces of Rajo Guna:
- Desire (Kama): An intense craving for something, often leading one away from their higher nature.
- Anger (Krodha): Described as aversion, which can prevent one from doing what is beneficial or necessary.
- Addiction as an Example: Addicts are used as an example where desire has grown to control the individual, illustrating how internal forces can dominate one’s actions against their better judgment.
- The Erosive Nature of Desire: Desire is likened to a fire that consumes one’s conscience, awareness, and moral sense, leading to spiritual amnesia where one forgets their true self.
- Consequences of Uncontrolled Desire: Uncontrolled desires can lead to a person becoming unrecognizable from their former self, losing their higher qualities and turning into “a heap of ashes” or a mere shadow of who they once were.
- Self-Identification with Desires: The danger of identifying too closely with one’s desires, believing them to be an inherent part of one’s nature, which leads to not challenging or overcoming them.
- Krishna’s Role: Krishna, as an incarnation of Vishnu, embodies mercy but also emphasizes personal responsibility over fate. One’s destiny is shaped by choices, not merely by external or divine forces.
- Karma and Destiny: The talk concludes with a reflection on karma, suggesting that just as one might order from a catalog and receive exactly what they asked for, individuals receive the consequences of their actions. Humans are masters of their destiny through their choices, not victims of fate.
Swamiji emphasizes the importance of recognizing and controlling internal enemies like desire and anger for spiritual growth and maintaining one’s true nature.
