II: 60

[Krishna Jaya]

Chapter 2, Verse 60

 

“The restless violence of the senses

Impetuously carries away the mind

Even of those advanced souls

Who are striving for wholeness.”

 

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi:

 

“Here Krishna describes to Arjuna the nature of the senses.  Being the instruments which enable the mind to enjoy the glory of the diversity of creation, they are bound to draw it towards objects of pleasure.  Their main purpose is to bring the greatest possible enjoyment to the mind.  And this they will continue to do as long as the mind has not learned how to withdraw them inwards so that it may become established in the incomparable peace of silence, the joy that always abides.”

 

Swami Chidbhavananda:

 

“The major portion of the spiritual discipline is the warfare that is carried on with the wayward senses.  Innumerable are the defeats suffered at their hands in the initial stages.  Repentance is the resolve to remember the Lord and his active involvement during the process of sense-engagement.  The refinement of a person and a society can be measured by the yardstick of sense-mastery.”