IV: 26

[Krishna Jaya]

Chapter 4, Verse 26

 

"Some withdraw their senses

From contact with exterior sense-objects.

For these, hearing and the other senses

Are the offering,

And self-discipline the sacrificial fire.

Others allow their minds and senses

To wander unchecked.

Their path is to see the Self

Within all exterior sense-objects.

For these, sound and the other sense-objects

Are the offering,

And sense-enjoyment the sacrificial fire."

 

Sri Eknath Easwaran:

 

"Here Krishna is distinguishing between two different approaches to the spiritual life.  One is the austere way, followed by members of the monastic order, and the other is the middle path of moderation to be followed by those of us who live in the world.  We are to respect members of the monastic order in all religions, people who have turned their backs upon the world in order to lead the spiritual life.  While my wife and I were in India, we had the privilege of knowing a Hindu monk who had been the head of a great monastery in the Himalayas for many years.  He retired from this office in his later years to lead a completely contemplative life.  There is nothing in the world to tempt him.  His eyes are always fixed on the supreme goal, and he therefore feels no conflicts.  He feels no envy for the man of the world's freedom to go to a movie or drop in at an ice cream parlor.  He probably feels compassion for those of us who still respond to the call of these little delights.

 

To live the monastic life and turn our back upon the world, and, in a sense, negate our senses and the world, is only one approach to spiritual life.  This path is suitable for a very rare type of person, and we should never criticize those who follow it.  But there is another approach which is just as challenging, and more suited to the vast majority of us living in the modern world.  On this path, we live in the world and yet try not to be of it.  We live in the bosom of our family, as integral members of society, and yet strive always to remember that the Lord is enthroned in the hearts of all.  We live in the midst of life and find our fulfillment by using the senses for the service of others, as worship of the higher power."

 

Sri Aurobindo:

 

“The means of worship are various; the offerings are of many kinds.  Among this variety, there is the practice of self-control which ushers in the higher knowledge.  There is also the discipline which receives the objects of sense-perception without allowing the mind to be disturbed by these sense-activities, the senses themselves becoming pure fires of worship.  In addition, there are techniques which still the senses so that the soul in its purity may appear from behind the veil of mind-activity, calm and still.”

 

A friend:

 

“Compassion is such a wonderful response to life! Once you know which path you walk / skip / play on - there is no need to be angry for those who walk & skip to a different beat. Additionally I think we can learn from the varieties used to reach our own, unique,  spiritual completeness.”

 

[Different strokes for different folks, each of whom is God disguised as a person.  As we approach completeness, there is an understanding that by simply loving others the way they are, we are providing them with a safe and trustworthy environment in which to blossom.]