Gita 0215 – Nothing Is Worth Being Distracted From Krishna

Audio Link 2: https://www.thespiritualscientist.com/gita-02-15-nothing-is-worth-being-distracted-from-krishna/

yaṁ hi na vyathayanty ete
puruṣaṁ puruṣarṣabha
sama-duḥkha-sukhaṁ dhīraṁ
so ’mṛtatvāya kalpate (Bg 2.15)

Word-for-word:
yam — one to whom; hi — certainly; na — never; vyathayanti — are distressing; ete — all these; puruṣam — to a person; puruṣa-ṛṣabha — O best among men; sama — unaltered; duḥkha — in distress; sukham — and happiness; dhīram — patient; saḥ — he; amṛtatvāya — for liberation; kalpate — is considered eligible.

Translation:
O best among men [Arjuna], the person who is not disturbed by happiness and distress and is steady in both is certainly eligible for liberation.

Explanation:
yaṁ hi na vyathayanty ete : “One who is not disturbed,
puruṣaṁ puruṣarṣabha : O best among men!” There is a play on words here, as the term puruṣa appears twice. The first instance refers to people in general, while the second refers to puruṣarṣabha, addressing Arjuna specifically.
sama-duḥkha-sukhaṁ dhīraṁ : “One who maintains equanimity in both happiness and distress,
so ’mṛtatvāya kalpate : such a person becomes eligible for immortal happiness and attains everlasting bliss.”

We need to recognize that Kṛṣṇa exists at a higher level of consciousness, one that we must access. While Kṛṣṇa pervades the world, our ultimate purpose is to transcend the material plane, rise to the spiritual level of reality, and thereby connect with and relish Kṛṣṇa.

If we become overly entangled in the ups and downs of material life, we will have very little, if any, impetus to rise to the spiritual level. Therefore, the strongest motivation to ascend spiritually arises when we understand that what happens at the material level ultimately holds little significance.

The mind often distracts us with promises of pleasure and threats of trouble. It entices us with thoughts like, “There’s so much pleasure, so much pleasure—go out and enjoy!” At the same time, it creates anxiety with warnings such as, “This might go wrong, that might go wrong.”

For example, when someone is deeply engrossed in watching a TV program, two observations can be made. First, the program might be exceptionally well-made. Second, the person watching may be highly interested in it. However, if that individual has other responsibilities—say, a student who needs to study but is instead absorbed in the program—he must recognize: “I have other, more important things to do.”

Similarly, when we become entangled in the illusions of this world—the drama and action it presents—we can reflect on an important truth. If even within this illusion there is so much drama, so much stimulation, and if we find ourselves so deeply drawn to it, how much greater will be our attraction to that realm of ultimate reality? After all, this worldly drama is merely an imperfect and fragmented reflection of that higher, transcendent realm, much like what is depicted in a television program or movie.

This means that if this world—offering us just a fragment of Kṛṣṇa’s glory, as Kṛṣṇa says, mama tejo-’ṁśa-sambhavam—can absorb us so deeply, how much more captivating would the supreme glory of Kṛṣṇa be? To experience that absorption, all we need is to connect with Kṛṣṇa more and more.

In reality, whatever a person may be attracted to—whether a movie, sports, or a video game—represents an unnatural attraction. Such things have no real connection to the soul. These attractions arise merely in the mind, shaped by circumstantial conditioning we have acquired, causing us to become entangled in them.

If we become attracted to Kṛṣṇa, that is the soul’s original and natural attraction. In contrast, both the attractive objects of this world and the attraction they evoke are distortions of the original reality, where only a fraction of the true essence is manifested. When the original attractive object—Kṛṣṇa—and the original direction of our attraction are fully manifested, how much greater and more fulfilling will that attraction be?

Kṛṣṇa is the supreme, all-attractive object, and the soul possesses the ultimate attraction toward Kṛṣṇa. When this attraction is fully manifested, nothing in this world can distract us. We simply need to realize Kṛṣṇa’s supreme attractiveness and redirect our attraction from the world to Him.

This redirection can be achieved through the process of chanting and meditating on the truth that whatever seems extraordinarily important in this material realm is ultimately transitional. Beyond this level of reality lies a higher realm, where far greater happiness awaits. Chanting allows us to connect with that higher happiness, enabling us to absorb ourselves in relishing the Holy Name.

Thank you.