To believe that no wave of temptation will ever sweep us away is arrogance. To believe that we will inevitably be swept away by temptation is diffidence. To believe that holding on to the anchor of devotion can protect us from being swept away by temptation is confidence.
We live in a world filled with temptations, which can strike us at different times and in varying degrees. The Bhagavad-gita (2.67) uses the metaphor of a stormy wave that can sweep us away. Similarly, temptations can overwhelm us like stormy waves. When we try to grow spiritually or live ethically, it’s crucial to be able to deal with temptation effectively. Our underlying attitude toward temptation largely determines whether we will succeed in facing it.
If we consider the different attitudes we might adopt when confronted by temptation, we can see them as points on a pendulum. At one extreme lies the belief that no wave of temptation could ever sweep us away. This is sheer arrogance because we can’t know how strong a future wave of temptation might be or how vulnerable we might feel in that moment. If a powerful wave hits us when we are especially vulnerable, we may be swept away by temptations we would otherwise have resisted. This is why we need to avoid the arrogance of thinking we are invulnerable to temptation.
The other extreme is when we believe that the wave of temptation will ultimately be too strong for us to resist. This lack of confidence, or diffidence, will set us up for failure, even when failure is avoidable. Even if the force of temptation is mild and we have the ability to remain steady, we may lose our fighting spirit and let ourselves be swept away. Therefore, this kind of diffidence should also be avoided.
Between arrogance and diffidence lies the balanced point of confidence. This confidence comes from understanding that, while we may not be able to resist every wave of temptation on our own, we can hold on to an anchor that will keep us steady, even in the strongest of waves. For us, this anchor is devotion—especially devotional absorption in the all-attractive divinity, Krishna. In the Bhagavad-gita (2.59 and 2.61), we are encouraged to keep our consciousness immersed in Krishna. When he fills our consciousness, temptation finds little room, and its hold on us gradually weakens.
This confidence, anchored in Krishna, protects us from diffidence, where we give up without a fight, believing we are doomed to fail. It also shields us from overconfidence, as we recognize that it’s not our own strength that keeps us from being swept away, but rather Krishna’s presence within us, available through his mercy. Thus, we remain humble and vigilant in holding on to Krishna.
By staying connected with Krishna and facing temptation as it arises, we can gradually become purified, growing in attraction toward Krishna and rising above the lure of worldly temptations.
Summary:
- When faced with temptation, thinking we will never succumb is arrogance because we can’t know how powerful temptation might be or how vulnerable we might feel.
- Believing that we will inevitably fail against temptation leads to diffidence, which weakens our resolve.
- By holding on to Krishna as our anchor, we can confidently navigate a world filled with temptations.
Think it over:
- Recall an instance when arrogance led you to underestimate temptation and what you learned from the experience.
- Reflect on a time when you felt diffident in facing temptation and what lessons you drew from that encounter.
- List three realistic ways to hold on to the anchor of devotion, enabling confidence in facing temptations.
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02.67 As a strong wind sweeps away a boat on the water, even one of the roaming senses on which the mind focuses can carry away a man’s intelligence.\
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