In the Bible, it is said that we should flee from temptation. Some people may object to such an idea, saying that such fleeing sentences us to a life of perpetual fear because temptation may pop up in front of us at any time, any place, and in any situation. Managing Temptation in Daily Life. Are we meant to live forever in mortal fear of temptation? What does the Bhagavad-gita recommend as an approach to dealing with temptation?

The Bhagavad-gita does recommend something similar to the Bible when it states in 2.58 that we need to withdraw our senses from tempting sense objects, just as a tortoise withdraws its limbs into its body. While this is not exactly the same as fleeing from temptation, it definitely talks about creating a safe space where temptation is less likely to attack us. 

The rationale here is that we are all bound to be tempted, and there are some temptations to which we may be especially vulnerable. If we are in the presence of such temptations, our mind may be completely consumed by fantasies of indulging in it. Even if we succeed in resisting physical indulgence, we may still be internally consumed by it: we may be titillated initially and tormented eventually by the temptation, such that we won’t be able to focus on anything worthwhile. In such situations, it is desirable, and may even be essential, to create a safe distance between us and the temptation so that what is out of sight has a greater likelihood of becoming out of mind.

Subsequent Gita verses (02.59-60), however, caution about the limitation of such an approach. If all we are doing in regards to dealing with temptation is fleeing from it, our mind will still be occupied with it, even if it is out of great fear of relapsing into it; again, we won’t be able to focus on anything worthwhile. Merely running away from temptation or having great fear of temptation inside us, which impels us to run away, is in itself not enough to remove the craving inside us for that temptation. When the opportunity for indulgence pops up externally, as it will sooner or later in a world filled with temptation, that will trigger our inner craving and we will relapse.

What, then, is the solution? In the next verse (02.61), the Gita recommends that we focus on the Divine. Such focus can be best achieved through a combination of inner remembrance and outer service. When we remember internally, with a devotional mood, that we are parts of the Lord and that he has a part for us in his plan; and when we externally strive, with whatever capacity He has given us, to do something constructive in a mood of service to Him, this dual combination of inner devotional remembrance and outer devotional service will gradually give us a higher taste—a sublime, non-material fulfillment—which will make temptation less and less appealing. Thus, focusing on Krishna in a mood of devotion and service is the key to becoming free from temptation.

To reach this level of absorption in the Divine, we first need to be able to focus our attention on the Divine. For such focused attention, we need to be free from, or at least not be filled with, the distractions posed by temptation. Thus, we do need to flee from temptation sufficiently to be able to focus on our Lord.

If we envision dealing with temptation in terms of a pendulum, we need to avoid the two extremes of too little fear of temptation so that we never flee from it and too much fear of temptation so that we are constantly fleeing from the smallest sight or scent of temptation. If we have enough fear of temptation to create a safe distance from it, we can put ourselves in a space where we can focus on the Lord through remembrance and service. Then, such fleeing from temptation will eventually lead to freeing ourselves from temptation by divine grace.

Summary:

  • If we never flee from temptation, we may relapse physically into indulgence or be consumed mentally, and we won’t have the attention or freedom to focus on anything higher. 
  • Yet if all we do is flee from temptation, we will be so dominated by fear that we won’t be able to focus on anything higher either.
  • When instead of being fearful of temptation or fearless about temptation, we are purposeful in connecting with our Lord internally through devotional remembrance and externally through devotional service, then the resulting higher taste will free us from temptation. Managing Temptation in Daily Life

Think it over: 

  • What is right about fleeing from temptation? 
  • What is wrong with fleeing from temptation? 
  • What is the key to being free from temptation, and what role does fleeing from temptation play in that?

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02.58 One who is able to withdraw his senses from sense objects, as the tortoise draws its limbs within the shell, is firmly fixed in perfect consciousness.

Managing Temptation in Daily Life