When we are attached to worldly things, we can never have enough of them. No matter how much we crave and how much we slave, we remain in a state of perpetual scarcity. If, however, we choose abstinence by conscientiously and consistently staying away from such indiscriminate indulgence, then gradually, our mind becomes less prone to be agitated by some passing sight or tormented by some persisting desire. A calm mind can relish the many simple joys of life, such as spending time with our loved ones, strolling in a beautiful park, beholding the majesty of the sky, or basking in the Divine Presence through prayer or meditation. The Bhagavad Gita 16.22 urges us to embrace abstinence. To summarize, Indulgence locks us in a life of scarcity. Abstinence opens the doors to life’s richness and fullness.

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16.22 The man who has escaped these three gates of hell, O son of Kuntī, performs acts conducive to self-realization and thus gradually attains the supreme destination.