On hearing the Bhagavad-gita’s recommendation to withdraw our senses from sense objects (02.58), some people object, “Isn’t it cowardly to avoid such temptations?”

No, such avoidance is not cowardice; it is common sense. Let’s see how.

Suppose we have just received our salary which we need for various essential expenses. Would it be advisable for us to go with that money to a casino? Certainly not, especially if we already have an unhealthy propensity to gamble extravagantly. Suppose someone provokes us by saying, “Why are you such a coward? Just gamble.” If we let ourselves be goaded, we will pave our way to stupidity and self-destruction. When we refuse to risk losing our money, we are not being faint-hearted; we are being level-headed. 

Our attention — that is, our ability to concentrate — is a valuable resource, akin to money; we live in what is frequently called the attention economy. Indeed, our attention is our most fundamental resource; we need to be attentive if we are to properly use all our other resources, including even our money. And our attention is diverted and dissipated most dangerously by tempting sense objects. When such objects catch our attention, the resulting craving and slaving may impel us to waste our time, our energy, our money — our everything. That’s why protecting our ability to focus from this catastrophic risk is basic common sense. 

When might we mistake such common sense to be cowardice? When we want to egoistically exhibit that we don’t get distracted by tempting objects. But such an egoistic motivation for self-control is at best superficial and at worst suicidal. What is a healthier motivation for self-control? Wanting to use our attention and all our resources for making positive changes in our heart, our life and our world. Once we are inspired by that higher purpose, we will no longer mistakenly equate avoidance with cowardice. 

One-sentence summary: 

Avoiding tempting sense objects is not cowardice; it is common sense that protects our most fundamental resource: our attention. 

Think it over: 

  • How is our attention so valuable as to be comparable with money?
  • Why is it common sense to want to protect our attention?
  • When might we mistake such common sense to be cowardice? 

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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.

Is it cowardly to avoid temptations?

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