Let me take the war against temptation seriously

Bhagavad Gita 2.68

tasmād yasya mahā-bāho

nigṛhītāni sarvaśaḥ

indriyāṇīndriyārthebhyas

tasya prajñā pratiṣṭhitā

 

“Therefore, O mighty-armed, be wise and strong,

Restrain the senses from drifting wrong.

One who keeps them under control,

Stands firm in wisdom, steady and whole.”

 

My dear Lord, please let me remember that my confrontation with temptation is no less serious than a full-blown war between two countries—with the aggressor hell-bent on destroying the defender.

Just as in war, the aggressor constantly looks for any weakness in the defenses of the opposing army, similarly, the forces of temptation are constantly looking for weaknesses from where they can force entry into my consciousness.

The key entry points through which temptation invades my consciousness are my senses.

If I let my senses become distracted toward any and every object passing through my sphere of awareness, that itself lowers my guard. I am no longer conscious of what is entering my consciousness, and temptation can sneak in—initially appearing to be just an innocent or harmless indulgence. Once having gained entry, it can burst through with formidable velocity and ferocity, overcoming my intelligence and my conscience.

Please, O Lord, bless me so that I can recognize that the notion of a war against temptation is not just a metaphor for intellectual stimulation—it is a jolting warning about a deadly reality.

Please, O Lord, bless me so that I can be conscious of what I am conscious of—and better still, that I can become conscious of you more and more, so that your presence within me becomes my impenetrable defense against temptation. 

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02.68 Therefore, O mighty-armed, one whose senses are restrained from their objects is certainly of steady intelligence.

Let me take the war against temptation seriously