So boring or sobering? – Suppose we are traveling by boat through a vast ocean and we hear a weather warning on the boat radio, “The water ahead is stormy; navigate with extreme care.” On hearing such a sobering warning, we will be concerned. But if we saw the boat operator driving nonchalantly at an above-normal speed, we will be even more concerned. And if we told the driver about the warning and he responded, “That’s just so boring; they keep giving warnings like that — no need to bother about them,” we will be most concerned.

A similar dismissal of sobering warnings as so boring happens in our inner world, when the warnings come from wisdom-texts like the Bhagavad-gita. The Gita (02.67) warns that if we casually contemplate tempting objects, a storm of desire can sweep us away — just as a stormy wind can sweep away a boat. On hearing such warnings, we may become cautious, but our mind doesn’t; it nonchalantly goes on fantasizing about tempting objects. When we remind it of scriptural warnings, it downplays them as boring. And we frequently accept the mind’s assessment, believing that what the mind is up to is nothing to be concerned about. However, what the mind is doing is not just casual; it is lethal, potentially suicidal. 

Fortunately, we have one advantage in our inner world over the boat situation. We are at the helm of our boats; our mind isn’t. It is like a reckless partner sitting next to us who minimizes any warnings. Nonetheless, if we study the Gita diligently, we understand both the vulnerability of our situation and the folly of our mind’s notions. Being thus alerted, we cautiously navigate our way around tempting objects, staying focused on our higher purposes. 

One-sentence summary:

If we let our mind dismiss something sobering as so boring, we court danger, even disaster. 

Think it over:

  • When dealing with tempting objects, how are we vulnerable?
  • While dealing with tempting objects, how does our mind mislead us?
  • How can we protect ourselves from being misled by our mind?

***

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.

So boring or sobering?

To know more about this verse, please click on the image
Explanation of article:
Podcast: