The link between the psychological and the cosmological  –  The Bhagavad-gita’s third chapter ends by describing how to conquer the inner enemy of lust (03.43). And the fourth chapter begins by describing how spiritual knowledge was given by Krishna at the dawn of creation to the solar deity (04.01). Why such an abrupt change of subject? Why shift from a subtle analysis of the inner world to a historical narrative about the outer world?

Actually, Krishna is not changing the subject; he is expanding our understanding of the scope of the subject. The inner enemy of lust has been tormenting humanity since time immemorial, and Krishna has been equipping humanity to combat it since time immemorial. 

Lust deludes us by covering our knowledge of who we really are. How can we stop lust from afflicting us with such spiritual amnesia? By individual and collective endeavor. How we can fight lust individually is described in the last section of the Gita’s third chapter (03.41-43) — hence its focus on the inner world. How human society has been provided the knowledge to fight lust throughout history is described in the first section of the fourth chapter (04.01-03) — hence its focus on cosmic history. As an illustration of the system for providing spiritual knowledge, Krishna explains how he taught it personally to a key leader in the universe’s genealogy (04.01). And he instituted a system of parampara (spiritual lineage) composed of saintly kings (04.03) who helped disseminate spiritual knowledge throughout human society. 

And Krishna concludes his brief outline with an assurance: because that knowledge was lost over time, he is personally providing it to Arjuna (04.03). 

One-sentence summary:

In fighting lust, we are neither alone nor unequipped; we humans have always had to fight it, and Krishna has always been equipping us with spiritual knowledge. 

Think it over: 

  • Why does the Gita’s third chapter end with a focus on the inner world?
  • Why does the Gita’s fourth chapter begin with a focus on the outer world?
  • How can we gain the confidence to fight lust?

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04.03: That very ancient science of the relationship with the Supreme is today told by Me to you because you are My devotee as well as My friend and can therefore understand the transcendental mystery of this science.

The link between the psychological and the cosmological

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