Most of our thoughts run along the default rails of eating, mating, sleeping and defending. These activities may be necessary bodily functions, but our thoughts about them – especially about eating and mating – consume far more of our mental energy than bodily functions require or deserve. We can engage physically in these activities for only a small part of our life, but we let thoughts about thempossess us mentally for a large part of our life.
This unwarranted possession causes us agitation and frustration. We become agitated by the thought: “When will I get it?” And we become frustrated by the thoughts: “Why didn’t I get it? I got it, but why was it not good enough? Why did it have to end so soon?”
Instead of these impoverishing returns of agitation and frustration, our mental energy can get us the enriching returns of pacification and jubilation if we invest it in Krishna. Let’s see how:
1. Pacification: When we think about Krishna, we invoke his personal and powerful presence. This presence manifests as the mysterious peace that pervades our heart whenever we think of him steadily.
2. Jubilation: When we gradually infuse our thoughts about Krishna with devotion, he reciprocates by revealing his glory and beauty, a revelation that surcharges our heart with joy. This jubilant state of heart was achieved by Sanjay (18.76) through hearing, repeating and especially contemplating the message of the Gita.
All of us can attain this inner life of jubilation if we guide our thoughts along the rails laid out by the Gita to the destination of Krishna.
Bhagavad Gita Chapter 18 Text 76
“O King, as I repeatedly recall this wondrous and holy dialogue between Krishna and Arjuna, I take pleasure, being thrilled at every moment.”
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