In the previous episode, we had witnessed a sequence as to who controls whom, as per Bhagawan Krishna’s words. The span of control commences from the “Atman”, which, as we know by now, is the permanent entity in every living being. This “Atman” should have a complete control on our “Buddhi” (Intellect). This “Buddhi” is the one which has the capability to assimilate and process all kinds of thoughts. This “Buddhi” feeds these thoughts into the mind, which tries to take decisions as to what to do and what not to do. Thus, in all ways, the “Buddhi” controls the mind and further, the mind controls our five sense organs, including our eyes, ears, nose, tongue and skin. Up to the fourth level (Buddhi to mind), the span of control is fairly easy, but when it comes to the mind and the sense organs, achieving control is extremely difficult. Bhagawan Krishna explains how the five senses keep running behind worldly pleasures and the mind falls prey to them as well! This is where all of us get derailed from pursuing our “Dharma” correctly.
As we move forward thus, we need to have an important clarification with regards to the mind and “Atman”, which we will discuss in today’s episode. This is in continuation with what we’ve discussed till yesterday. When we say that the “Atman” controls the “Buddhi” and the “Buddhi” in turn controls the “Manas” (Mind), we should understand here that our “Atman” is the one who uses the “Manas” to think about Bhagawan in whatever action we do. Many of us wrongly understand that our “Manas” is the one which should think about Bhagawan and even in colloquial terms we say – “Oh! My mind is not able to focus on Bhagawan even for a single minute!”, isn’t it? This may be accepted as an argument in colloquial terms, but in reality, this is slightly different. Now, what Bhagawan Krishna explains here is very simple – Who controls the mind? It is “Buddhi”, and “Atman”, isn’t it? Since the ultimate controller of everything is the “Atman”, it is the “Atman” that has the final say in whatever we think and do, isn’t it? Thus, the colloquial argument that we saw now should be refined as follows – “My ‘Atman’ is unable to use my mind as an instrument to think about Bhagawan all the time!”
This might be slightly complicated to understand at one go, and I request readers to go through this above paragraph multiple times to gain a better understanding. However, the crux of the argument is this – As the “Atman” is the main controller, it uses the mind to assimilate thoughts and think about Bhagawan. This is because, our “Manas” doesn’t have the intellectual capability to think on its own. It only assimilates thoughts and passes them to the Buddhi and Atman. Ultimately, the “Atman” is the one which is embedded with the intellect (Buddhi) and thus, has the capability to think and reason things out. In similar lines, the “Atman” is the one which uses the eyes to see Bhagawan’s portrait and visualize Him within. Similarly, the “Atman” is the one that uses the ears to listen to whatever good things are being said about Bhagawan. Thus, even the five sense organs are instruments of our “Atman” to do whatever it wants us to do. This is the clarity that all of us need to have.
Thus, the logic becomes clearer now – The five sense organs form the first stage of the concentric circle. Second layer of control around these five senses is the mind. Third layer of control around the mind is the “Buddhi” and the final layer of control that spans all across the previous layers is the “Atman”. Thus, the “Atman” is the chief controller for all! Explaining all these aspects, Bhagawan Krishna concludes the third “Adhyaaya” thus, “Oh Arjuna! Please understand that the “Kaamam” (desire) is born in the first layer (five senses) only and if you’re able to control it in this layer itself, all other things are automatically taken care of. Hence, it all starts from controlling desires!”
As Bhagawan Krishna explains all these aspects of “Karma Yoga” and “Gnyaana Yoga” to Arjuna in the first three “Adhyaayas” in detail, He suddenly thinks thus, “Oh! I should also explain to Arjuna as to how I incarnate and for what purpose I incarnate. I should release this great secret to Arjuna, so that the world will know of my significance! Till now I’ve been talking about “Karma” and “Gnyaana”. I’ve been talking about how to surrender to me while performing “Karma Yoga”. However, what if Arjuna asks a question as to why he should surrender to me and what is so significant about me that he should surrender to me?” As Bhagawan thinks thus, the entire narrative takes a different turn as the fourth “Adhyaaya” commences! So for today, let us understand up to this point and in the next episode, we shall commence a detailed description of the fourth “Adhyaaya” of the Bhagawad Gita, wherein Bhagawan Krishna is going to disclose a few important aspects about His divine incarnation! Stay tuned for an important and an interesting accord! 🙂
The Indian Dharma 