Chapter 2 part 9
Balanced Mind: The Bhagavat Gita
The importance of a balanced mind is discussed here. It is quite important in worldly life and spiritual life as well. Here it is stating that living life by keeping the mind in a balanced state, one can attain spiritual freedom. By maintaining a balanced mind in all life situations, one can face every problems. Not only that it can help sins. But how? The goal of life is to attain spiritual freedom by living a balanced life. How to live a balanced life? It is by keeping a balanced state of mind in every adverse or favorable life situations. Do not allow mind to be over joyous when happiness comes. Similarly do not be depressed at sorrows. Keep an equilibrium in victories and failures or in profits and losses.
Do not allow mind to become emotional in worldly happiness and sorrows. The easy way to practice this mental balance is to learn atma jnana or spiritual knowledge. The knowledge which describes what is permanent and what is transitory had been explained through the previous pages. By keeping this principal truth in mind, live the life in a balanced state. Such a balanced mind can finally see the ultimate truth. In a balanced mind there is no difference between happiness and sorrow. Both are considered equally. At this stage there is no sin or goodness which are merely the mental projections based on worldly and dual states of feelings. At a final freedom there is nothing dual, every thing comes under oneness. That is why Krishna says that by practicing a balanced mind Arjuna does not enter the sin of killing in a righteous war.
One who aims at self realization in life has to perform karma as his own dharma (swadharma). The real truth about soul and body has been explained theoretically or is taught based on principles. Thereafter, the importance of doing karma as one's own dharma also has been explained. Whenever we do our duty as dharma or virtuous act, our mind should be in a balanced state. The emotions and feelings should not affect the balanced state of mind. Attain a balanced mind is the primary step in the path of self realization.
The importance of balanced mind is explained in detail. The difference between permanent and transitory things had been explained. Body is transitory and the soul is permanent. Now the knowledge of yoga is going to be explained. Yoga means balanced state of mind. Two types of yoga, saamkhya yoga and karma yoga. The mental balance can be achieved in life either through atma jnana (saamkhya yoga or jnana yoga) or through performing one's own karma in life (karma yoga).
A seeker of self realization can refrain from all worldly matters and do sanyasa or renunciation. In this path the seeker engage mainly in learning and practicing self knowledge or athma jnana and gain a balanced mind. This is saamkhya yoga. But for a householder, he cannot leave his duties all of a sudden, as he is bonded with his karma or duties. After understanding athma jnaana, through karma yoga he can attain a balanced mind. Then finally he can break the bonds of karma. How? While performing actions or karma as his own dharma (swadharma), he has to practice proper balance of mind in life. Attaining mental balance through karma is called karma yoga. A balanced mind together with self knowledge can help one to earn self realization. Thus he becomes free from karmic bonds.
This verse teaches the two paths to self realization, Saamkhya Yoga and Karma Yoga, both by attaining a balanced mind.
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