In the Chapter 3 of Bhagvad Gita there are two verses i.e Verse 33 & 34 explaining the Krishna’s anwers to Arjun’s question !
Krishna says there are two levels in our activities one is at the level of our subconscious mind called as “Prakriti” or “Samskaras”. Krishna explains that “Prakriti” and “Samskaras” consists of “Rag” & “Dvesh” i.e. “Likes” &”Dislikes”
| Prakriti or Samskaras ( consists of below two) |
| 1. Raga (Attachments or Likings ) |
| 2. Dvesha ( Dislikes ) |
Both of these lies below our Subconscious mind !
———–Subconscious Mind———–
Raga (Likes)
Dvesha (Dislikes)
We all have an upbringing in a certain way so we have likings & dislikings for certain types of food , books , hobbies, certain types of people , environment etc. These differ from person to person. All these likes and dislikes are deep rooted and below the level of our awareness i.e it is unconscious. This is first stage !.
The second stage is when we are interacting with the world a “Reaction” comes in from the deep rooted Raga & Dvesh or Likes & dislikes .
Here the “Reaction” —> to “Think” something
—-> to “Say” Something
—-> to “Do” something
is already expressed at this conscious level. Hence this stage is too late! For e.g I have diabetes ….I have tasty sweet infront of me , I like it and I ate it up ! Later I regret I should not have eaten it !
Here “Sweet” is the Raga or Liking
Reaction – —> I think I want it ( Thinking state )
—–> I order It ( “Say” state)
——-> I ate it ( “Do” or action state )
This is what happens all the time to all of us that we are unable to retain self control even though we want it !
सदृशं चेष्टते स्वस्या: प्रकृतेर्ज्ञानवानपि | प्रकृतिं यान्ति भूतानि निग्रह: किं करिष्यति || 33|| sadṛiśhaṁ cheṣhṭate svasyāḥ prakṛiter jñānavān api prakṛitiṁ yānti bhūtāni nigrahaḥ kiṁ kariṣhyati
Krishna says in the chapter 3 verse 33 that a person who is knowledgable and knows about all this , he still works according to its nature (Prakriti or samskaras) (सदृशं चेष्टते स्वस्या: प्रकृतेर्ज्ञानवानपि)
As per Krishna people act according to their Nature ( Prakriti or Samskaras ), what can self control do! (प्रकृतिं यान्ति भूतानि निग्रह: किं करिष्यति)
So, here if the wise is also acting according to its Nature (Prakriti or Sanskaras ), then what is the point of doing meditation, discipline etc. if we are unable to retain self control as it is coming from deep rooted samskaras or Prakiriti !
What is the solution to it ??? Arjun asks this to Lord Krishna!
Lord Krishna gives the secret to it chapter 3 verse 34 of the Bhagvad Gita i.e.
इन्द्रियस्येन्द्रियस्यार्थे रागद्वेषौ व्यवस्थितौ | तयोर्न वशमागच्छेत्तौ ह्यस्य परिपन्थिनौ || 34|| indriyasyendriyasyārthe rāga-dveṣhau vyavasthitau tayor na vaśham āgachchhet tau hyasya paripanthinau
He says between level of “Sub – Conscious” which is the samskara or Prakriti (Nature ) and the “Conscious” level Karma ( Thought , speech and Action ) there is one more level which can be controlled
| Samkaras or Prakriti or Nature -Sub Conscious level | Level 1 | Uncontrollable |
| Raga-Dvesh (Likes & Dislikes) – Conscious level | Level 2 | Controlled |
| Karma ( Thought , speech and Action ) – Conscious level | Level 3 | Uncontrollable |
What Lord Krishna said if we go from Level 1–> Level 2 —> Level 3 .
At level 3 our thoughts convert into action so it is already expressed so we cant control at Level 3
At level 1 we are unaware or unconscious of this level i,e, prakriti or samskaras (nature), here also we cant control it either.
At level 2 we are conscious of Raga & Dveha (Likes and Dislikes) , so at this level we can retain “Self -Control” before it converts to Karma i.e. Thought, speech or action .
The “Likes” & “Dislikes” before it takes in the form of a “Strong Desire” there is a conscious level which is a window of opportunity or a small gap, at this level gap we can control the desire or can retain Self Control
Every Sense organ (इन्द्रियस्येन्द्रियस्यार्थे) has its subject (Vishay) e.g Eyes has Forms , Ears has words, Tongue has taste etc . Each of the sense organs have fixed likes and dislikes which are in our Sub-conscious mind . There are certain forms which we like certain we don’t like , same way there are certain sounds we like some we don’t like , there is certain taste we like and some we don’t like , It is all conditioned in our Sub-Conscious mind as “Samskaras” which are expressed as Actions !
In beween these two level there is a Controllable level where we have to take a “DECISION”
Kathopanishad says ” Shreyas ” and “Preyas”
Shreyas – What is good for me !
Preyas – What is Pleasant for me !
e.g If I have Diabetes then I have two choices :
| Shreyas (What is good for me ?) — option A | Preyas (What is pleasant for Me ?) —option B |
| Avoid eating sweets or reduce sugar intake | Little bit of sweet or sugar intake won’t do any harm |
Whenever we have a choice like this we need to make a “DECISION” .
While taking a decision we should not just select one option but also completely cut the other option which is not chosen e.g.
The reason is if I am not completely cutting the option B and leave it open and then same thing will happen I will slowly consume little bit of sugar intake and think we will follow the routine from next day . So, decision of choices should always be done in a Right Way !
“So Shri Krishna says the definition of decision is to cut or completely remove the option which you are not going to do in life rather than keeping it open . Also while taking a decision select “Shreyas” in place of “Preyas” !”
In patanjali yog sutras there is a were good theory mentioned on the same topic related to “Vritti” i.e Thought and Samskara or Prakriti (Nature)
Vritti is the Conscious level and Samskara is the Sub-Conscious mind
whatever we think goes back to samskara and what is coming out of samskara bubbles up as thought it keeps on going in a loop . Now if we consciously keeps on replacing the negative thoughts with positive thoughts or noble thoughts , the thoughts which are beneficial for us , slowly these will go back and become samskaras. Overtime we will find that good thoughts bubbling up !
Hence what is the Take home knowledge from this blog is —
“The central question of anyone’s life is – I have certain goals in life , I have to go towards it . How do I get the discipline or the control over my life to go towards it ?
Understand first what sweeps you away from that – the samskaras coming from inside which are expressed as thought , speech and action .. These sweep you away !
Samskara coming from subconscious mind hence you can’t control and even aware of . Next, at the level of Action it is again difficult to control as it is already expressed .
Answer is there is a level in between which is the window of opportunity which if you consciously observe will be able to control it by taking DECISION . Also asmentioned above Krishna Mentions to chose “Shreyas” rather than “Preyas” while deciding the choice .
Meditation also helps at this level to retain Self Control!
