Moods and Tolerance

mātrā-sparśās tu kaunteya

śītoṣṇa-sukha-duḥkha-dāḥ

āgamāpāyino ’nityās

tāṁs titikṣasva bhārata

O son of Kuntī, the nonpermanent appearance of happiness and distress, and their disappearance in due course, are like the appearance and disappearance of winter and summer seasons. They arise from sense perception, O scion of Bharata, and one must learn to tolerate them without being disturbed. (2.14)

Everyday one’s mood changes. It can turn from happy to sad to angry, etc. Though, most people don’t let these emotions distract them from their work. In this verse Krishna is saying exactly that. None of these emotions are permanent and they will eventually fade away. People should tolerate their reactions to such emotions and not let them interfere with their duty.

Lately these days, people let their emotions get the best of them. Having emotions in our daily lives is fine, but only if we react properly to them. Feelings may seem like a small aspect in our lives, but they are actually take up a rather large section. All of our decisions are based on our feelings and the feelings of others. If society understood this, I believe we would have less of our daily life dilemmas than we do today.

This verse, I believe, connects to numerous people. Even though one may say they truly understand this verse and apply it in every aspect of their lives, it is very difficult to actually do so. In my life, I luckily have not had to face any difficult hardships. Though, if I ever do I must tolerate it and not let it disturb me.

This verse makes me question people around me. We always hear tragic things in the news, what if one person had read this verse? Would they have acted differently? Would that tragic accident have never happened?

To conclude, everyone must remember that no happiness or distress is permanent, those feelings will eventually fade away; knowing so one must not let these reactions to our feelings disturb them from their duty.

Written by Rishika Voruganti

Friend or Foe

“For he who has conquered the mind, the mind is the best friend, but for one who has failed to do so his mind will remain his greatest enemy.” (Bhagavad Gita 6.6) This quote has a very true meaning to it. The mind activates many emotions and feelings. There is a saying “Choose your friends wisely.” Similarly, the mind has the capability to do many things good or bad.

We all have a choice. Some may affect us temporally of will stick with us the rest of our lives. We choose our personality and who we want to be every day of our lives. For example, if a person is given 10 dollars that person has a choice to use it for good or use it for something not so good.

In life someone or something has to be in control. It can be a boss, the president, or ourselves. Additionally, it can be our senses or our mind. Our mind is like an untamed animal out of control and dangerous. If we manage to tame the mind then and only then will we manage to control our senses and our emotions. However, if failed to do so then the person’s world will be filled with hate, greed, etc.

“The individual is the passenger in the car of the material body, and intelligence is the driver. Mind is the driving instrument and the senses are the horses.”(Bhagavad Gita 287) Basically, the soul is sitting in the middle of the material body. Intelligence is the driver, the mink are the reins and, and the senses are the untamed horses. If the driver (Intelligence) grasps hold of the reins (The Mind) and tames the horses (The 5 Senses) then the soul (The Individual) will avoid all calamities. In other words, if intelligence takes over the mind and conquers it then he will walk with his mind on his side and will be able to go anywhere.

To conclude, when the mind has been taken over by superior intelligence then the body and soul will avoid crashing into material desires. If intelligence doesn’t take control over the mind the senses will pull the mind off path and the soul and driver will most certainly crash.

By: Devansh Sheth