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Commentary by Jayaram V
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5. Better it is to live on alms in this world, than to slay the noble teacher. By doing so the enjoyments of riches and the
fulfillment of desires will be blood stained. |
The ego is a social animal. Many problems that we face in life arise because
we are afraid of breaking social norms and incurring social disapproval. In order
to maintain its social popularity and there by manipulate society for its own ends
the ego would wear many masks and indulge in many acts of self-deception. In the
hope of a larger gain, it does not even hesitate to act against its own wishes and
welfare. Arjuna is not different from us in this respect. He is afraid of killing
his own kith and kin because he is afraid of incurring social disgrace and disapproval.
We are all familiar with this kind behavior. We are afraid of society and its
reactions to our behavior that is not in line with socially approved norms. In the
eyes of society we want to appear acceptable and respectable and for this sake we
indulge in many acts of self-deception and hypocrisy. We wear masks; hide our real
intentions; apply tact and diplomacy; hide behind morals and ethics; and indulge
in many selfish tricks and manipulations. If at all we appear to be at variance
with this usual behavior, it is again only to satisfy some hidden agenda or gain
some specific interest of greater value. However harmful and disadvantageous this
behavior may be in the long run, our compulsive obsession for social approval and
social advantage makes us such helpless victims of our own illusions.
Human values, born out of egoistic tendencies, are such that they appear to be
deceptively from higher realms where as in truth they are the disguised wishes of
the inner darkness. They are our false prophets whom we create in order to serve
our common interests and use and misuse intelligently. They give us the power to
deal with society in order to be served. There is so much confusion in our relationships,
in our social and family lives because we all act with selfish motives in a seemingly
selfless manner with the result that in the end we fail to achieve what we originally
intended to achieve. Hatred in the place of love. Conflict in the place of harmony.
Mental agitation in the place of peace, and so on.
Arjuna's concern for the great warriors like Drona and Bhishma is also
an egoistic concern borne out of similar values. He does not want to kill such great
warriors mainly because he does not want to earn bad name in society. More than
their welfare it is the fear of earning social disgrace, which is giving him such
great turmoil. It is the fear of a mind accustomed to the logic of human ethics
authored by ego and its reason. His fear is so strong that he is even willing to
consider the alms of a helpless beggar more respectable than the riches of a warrior
whose hands are tainted with the blood of his own relatives. Socially, killing ones
own relatives is an unpardonable sin. It would do irreparably damage to the image
of Arjuna as a man of virtues. How can he therefore live with peace of mind and
enjoy his riches after earning such a bad reputation? How can he resolve such a
great problem?
Bhagavadgita Chapter 2 Verses 1- 21
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