Carpe Diem #699

DEPRESSION

Kristjaan tells us that in the Bhagavad Gita:

"Arjuna stood in the middle of the both armies and had a conversation with Krishna about life and death.

Arjuna becomes sad and depressed as he sees the enemy armies in which his friends, family-members and teachers are gathered. And he becomes anxious ... how can he fight against his best friends and family?

Having thus spoken in the midst of the battlefield, Arjuna, casting away his bow and arrow, sat down on the seat of the chariot with his mind overwhelmed with sorrow."

Krishna councils Arjuna on why he must stay and fight.

“Krishna asserts that only one who has the capacity to be balanced in pleasure and pain alike is fit for immortality. Krishna goes on to tell Arjuna that if he refuses to fight and flees from the battle, people will be justified in condemning such action as unworthy of a warrior.”

~  and  ~

“Arjuna is eager to know the characteristics of a man who has a stable mind. Such a person, Krishna tells him, will have no desires at all. Since he is content within, having realized the Self, he is entirely free from desires. The consciousness of the Atman and abandonment of desires are simultaneous experiences.” 

For me, the last paragraph informs the preceding one in a way that is certainly not intended.

If Arjuna is wise, he will understand that the battle is antithetical to being in balance - it is all about desire - either for conquest or to avoid being conquered, to be alive and whole at the end of the day, or - worst of all - for honor, which is a manifestation of pure ego.  Further, he will realize that those who would condemn him for not acting as a warrior is expected to act are imposing their desires on him.

So - what is the balanced man to do? 

krishna has it wrong

battle is out of balance

and fraught with desire 

~:~

arjuna's wisdom

not caring what people think

he leaves the battle

~~::~~