The Lighter Side of JzB

Here you will find photos, poetry, and possibly some light-hearted foolishness. For the Heavier Side
of JzB
see my other blog,
Retirement Blues. (There be dragons!)

I claim copyright and reserve all rights for my original material of every type and genre.


Every day visits*
From Moose, Goose, and Orb Weaver
All seized by Haiku


"Why moose and goose?" you may ask. Back on 2/04/13 Pirate wrote a haiku with an elk in it, and I responded with
one with a moose and then included him every day. A few days later in comments Mystic asked "Where's the goose?"
So I started including her with this post on 2/07. A week later on the 14th, Mark Readfern
asked for and received a spider. The rest is history.

*Well, most days, anyway. Grant me a bit of poetic license.

Saturday, April 4, 2015

Carpe Diem #699



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

~~::~~



6 comments:

  1. I like the direction you've taken with this.Nicely done.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Yes. Echoing jazzytower here!

    I think we both went in similar directions. What a challenge this prompt was! You handled it beautifully. :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. i didnt respond to that one at Carpe Diem.
    however i dropped in to invite you to link in Monday WRites is up
    http://myblog-verses.blogspot.com/2015/04/44.html

    much love...

    ReplyDelete
  4. Leaving the battle is a sign of wisdom, don't you think?

    Waning Sunshine

    ReplyDelete

This is a fun blog. Light-hearted banter is welcome. Snark is not. If you want to fight, find my other blog.

Play nice, and we'll all have fun.

I like to return visit, when I can - but I need to find you. If you have multiple blogs, please leave a direct link to the appropriate post.

Cheers!
JzB