There is no room for grief ! - Bhagavad Gita verses 2.23 & 2.24

We have now realised that just as a man casts off worn-out clothes and puts on new ones, so also the embodied atma casts off worn-out bodies and enters others which are new.

In 2.23 we read that all the four elements can affect the body but not the atma.

Nainam chindanthi s(h)aasthraaNi nainam dahathi paavaka:
Na chainam klaedayathyaapO na s(h)Oshayathi maarutha: 2.23

Weapons (prithvi or earth) do not cut this. Fire does not burn this. Water does not wet this. Air also does not dry this.

Only objects belonging to the same degree of reality can affect one another. But at the same , objects belonging to the same order of reality need not affect each other also.
Space, for example belongs to the same order of reality as the other four elements but it is not affected or destroyed by any of them. Space has no form and hence cannot be destroyed even by other elements that share the same order of reality.
So atma is self-evident and hence is self-existent, depending on nothing for existence
Whereas, what is not self-evident is
not self-existent
and
depends entirely upon that which is self-existent.

A problem may arise that since a non-existent thing also cannot be destroyed by anyone, perhaps this atma is non-existent ! The next verse puts this doubt to rest.

AchchaedyOyam adahyOyam aklaedyOs(h)Oshya aeva cha

Nithya: sarvagatha: sthaaNu: achalO(a)yam sanaathana: 2.24

The self cannot be cut, burnt, drowned or dried. It is changeless, all-pervading, unmoving and eternal.

Weapons cannot cut this Self. It is eternal.
Because It is eternal, It is all-pervading.
Because It is all-pervading, It is stable like a pillar.
Because It is stable, It is immovable, It is everlasting.
As such, It is not produced out of any cause.
It is not new. It is ancient.

Knowing the atma in this way, there is no reason for us to entertain any grief. But we may say “ I don’t cry for atma. I cry for anatma”. To this Krishna would ask, Why would you cry for the anithya anatma? Anatma is always changing and we have no control over it. Only atma is nithya and there is no way of destroying it”.
“ For what do you then grieve, Arjuna?” Krishna asked. “There is no room for grief at all. There is something to be done. Do it.”
This constant refrain is sounded in the next verse also.

Love,
Chithra.

 

Re: There is no room for grief !

Dear AC,
Thankyou Ms Prompt.
Even when I gave the title, I feared it will be "misleading" - but that is the blunt truth, sadly & undeniably. That we grieve forever is sure!
Yes, please read repeatedly & write again, if you feel like it.
I am wondering, if a next post on Pancha Bhutas will be relevant now !
Love,
Chithra.

 

Re: There is no room for grief !

Dear Ria,
Welcome to this sub forum.
Yes, this article is on Gita 2nd chapter - I am writing on the Gita from the beginning (to the extent I am able to, with my limited understanding) & if you click the index you will know better.
We are forever induging under the spell of "MAYA" - the most powerful concept. We know in the heart of hearts that as soon as birth occurs, death will ultimately follow. But as ever, we close our eyes & ears to harsh truths, because we do not want to face it or go through it.
Scriptural reading is emphasised in our culture, in our day today life, more to instil in us, all the truth in all these bitter, hard to accept facts. Harsh realities will not evade us under any circumstances.
So long as welive, we are attached to body & soul, undeniably !
I am sure, the thread title attracted you here !
Love,
Chithra.
Now the second part of your post - Oh, how could you be so sweet & expressive? . I pray God makes me worthy of all your nice words. Believe me, in all my life, I have never felt so peaceful as now - in my IL days, surrounded by love & warmth.I am sure that is what is showing in my face. I owe it all to everyone of you who interacts with me. Thanks a ton Ria, you made my day.

 

Re: There is no room for grief !

Dear Kamla,
Thanks.
It is our duty(so long as we live) to take care of our body-mind complex though we are aware that it is ephemeral. We have no right to ignore the same, thinking that it is not permanent according to vedanta.We do get affected. mourn our dear ones' loss etc.Happiness & grief are our mind's responses to the world around us which is conducive as well as non-conducive; they are reactions at the mental level.

Vedanta dins it into us that you have to learn to stand apart & be aloof in yourself & ultimately learn to look at yourself as the observer of these emotions & not get identified with them.Our ultimate aim is to get equipoise & balance.

K, don't tell me, it is all easily said - I am sadly in the same boat of bondage as you are or X or Y is.But this thought process has to be registered in our mind for our own benefit.There is no running away from it for a samsari, yours truly also included.

This morning, I received a very unpleasant news & was totally shattered. As I posted this immediately after, I just started thinking if there is any message the Universe is conveying me through that news ! Yes, I am human & must realise that we are mere puppets in the larger scheme of the Universe.Acceptance, however tough, has to dawn on us since we have no choice.

I have bored you with a long reply !
Love,
Chithra.