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Chapter 16
CONFLICT BETWEEN THE DIVINE AND THE DEMONIACAL TENDENCIES
93. Self-restraint: The Scientific Way To Get Rid Of Desire, Anger And Greed
21. We should try to get rid of the asuric tendencies. Desire, anger and greed represent the essence of the demoniacal character. These demoniacal passions have the world dancing to their tune. This dance must stop. We must shake them off. Anger and greed spring from desire. Greed follows desire when circumstances are opportune for its gratification, and anger follows when desire is thwarted. The Gita has enjoined us repeatedly to keep away from these three enemies. The same has been said at the end of the Sixteenth Chapter. These are the three broad gateways to hell. Roads leading to hell are quite wide and there is a lot of traffic through them! One can find many companions on the way. But the path of truth is narrow. 22. How are we to safeguard ourselves from desire and anger? By accepting the way of self-restraint laid down by the shastras. Experiences of the saints constitute the shastras (the codes of conduct). A shastra evolves out of the lessons drawn by the saints from their experiments. Therefore, hold fast to self-restraint that these codes prescribe. Do not have any unnecessary doubts. There is no point in sterile arguments like ‘What will happen to the world in the absence of desire and anger? Is it not necessary to have them, at least in a small measure?’ Desire and anger are already there in too large a measure— much more than needed. Why create unnecessary confusion? Do not worry that the human race will come to an end if desire (for sensual pleasure) disappears. No matter how many children you produce, a day is bound to come when the human race will disappear from the earth. This is what the scientists are telling. The earth is slowly getting colder. At one time the earth was extremely hot. There were no living creatures on it. A time will come when the earth will become excessively cold and all life will come to an end. It may take millions of years, but this is bound to happen. You may go on procreating; the day of doom cannot be averted. The Lord descends on the earth for the protection of dharma, not for the protection of numbers. As long as there is one man devoted to dharma, one man who is beware of sin and committed to truth, there is no cause for worry. The Lord will take care of him. People without dharma are as good as dead. |
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