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BG II - Sh 56, 57, 58 -- Comments and Questions
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To: alt-hindu@uunet.uu.net
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Subject: BG II - Sh 56, 57, 58 -- Comments and Questions
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From: lchiluku@ucsd.edu (R. & L. Chilukuri)
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Date: 30 Apr 1995 16:37:13 GMT
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From news@network.ucsd.edu Sun Apr 30 12: 27:38 1995
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Newsgroups: alt.hindu
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Organization: Univ of California at San Diego
Comments/Questions on Shlokas 56, 57, 58:
56. Dukhesv anudvigna manah ...etc: It is possible to misapply these
phrases in daily life. One may become so desensitized to pleasure and
pain that he no longer cares about his actions. For example, an evil man
may continue to be evil, because he has become deadened to ill-repute. He
no longer cares what others think of him!
The shloka has a superior meaning, but the inferior meaning may
surreptitiously take hold.
57. Shubham prapya na abhinandati, Ashubham prapya na dveshti. Not to be
sorrowful about inauspicious events is acceptable to my mind as being a
characteristic of a perfect man. I also agree that it is wrong to be
attached to "auspicious results".
But what is wrong with sheer delight when something good happens? A baby
being born, rainfall at appropriate times, etc are all 'shubham' and
should be worthy of triggering 'nandana' in all beings. Does abhinandana
connote anything more than delight?
58. A tortoise withdraws its limbs out of 'fear'. Certainly a man of
perfect understanding does not do likewise! I am perhaps stretching the
analogy too far.
Why should a man of perfect understanding withdraw his senses from
objects? I thought that he does perceive objects, but is not attached to
them
It is interesting to note that a tortoise withdraws five major organs
(four limbs and its head) - just as a man of perfect understanding
withdraws five senses (jnanendriyas).
