02.11: Beyond lamentation to love

In the Bhagavad-gita, Lord Krishna’s instructions begin (2.11) and end (18.66) with a call to give up lamentation. Between these two calls is another call: the call of divine love. The Gita’s setting indicates that the nature of the world is such that events will sooner or later impel us to lament, but the Gita’s message takes our vision beyond this world to the Supreme, whose enduring love gives us the confidence to tolerate and transcend the unenduring storms of the world.

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The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: While speaking learned words, you are mourning for what is not worthy of grief. Those who are wise lament neither for the living nor for the dead.