Hindi Is youth meant for enjoyment or enlightenment? Gaziabad – Chaitanya Charan
Our life, in a specific form, how can it be completed by the patient? Enjoyment is not enlightenment. So, this verse is something I will first explain in a simple way and then provide a bit of elaboration. How does the verse work?
We can understand it in the way that it is being explained, and based on that, we will discuss it. Here, in the eighteen chapters, there are verses related to economics. Initially, it may seem like a source of immortality. That happiness, what is it? Sorry, in the results, it is like poison.
The happiness that is referred to as ‘rajasic’ (related to the mode of passion). This is a type of happiness called rajasic happiness. We can see it this way: for example, if someone gets intoxicated, initially they may feel good, but then what happens? Health deteriorates, and the person starts facing negative consequences.
God describes this as the ‘rajasic’ happiness. After this, there is a discussion about the ‘sattvic’ (pure) happiness, which is the opposite of what was mentioned before. In contrast to intoxication, the fruit of rajasic happiness leads to a decline in well-being, and this is explained in the verse.
This happiness, based on self-intelligence, leads to understanding. What happens then? This type of intellect helps us understand the key issues of life. When enlightenment occurs, we experience a sense of inner clarity. It is the wisdom that comes from within, which allows us to understand ourselves and the world inside us.
These days, we have access to external knowledge through technology, like AR or HR. We can easily gain information from outside the world. However, the internal knowledge, the understanding of our feelings, desires, and the nature of our inner world, is something we need to understand to act in a way that leads to our well-being. This is what enlightenment means.
On the other hand, enjoyment refers to temporary pleasures that are not rooted in deeper understanding.
Here, we need to talk about environment and enjoyment. But in reality, it’s not as simple as black and white. What happens is that in enlightenment, there is also enjoyment. In growth, hidden enjoyment exists, and in reaching the ultimate state, there is enjoyment as well.
We can say that there is enjoyment and environment. We are in a situation where we can choose one or the other. But this doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s an either-or choice. Just like money is not always necessary, the truth is that both need to be understood together.
It’s not that God wants us to choose only enlightenment or only enjoyment. The Bhagavad Gita shows that to reach enlightenment, a human being must have support. This state is something we can attain. This is the ultimate state.
In the ultimate state, we will experience both enlightenment and enjoyment. But to reach that stage, we must first understand how to get there. In the class, I will give three points: A, B, and C. The true happiness (A), the completeness (B), and transformation (C).
First, we need to understand what the office or work represents. Then, we make efforts to achieve it, and finally, we transform ourselves. Only through transformation can we reach the stage where both enjoyment and enlightenment coexist.
There are two types of people we might encounter. Sometimes, we might find ourselves in situations where we need to give guidance or direction. At times, it seems like a challenge to explain things clearly, especially when emotions like anger arise. We might question why something was done in a particular way or what happened.
The point is that we go through various emotional ups and downs in life. Sometimes it’s like the weather—sometimes it’s sunny, and other times it rains. Similarly, we experience various states of being. In our lives, we can experience different types of happiness, just like how avatars or spiritual figures guide us toward joy, like milk nourishing us.
How is it that people watch movies and social media, where they fall for illusions, consume, and think there’s so much happiness in these things? The problem is that the happiness derived from sense enjoyment is temporary. The real joy comes from the proper connection between our senses and the objects they interact with. The senses are like instruments, and the objects are like the food we enjoy. When the senses come into contact with these objects, we experience happiness.
For example, when we eat delicious food like a rose in a dish, we experience joy. People keep seeking happiness and trying to fulfill their desires, but many wonder why they aren’t happy. What do they need? They might think that if they had the right sense objects, they’d feel happy.
For example, someone might think that if they had a delicious dish, or enough money to buy it, they would be happy. I once saw a T-shirt with a pin code written on it: “90 percent of the world’s girls are dreams, the remaining 10 percent are in my college.” People often think that beauty is defined by external standards.
We see things on social media, on OTP, in poems, or on Android apps, where everyone looks idealized, even doctors. What happens is that everything is edited, photos are touched up, and what we see is not the reality. But we start thinking that the beauty we see on TV or online is real beauty. In reality, people in our surroundings may not appear as attractive, but we still desire that idealized image.
Most people think that they aren’t happy because they don’t have the right objects of pleasure. They think that if they had these objects, they would find happiness. So they chase after money to get sense objects, thinking that fulfilling these desires will bring them joy. But what happens after obtaining these things? Does the happiness last? This is the question.
The problem lies not in the availability of sense objects but in the limitations of our senses themselves. Even when we get everything we desire, we may feel dissatisfied. This is because our ability to enjoy, our capacity for consumption, is limited. No matter how much we consume, we can only enjoy within certain limits.
For instance, even if I stay in a five-star hotel, after a while, it becomes just a place. There’s only so much food I can eat, only so much luxury I can experience. I can’t keep consuming it forever, because our capacity to enjoy is finite. This limitation applies to everything we desire—whether it’s food, money, or material goods.
So the question isn’t about the availability of things; it’s about our capacity to truly enjoy them. The problem is that even after we get what we want, it often feels like we haven’t reached the satisfaction we expected.
In ancient Egypt, the kings were called pharaohs. They lived lives of luxury and achieved great things. Some of these pharaohs thought they could create a way to make their people vomit without pain, using medicines. They would eat huge amounts of food from large golden plates, filling their stomachs, and then take a special medicine that would induce vomiting. After vomiting, they would eat again and repeat this process. What happened was that this caused an imbalance in the stomach. The food went inside, and what was supposed to stay inside came out unnaturally, causing harm to the body and soul. Those who tried this method often died young.
This teaches us that no matter how many attractive sensory objects come our way, our capacity to enjoy them is limited. The senses can only handle so much, and we can’t increase their capacity. Whether it’s indulgence in food, sex, or any other pleasure, there is a finite capacity for enjoyment. Once that limit is reached, we can’t increase it further, no matter how much we try.
For example, no matter how much you seek pleasure from the senses, like in sexual or materialistic indulgences, the capacity to enjoy is still limited. After a certain point, it’s impossible to extend that capacity. This is why the problem lies in our capacity itself—it’s a fundamental limit.
In the modern world, people are constantly chasing after more material goods, thinking that more will bring them happiness. But what happens is that the desire keeps increasing while the capacity to satisfy it does not. This creates a vicious cycle. People may consume a lot of media and indulge in fantasies, but this doesn’t translate to happiness in real life. The excitement from the digital world doesn’t reflect real-life satisfaction.
Similarly, our physical and mental capacities are finite. If we waste them in indulgence, we won’t have enough energy or immunity to deal with real life. As we continue to indulge in these desires, our capacity diminishes while the desire itself only grows. This imbalance affects our life in the long run.
Take the example of alcohol. A person drinks alcohol, and initially, it seems to provide relief and pleasure. But over time, the desire for alcohol increases, and the person becomes addicted. The temporary pleasure of drinking is followed by the hangover and the cycle continues. The same happens with desires; the more we indulge, the greater the desire becomes, leading to a lack of control and dissatisfaction.
This shows that indulgence reduces our capacity for real happiness and well-being. The more we give in to our desires, the less power we have over them, and the more they control us.
Pleasure and Desire: Initially, desires may seem small, and they lead to a short-term pleasure. However, as desires grow stronger, the pleasure shifts from being an enjoyable experience to just a temporary relief from inner torment. It’s not true happiness but rather an escape from discomfort. As a result, people may continue indulging in these desires, thinking that the relief will bring them satisfaction, but it only becomes a cycle of short-term relief without true contentment.
Addiction and its Impact: This cycle can lead to addiction, whether to alcohol, food, or other forms of indulgence. As desire increases and becomes a dominant force, it controls the person, and they find themselves unable to escape from it. Even though they may try to control it or avoid indulgence, they end up trapped in this cycle. Over time, this addiction reduces trustworthiness and can harm relationships, including marriages, as people become more focused on fulfilling their desires than nurturing meaningful connections.
Superficiality of Sensory Pleasures: The pleasures derived from sensory indulgence are superficial. The satisfaction is fleeting, and true, lasting contentment is often absent. While physical pleasure might provide momentary relief, it does not address deeper emotional or spiritual needs. This can lead to an ongoing sense of emptiness and longing, even as people try to fulfill their desires.
Cultural Reflections on Addiction: The discussion also touches on cultural phenomena like the sexual revolution, where society encouraged freedom from traditional norms. However, this freedom has not necessarily led to greater happiness. Instead, it has often led to more superficial relationships and more people feeling lonely, despite seemingly having freedom and choices.
Effect on Trust and Relationships: The deeper consequence of unchecked desire and addiction is the erosion of trust and the failure of relationships. As desires grow stronger, individuals may compromise their integrity, which can lead to broken marriages and personal disappointments. In the long term, even though the addiction might provide temporary pleasure, it diminishes the ability to form stable, trusting, and fulfilling relationships.
Overall Conclusion: The text conveys that sensory pleasures and indulgences, though enticing, ultimately fail to provide lasting happiness. They may offer temporary relief from inner turmoil, but they do not lead to real contentment or fulfillment. The cycle of desire and addiction, fueled by external temptations, leaves people feeling unfulfilled and disconnected, leading to a gradual erosion of relationships and trust.
When we indulge in pleasures without moderation, it can lead to a lack of meaningful relationships—no children, no family. This can result in extreme loneliness. At times, we may feel as if we are alive, but there’s no real life within us. We are alive, but there is nothing meaningful that gives us purpose.
Indulgence driven by unchecked desires can lead to a breakdown in society—both in the family structure and the individual psyche. In many places, especially in Western cultures, children grow up with the idea that pleasure and material gain are the primary goals. Yet, when they grow older, they find themselves emotionally disconnected and lonely. This breakdown often happens because people focus too much on sensory pleasures and neglect their emotional and spiritual needs.
In America, for example, foster care systems exist to take care of children who are neglected by their biological families. While some of these systems are well-intentioned, many children grow up in environments that, while physically secure, lack genuine emotional connection. This leads to long-term emotional scars, and many children end up addicted or struggling with a sense of purpose.
I’ve observed many children growing up in difficult situations—whether in foster care or in families that struggle with addiction. I’ve witnessed firsthand how such experiences shape their understanding of relationships and love. Some people, having experienced neglect or trauma, find it difficult to trust others and establish stable relationships. This can lead to cycles of addiction and personal breakdowns.
Yet, despite these struggles, some individuals manage to rise above their circumstances. In my travels, I’ve seen people who, despite difficult backgrounds, find strength through spirituality and service to others. True happiness, I believe, lies not in the fleeting pleasures of the world but in deeper connections with the divine and with those around us.
When I reflect on the issues in modern society—addiction, superficial pleasure-seeking, and emotional disconnect—I realize that many people are searching for something greater. People indulge in pleasure to fill the emptiness within, but it’s only temporary. This is what I believe to be the root cause of much of the unhappiness in the world today. Pleasure and indulgence, while momentarily satisfying, do not bring lasting peace.
Spirituality, on the other hand, offers something different. The soul’s true happiness is in connection with the divine, not in material gain or sensory indulgence. True fulfillment comes from seeking that deeper connection, and this is where true joy and satisfaction are found.
In conclusion, indulgence may provide temporary relief, but it never leads to lasting happiness. The real joy comes from cultivating spiritual understanding, making selfless commitments, and connecting with the divine. Only then can we transcend the superficial pleasures of the world and find true peace.
Pure bliss is the complete direction. When desires are excessive, the bliss is immense. But when we think of God, it’s as if the joy that one would get from God is the true bliss. When this transformation happens, it shifts into a different state. What does transformation mean?
It means we will naturally get involved in advertisement. The transformed state means our perception will change. What happens at that time is that the elixir, which initially seemed so small, will be realized as poison, while something that seemed like poison in the beginning, like spirituality, will transform into bliss. So, the desire for material things will vanish.
What is the mind? The mind is like a browser. Whatever enters our mind is like data in a browser. If happiness comes into our mind, what does the browser do? It auto-completes with ideas like “eat something, watch something, enjoy the world.” When we come to spiritual practices, we may initially feel a connection to peace, like when we visit a temple and experience a sense of calm. But soon, worldly desires might arise again, leading the mind to think of worldly pleasures instead.
Why is this so? It’s because of the mind’s automatic response, like the autocomplete in a browser. When we desire spiritual happiness, we need to change our mental programming. Repetition of certain practices or thoughts leads to transformation. The mind learns, just as when you repeatedly visit a website, your browser history changes and auto-suggestions appear.
The practice of spirituality requires persistence, just as we repeatedly search for something in a browser. As we practice regularly, the mind gets trained to choose spiritual happiness over material desires.
What is commitment in this context? Commitment is the determination to choose spiritual joy, just as we make a conscious choice to pursue spiritual practices instead of worldly distractions. This is a process that requires sustained effort and dedication.
If we keep at it, the transformation becomes easy. Over time, our mental state will shift from being focused on worldly joys to embracing the bliss that comes from spiritual fulfillment.
Ultimately, the mind is like a browser, and the more we reinforce spiritual practices and thoughts, the easier it becomes to transform our desires. The transformation process might take time, but with persistent effort, the mind will naturally shift to seeking higher, more lasting joy.
Through dedication and effort in spiritual practices, we can free ourselves from the cycle of worldly pleasures and attain true joy. This process involves refining the mind, much like training a browser’s history to reflect our intentions. The more we practice, the more it becomes an automatic response.
Even if we are given such an opportunity, what happens is that we cannot explain it using our Hindi skills. What is this about? Initially, it seems like pleasure, but in reality, it is a kind of relief. What comes at the end? A higher state emerges.
This is not exactly the same. What is it? In reality, it doesn’t have much meaning, and how will sociology relate to it? In some countries, in old age, there is a significant shift in perspective. What happens is, when people continue to indulge, they will not be able to form any meaningful relationships or commitments.
Later, they may not be able to do anything, even at the age of 1:55. If the desire for indulgence remains alive, the materialistic life won’t be able to continue. In old age, there is a release; it starts from youth and peaks in old age. The person might even feel less vibrant as time passes. At that point, they may focus on what their children or society thinks.
This issue is very serious at the societal level. After all, the pursuit of worldly pleasure, which initially feels like joy, is simply an illusion. So, what should we do? We need to make a decision, take a step toward what is higher, not just what is before us.
How do we break through the barriers? The wall we face is in our mind. Our mind is like a browser. When we seek happiness, it often leads to material happiness, which is sensory-based. This is an automatic response.
Now, what about spiritual happiness? How do we achieve that? We need practice, persistence, and effort to move beyond the automatic response of the mind. Practice is essential for spiritual transformation. This transformation will occur when we move beyond worldly distractions and start focusing on spiritual growth.
When we experience spiritual happiness, the material world starts to shrink, and the experience of divine bliss becomes clearer. This is when we are no longer attracted by fleeting worldly pleasures, and we can focus on the higher, more fulfilling spiritual joy.
The commitment to spiritual growth requires us to focus on our inner transformation, which involves breaking through the barriers that our minds have created. As we persist in spiritual practice, we begin to naturally align with divine bliss. This journey requires not just theoretical understanding but practical dedication.
In the process of transformation, we must recognize that we are all on different paths, and the journey is individual. We should not compare our progress with others. Spiritual progress is gradual, and each person’s experience will differ based on their own efforts and persistence.
The societal level is also crucial here. The changing dynamics of society—like the shifting definitions of relationships and the impact of Western ideals—create confusion. Yet, spiritual wisdom provides clarity. We must remember that true happiness does not lie in fleeting pleasures but in the enduring peace of spiritual fulfillment. This understanding needs to be conveyed, not just accepted blindly.
True transformation happens when we move away from distractions, when we embrace spiritual practices like satsang (spiritual gatherings) and pilgrimages, and experience the happiness that comes from spiritual growth. The key is to overcome the three gunas (qualities of nature): rajas (passion), tamas (ignorance), and sattva (purity). Moving from rajas and tamas towards sattva leads to true clarity and spiritual enlightenment.
The transformation process, whether it’s in our personal or societal life, requires dedication, focus, and practice. The real happiness comes from embracing a higher purpose, moving beyond material distractions, and choosing a path of spiritual fulfillment. Only then can we truly experience the peace and joy that transcend worldly pleasures.
What is this in the context of excitement? If you drink alcohol, it can give you a light, carefree feeling. The experience of drinking can be pleasant at first, but is that what people refer to as the “honeymoon phase”? They say, “I find it easy to sweat in excitement.” So, it’s important to maintain a positive mindset in the beginning, and as we gain experience, we can share the problems related to this enjoyment, explaining how it might not lead to true happiness. It’s not about criticizing someone, like saying, “You are fallen, and you’re going to hell,” but rather about pointing out the moral and ethical implications.
The moral discourse goes like this: “You’re not giving enough, who are you to define morality? My morality is different from yours.” It’s all about different definitions. For example, we don’t tell someone, “You’re wrong to drink.” We need to logically explain things, especially when it comes to enjoyment and the consequences associated with it, like Krishna’s teachings on attachment and pleasure.
At the beginning of any venture, we have two paths to choose: one is for enjoyment, and the other is for enlightenment. The exciting phase can be confusing, and some might question if the excitement actually takes away from the enjoyment itself. It’s an interesting question.
How do we handle this? The journey is filled with challenges, but there is enjoyment on one side and liability on the other. We might feel the need to push others toward one side, but it’s not about giving up enjoyment entirely; it’s about redefining what enjoyment means.
We all have a definition of happiness, and alcohol, for some, is associated with that definition of pleasure. So, when someone decides to quit drinking, they might feel like they are giving up their happiness. But the process of renunciation isn’t about giving up external things. It’s about changing our internal definitions and perceptions.
Take, for example, a child born into a family that doesn’t have alcohol as a part of their culture. For that child, drinking is not even considered as an option. So, giving it up is not a big deal because it was never a part of their definition of happiness.
But for someone else who associates enjoyment with alcohol, giving it up becomes a challenge. The key is to change the definition of enjoyment in our minds. Once we do that, it becomes easier to move away from these habits. It’s not about giving up enjoyment but redefining it.
As we continue the journey, there comes a point where we realize that our old definition of enjoyment no longer serves us. We start to look for something deeper, something more meaningful. It’s a process of transition: from enjoyment to enlightenment. But this transition doesn’t happen overnight; it requires effort, understanding, and a shift in perspective.
In terms of our desires and cravings, it’s important to recognize that they don’t disappear easily. Cravings can intensify, but we can train our minds to manage them. The struggle is real, but through practice, we can overcome these distractions. Just as we can “cheat” ourselves into thinking we are happy with temporary pleasures, we can also “cheat” ourselves into seeking lasting fulfillment by training our minds.
Our mind often leads us to desire what feels good in the moment, but when we indulge without understanding the consequences, it ultimately leads to dissatisfaction. It’s like a cycle that repeats itself, with the mind provoking us to continue, only to regret it later. The true challenge is breaking free from this cycle.
In life, we often face temptations, and we may be tempted to stray from our purpose. But our minds are like a guide—at one point, it may encourage us to make decisions that aren’t in our best interest, but later, it punishes us for doing so. It’s a dynamic process of trial and error, but ultimately, it is about aligning our actions with a higher purpose.
As we understand and recognize our desires, we can learn to manage them, and through consistent practice, we can move toward a more fulfilling life. The journey is not easy, but with determination, we can change our definitions and transform our experiences into something deeper and more meaningful.
What happens? How foolish are you? How useless are you? So, what happens when we’re faced with urges and these urges surge? This surge is a negative feeling, it goes way up.
When these urges are low, sometimes we can’t resist. Even when we can’t resist, what we can do is to insist in between. What does that mean? When the desire arises, we might have acted on it. For this, we might discipline ourselves, rise up, control ourselves with devotion, or do some service. If we continue to persist in managing the urges, they gradually lose their intensity.
This is a way of reducing the intensity over time. Even when we can’t resist fully, we can assist ourselves in dealing with these urges. The intensity of the urges doesn’t last forever; it fades if we persist. It doesn’t continuously torment us. When we let go of the intensity, we begin to feel less tortured and more positive about the situation. We can perform good deeds, fulfill our responsibilities, and focus on the positive.
When facing an increase in external difficulties, it might feel overwhelming. But we must persist and endure. Over time, it will reduce. This can be likened to a match – initially, it’s very intense, but eventually, the energy starts to dissipate.
Sometimes, life feels like a struggle, similar to a match that is set to burn out. If we hold on long enough, the intensity will fade. But if we let the intensity control us, it will be unbearable. The key is persistence. The more we focus on enduring, the more manageable the situation becomes.
We often think that we can’t endure anymore, but with time and patience, the intensity starts to ease. The pain decreases, and with perseverance, we come to realize that we are capable of handling much more than we initially thought.
This process of enduring and learning to manage our desires allows us to grow spiritually. It’s like the temporary nature of our emotions and situations – they are fleeting. But if we keep thinking about them negatively, we increase the burden on ourselves. We must understand that our mind is capable of manipulating us, convincing us to focus on our desires, but we need to control our thoughts.
For example, if someone is in a situation where they are being criticized or punished, they might feel guilty. But we should recognize that guilt, if used positively, can be a means to grow. It’s important to differentiate between destructive guilt and the constructive guilt that helps us improve.
When we do something wrong, we might feel guilty, but we should not let that guilt paralyze us. Instead, we should understand that guilt can help us evolve if we use it to correct our mistakes.
Sometimes, the mind plays tricks on us, and we end up caught in a cycle of guilt. But it’s essential to understand that true growth comes from learning to handle our emotions and using them as a stepping stone to personal development.
We might not always know the right way to handle things, but by practicing patience, dedication, and intelligent action, we can overcome challenges and grow stronger. In the end, our goals and definitions of success should be based on wisdom, not immediate gratification.
We often get caught up in temporary roles and identities – like being a professional, an entrepreneur, or a student – but these are all fleeting. It’s important to remember that these roles don’t define us. True growth comes when we transcend them and focus on deeper values.
As we continue our journey, we must be aware of the illusions that the mind creates, the excuses it presents, and the challenges it throws at us. By remaining mindful, we can overcome these obstacles and stay on course to a higher purpose.
There could be some reasons, some notes extracted, and if it seems like there’s a possibility here, when someone asks a question, it’s best not to see the faults of others. If someone is asking a lot of questions, we might think that they are more intellectual, and thus an explanation might be very important for them. So, we try, but sometimes the explanation is not sufficient.
In some cases, an explanation may not even be available. Some people need it, while others don’t. Some people require a detailed explanation, so we need to convey the information in a way they can understand. But why is it necessary to do so?
How do we say that the point is to reach this answer? Maybe this answer makes sense to us. But I am here and now I understand my answer from here. If someone is here, what is the mission of their answer? Maybe we need to alter it slightly, saying that we might not have been sensitive at the time and that things have changed a bit.
In such situations, there may not be jealousy or bitterness. So, we can give a little more explanation. If we explain it from a different perspective, it may make more sense. The explanation depends on the perspective of the listener. Thus, the right approach would be to explain things in a way that works for them.
What is being promoted here is that answers can come from different perspectives. We need to study things from various angles. The one who is a skilled thinker can provide answers from various viewpoints so that others can understand better. But we also need to decide how much explanation is necessary.
If we put in the effort and still the person doesn’t accept it, we must understand that maybe they are not ready to accept it yet. For most of them, intellect might be just an excuse, a way to cover up their unwillingness. But don’t jump to conclusions like this.
They may be making excuses. For example, I travel to five or six countries, and they don’t know anything about the culture. But when they understand everything, it becomes clear. For instance, I was once in Australia, and when I was talking to someone there, they asked, “Why do people kiss the world when the conch is blown?”
For them, it was a serious question. Sometimes, we may find such questions ridiculous, but for the person asking, it might be very serious. Therefore, in devotional life, it is important to understand the association of the mind. If a person is a scholar or an intellectual devotee, they may need a different approach or analysis to help them understand better.
There are different practices for devotion, as some may need more practice, while others may need to practice at specific times. Because devotion is independent, it can be practiced by anyone. Devotion is powerful, but each person’s mind works differently. So, the process of changing the mind may be different for each person, and understanding them from various perspectives is crucial.
If someone’s desire is very intense, it will manifest rapidly. But in some places, even a strong desire may take time to come. Everyone’s journey is different.
Devotion is such a spiritual path that it can help relieve anxiety and bring enlightenment. Through devotion, we can connect directly with the divine and rise above our limitations. It’s a path that can uplift us but it’s also essential to make sure the person is ready for that progress.
If a person is not ready, their spiritual progress may not happen. In that case, the thoughts and teachings may not reach them. However, everyone learns at their own pace, and God’s grace is available to all. As we move forward on our own journey, we should help others progress according to their unique path.
So Thankyou very much….