The mind and senses throw up myriad desires for happiness, but as long as we are in the game of fulfilling them, happiness remains illusory, like the mirage. The same logic applies to desires as well. That is the secret for getting peace from the itch. Instead, if someone can tolerate the itch for some time, it begins losing its sting, and dies down slowly. For a few moments, there is relief, and then the itch returns with greater force. But scratching does not solve the problem. The itch is troublesome and creates an irresistible urge to scratch.

These desires can be compared to an itch in the body. IF ANYONE HAS ANY KIND OF DESIRES OR EXPECTATIONS, HE CAN NEVER BE TRULY SPIRITUAL SAINT. Shree Krishna is describing it here, in response to Arjun’s question. Hence, knowingly or unknowingly, everyone craves for it, in all cultures around the world. The fact is that the urge for enlightenment is the intrinsic nature of the soul. One may wonder how an English poet expressed the same state of enlightenment that is described by the Supreme Lord. The popularity of this poem shows the natural urge in people to reach the state of enlightenment, which Shree Krishna describes to Arjun. Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,Īnd-which is more-you’ll be a Man, my son!

With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run, If all men count with you, but none too much:

If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you, If you can meet with Triumph and DisasterĪnd treat those two impostors just the same… If you can think-and not make thoughts your aim, If you can dream-and not make dreams your master Rudyard Kipling, a famous British poet, has encapsulated the essence of this verse on Sthita prjña (Sage of steady intelligence) in his famous poem “If.” Here are a few lines from the poem:

Then you ll be a man my son