February24 – Bhagavadgita Chapter 2; Verses 2.66 (Day 55) Sankhya Yoga

 February 24 – Day 55

Verse 2.66 

नास्ति बुद्धिरयुक्तस्य न चायुक्तस्य भावना ।

न चाभावयतः शान्तिरशान्तस्य कुतः सुखम् ॥ २-६६॥ 

nāsti buddhir ayuktasya na chāyuktasya bhāvanā
na chābhāvayataḥ śhāntir aśhāntasya kutaḥ sukham (2.66) 

நாஸ்தி¹ பு³த்³தி⁴ரயுக்¹த¹ஸ்ய ந சா¹யுக்¹த¹ஸ்ய பா⁴வனா |
ந சா¹பா⁴வயத¹: ஶான்தி¹ரஶான்த¹ஸ்ய கு¹த¹: ஸுக²ம் ||66|| 

66. There is no knowledge of the Self to the unsteady, and to the unsteady no meditation is possible; and to the un-meditative there can be no peace; and to the man who has no peace, how can there be happiness? 

Commentary: The man who cannot fix his mind in meditation cannot have knowledge of the Self.  The unsteady man cannot practice meditation.  He cannot have even intense devotion to Self-Knowledge nor can he have burning longing for liberation or Moksha.  He who does not practice meditation cannot possess peace of mind.  How can the man who has no peace of mind enjoy happiness?

Desire or Trishna (thirsting for sense-objets) is the enemy of peace.  There cannot be an iota or tinge of happiness for a man who is thirsting for sensual objects.  The mind will be ever restless, and will be hankering for the objects.  Only when this thirsting dies, does man enjoy peace.  Only then can he meditate and rest in the Self. 

Commentary by Swami Venkatesananda:

‘Peace above all’ should be the wise man’s motto to guide his life. For if there is no peace of mind, one cannot have the least happiness here. Peace cannot be had in the market! One cannot strive for this peace which is disturbed by the very effort! It has to be discovered within oneself, and what is more important and difficult, too, it has to be preserved without being disturbed by anything that happens around one. This is possible only if we meditate regularly and build a ‘shock-proof’ protective armour around ourselves. Meditation will provide us with the background of thought (like ‘I am the immortal ᾱtman, a witness of this world-play untouched by pain’) and, by diligent, effortless alertness we should maintain this background of thought. This background of thought is, however, not thought, but an awareness of truth beyond thought. It is this truth which is realised in meditation.

Peace is happiness: they are indistinguishable. Even worldly happiness is not possible if we do not enjoy peace of mind. Craving for pleasure drives pleasure or happiness away by creating a tension or stress. Satisfying this craving only temporarily allays the tension by weakening it. But soon the tension is built up again: it is pain. The peace sustained by regular meditation and coupled with the four-fold bhāvanā or sane attitude towards our neighbours (friendliness towards equals, happiness at the status of superiors, compassion for the less fortunate, and indifference towards the wicked) will ensure unperturbable inner tranquillity and, thus, supreme and perennial bliss. The awareness of truth beyond thought – the inner light – will make it impossible for any disturbing thought to arise, though natural life (with the natural functions, thought, word and deed) will continue to flow in inner and outer harmony. 

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