The more we consider others’ need the more we can free ourselves from our greed Gita 05.21

Transcript

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others needs the more we can free ourselves from our greed suppose we came to our home and were hungry and saw some food in our fridge being extremely hungry we might just gobble down all the food even though it is more than what we need but suppose we came with someone else maybe a friend or a family member who is also just as hungry as us and we both opened the fridge then naturally we would consider the other person and we would divide that food so when we think of others needs and then we think of our greed then satisfying our greed doesn’t seem enjoyable or even acceptable because we can perceive that it is at the cost of someone else’s need this principle is always true though most of the time how our greed deprives others of their need is not so clearly visible the earth we live in gives a finite amount of resources and leave alone all living beings even just for human beings itself what the earth produces is not always enough especially if some living beings start exploiting the earth’s resources and consuming them disproportionately because of their greed if we sensitize ourselves to the needs of others by consciously directing our thoughts outside of ourselves to others then giving up greed will become easier for us in most cultures across the world commensality or the act of eating together is an important cultural practice because not only does it create a sense of community among people but also increases the sense of sharing and caring within the social unit be it a family or a community. Gita wisdom can take this appreciation to an even higher level by explaining that when we think about others we are not depriving ourselves if our greed is very strong then not pandering to that greed can seem like deprivation but if we develop our consciousness spiritually and cultivate not just selflessness but spiritual selflessness by seeing that we all are parts of the whole Krishna and that by serving him we are actually serving him and by serving other living beings in relationship with him we are actually nourishing our core just as pouring water at the root of a tree waters all the branches twigs and leaves of the tree.
Similarly when we care for others with a mood of caring for Krishna then we will experience a sublime spiritual satisfaction that will gradually make all feelings of material deprivation decrease and disappear