Gita 02.55 – The holy name takes our quest for happiness beyond the mind to the soul

Will inspire us to absorb ourselves in the holy name in Gita infuse up all external desires and then where are all these desires born from? although it is Sarvan might seem like giving up all desires but that Sarvan is qualified with Manobhataan all desire is born from the mind are there any other kind of desires also? that is pointed to in the third part of the verse so one gets happiness within the self such is the characteristic of a person who is situated in knowledge whose intelligence is firmly situated if one is to give up all desires then isn't one also to give up the desire for happiness and no it is the desire for happiness that is concocted by the mind that is to be given up but beyond the desire for happiness from the mind is the natural state of the soul to be happy in relationship with Krishna and Ananda is an intrinsic feature of the soul and that doesn't need to be given up at all rather that is to be reclaimed so the mind one Atma can be translated various ways over here with the purified mind finds satisfaction in the self what this means is the mind instead of seeking happiness outwards seeks happiness inwards how inwards? by focusing on realizing and relishing one's spiritual nature and actually the process of chanting offers us the opportunity to do both to both turn inwards and seek higher happiness and also to stop the flow of desires and thoughts outwards when we chant at that time the holy name is offering us the means by which we can actually take ourselves closer to Krishna to go inwards and nature of the soul is not just to exist in isolation from the rest of reality experiencing its Ananda merely as a abstract conception or as a passive presence as a passive pervasion but rather it is a dynamic reciprocation between the soul and Krishna yes as compared to the insignificance of sensual pleasure the pleasure at the deeper level is higher the pleasure at the spiritual level is better just at the Atma level but at the level of Bhakti where it is the connection between Atma and the Lord the pleasure is much higher and it is that happiness that we long for when we connect with Krishna and for that connection the holy name offers us a very accessible and relishable way now actually this verse can be a good meditation whenever we are trying to focus ourselves on Krishna there are so many desires that will make me happy those things may give us some pleasure but beyond all those things is ultimately the soul's relationship with Krishna and that relationship is what is the source of the ultimate Sakar, the ultimate satisfaction the ultimate shelter and we can get that through the process of meditation so when the mind starts going here and there just give up those desires which all desires? now Kama doesn't necessarily mean only lust it just means generically desire for outer pleasure those which are born by just the random wandering of the mind dwell within, seek within, relish within and the holy name takes us within towards our indwelling Lord Krishna by which we can connect and relish.