Gita 12.14 To sustain satisfaction, seek absorption

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of bhakti, that those who are devoted to God have godly qualities. Thank you.

Here Krishna is continuing to discuss about the qualities in a devotee that endear the devotee to him. Such devotees are dear to me. This section starts from 12.13 and goes to 12.20. And here, in this particular verse, Krishna is saying, yogi who is satisfied always, one who is self-controlled, determined, and whose mind and intelligence are devoted to me, are dedicated to me.

Such a devotee is dear to me. Sameer Priyaha. So Krishna, in this verse, is talking about santushtha.

Let's look at the quality. Santushtha, satisfied. Now, satisfaction in material circles is often seen as a disqualification.

People feel that, oh, if you're satisfied, then you're not ambitious. You know, if you want to be, if you want to grow in your life, then you should be dissatisfied. The spiritual vision is different.

Yes, we all want to progress in life. We all want to move forward and do more things, learn and grow, that all that drive to do better is fine. But it needs to be properly directed.

At the material level, when we try to improve things, we end up actually staying always dissatisfied. We never really get something which helps us grow. We never really get something which makes us fulfilled, that we lead our life as if chasing a mirage.

We do one thing hoping that it will give us satisfaction, but then that thing goes over. That thing doesn't give us the elusive satisfaction, the satisfaction which remains elusive. And then we try the next thing, and a thing after that, and a thing after that.

And in that way, we chase one thing after another, but never get satisfaction. So in contrast with such state of constant dissatisfaction is the state we refer to here, satatam santushtaha, santushtaha satatam yogi, yatatma dhrudh nishchayaha. So this verse talks about the state in which a person is constantly satisfied.

That is, as we say, the opposite satatam. So materialistic consciousness keeps us constantly dissatisfied. Devotional consciousness can keep us constantly satisfied.

Santushtaha satatam yogi, yatatma dhrudh nishchayaha, yatatma. Now how is satisfaction possible? We need self-control. The mind and senses are always going to run here, there, and everywhere.

And when they run here and there, they are going to crave for objects. I want this, I want that, that's so good, this is so bad. And when we are craving thus, we just can't be satisfied.

That's why for the sake of satisfaction, it is vital that we acknowledge the importance right from the beginning of self-control. When we let ourselves dwell on the things that we don't have, we will become dissatisfied. But when we meditate on the things that we do have, and that enables us to become satisfied.

And this capacity to dwell on the things which we have instead of instead of grieving about the things which we don't have, that comes by the practice of bhakti. That comes by sense control. And sense control is not easy.

Satdhrudh nishchayaha. We need determination for that purpose. So if we may have a particular level of wealth, and our mind may always look at some others who have more wealth than us.

If we say, I want that, I want that, I want that. And if we keep dwelling on it, we will stay dissatisfied. But if we, instead of dwelling on that level or on what others don't have, or what others have and what we don't have, if we focus on what we do have, and we gain satisfaction by that, then we can… that requires sense control, that requires determination.

But that actually is the way to lasting satisfaction. And this requires Ultimately, Krishna is the source of the supreme satisfaction. And to the extent we situate ourselves in Krishna, to the extent we become absorbed in Krishna, to that extent we experience the supreme satisfaction.

So satisfaction, these are four distinct qualities, but we can also consider a causal chain between these qualities. So satisfaction requires self-control, which requires determination, and which can come best through absorption. So we can if we want satisfaction in life, absorption is the foundation of satisfaction.

Even if you're drinking a simple glass of water, if we are focused on it, absorbed in it, we can meditate, oh, this water is life sustaining. This water is so vital for my survival. And Krishna is so kind that he is providing me this water.

And of course, if we have the Bhagavata understanding, we can say that if the taste of water is Krishna, rasoham apsu kaunteya, that can deepen our appreciation. So actually, even drinking a glass of water can give us satisfaction. But so there is here higher contemplation, there is higher meditation, there is devotional absorption, anyone drinking a glass of water can provide satisfaction.

In contrast, we may have the most delicious foods to eat, but if we are distracted, then we'll be looking, oh, got this delicacy, but that delicacy is not there. Oh, that delicacy is not there. Oh, will this be there? Will that be there? And like that, even with profuse amount of sense gratification available still will not be satisfied.

So, the way to satisfaction is through higher absorption. And Krishna says over here, the devotees who keep themselves thus absorbed constructively, they will be, they are very dear to me. Going over this chain once again, santushta satatam yogi.

If we decide, I won't be satisfied. If you want to earn money, then there is no limit to how much money we can choose. We may work for eight hours, but then we can choose to work for 10 hours or 12 hours.

We may do this adjustment and that adjustment. Try that scheme and then think about that and that, and in that way, we can get captivated, we can get consumed, but santushta satatam. Yataatmaa durdhishchaya.

Yataatmaa. Okay, self-control. Yeah, I'm not going to crave for this or that or that.

One important thing for resisting self-control, for sustaining self-control is to recognize that rejecting desires is not deprivation. Rejecting desires can also be selection. Yeah, this is not important for me.

And I'm not giving this up. I actually, by taking this up, I will be giving something more important up. And when we see it that way, then we won't give it up.

And thus, we will be able to move onwards steadily. And durdhishchaya. So, that nishchaya, the determination is required for when we have something higher, when we have something, when we have a yes for something important burning within us, then a no for something less important is much more easier.

But when we don't have that yes burning, then no for almost anything becomes very difficult, because no creates a sense of deprivation. And thus, mayi arpitamano buddhir. If we have this understanding that actually I want to be absorbed in Krishna, that I want to devote myself to Krishna, then the cultivation of.