Bhagavad Geeta 152 - Chapter 12 - Bannanje Govindacharya (12.15 - 12.16)

12.15 Udvijate - comes from Dhatu "O Viji" - movement or (when used with Ut) panic/anxiety. Udvega is not fear but panic. Anecdote of Bannanje Govindacharya when he trekked a mountain - they had to camp midway late at night in the middle of the forest. Spent the whole night anxious (Udvega). Rishis were not anxious despite living in forests - they showed the animals they loved them. Animals attack when they fear humans, but Rishis and animals loved each other. Example of a Saadhaka who slept next to a snake showing that it won't bite him due to his love. Anecdote of Bannanje Govindacharya's cat who used to scratch him in love and hurt him. He gave it away. It was dejected, stopped eating and died. Animals love us more than we love them. So Krishna says one must show love and everyone must love us. Bannanje Govindacharyara opinion that this love and affection comes naturally to villagers even among those who have no education. Educated city folk have arrogance and less affection. Scholarship should not become the reason for such intolerance and hate. Krishna says one must give up Harsha - hypocrisy - presenting yourself as something you are not. Or Harsha - arrogantly doing what you know is wrong ("I don't care even if its wrong"). Krishna says one must give up Amarsha - intolerance when others do the right thing. We tend to dislike others when they do the right things and it goes against our personal interest. Amarsha is also the quality where one points out the defects in others without recognizing the good. Harsha is confidently doing wrong (it is okay to mistakenly do wrong and repent but not confidently follow wrong). Aamarsha is dislike for others doing the right. Anecdote from Bannanje Govindacharya - a boy who had a habit of stealing. When Acharyaru confronted him, he showed extreme repentance, weeping and said that he isn't able to control the habit. Krishna asks to give up Bhaya - the fear that our true intentions/actions will be revealed - meaning give up such actions that you are afraid to show everyone. Krishna says Udvega again - anxiety because we see everyone with doubts and trust no one. If we trust people and animals, there is no Udvega. We must always trust everyone but default until proven wrong. Example of Duryodhana who was taught politics by Kaninka - he taught him that one shouldn't trust anyone. This is why Duryodhana trusted no one, even Bheeshma who was his own commander-in-chief. 12.16 Krishna continues the qualities of those dear to him. Anapeksha - not expecting anything. Expectations are the reason for disappointment and depression. Example of Jada Bharata who sat on the streets without any expectations - eating when people offered, working when they called, wearing clothes he found - remained very happy. Example of Siloncha Vritti (practiced by Dronacharya initially) - not accepting anything anyone offers - just living on excesses of others - fruits that remain on trees after birds eat, excess crops etc. Example of Shivananda who started an Anna Daana in Hrishikesha. When a rich man offered a blank cheque for the initiative, he rejected it. He said the offerings of happy devotees eating there are sufficient - this is Anapeksha. Example of Lal Bahadur Shastri - strived for the country all day and ate old Roti at midnight after he was done - no expectations for the hard work. Shuchi - Krishna says one's mind should be pure. Daksha - Skillful in the way to lead life - i.e. with a pure mind and no expectations.