To understand how desire management can progress in our inner world, let’s compare it with how people management may progress in the outer world. Both can rise through four broad stages: 

Anarchy: Just as many people clamoring for power make a state chaotic, many desires competing within us distract us constantly, preventing us from doing anything steadily. Such inner anarchy corresponds with the mode of ignorance (Bhagavad-gita 16.16). 

Tyranny: Just as one person may grab power in a state, one desire may become our dominant desire. Just as a ruler may violate others’ rights, our ruling desire may violate ethical boundaries. Scarily, we don’t control such a desire; it controls us — as becomes evident when it goads us into regrettable actions. Such inner tyranny corresponds with the mode of passion (03.36-37). 

Hierarchy: A well-organized state, even a democratic state, places its citizens in a healthy hierarchy according to the abilities they have and the responsibilities they take. Similarly, we too strive to place our desires in a healthy hierarchy according to how they contribute to our holistic well-being. Such inner hierarchy corresponds with the mode of goodness (18.30). 

Harmony: When citizens are educated and ethical, they can come to an overall agreement about the state’s purposes and practices. So too can our desires when we educate them with philosophical wisdom and elevate them with spiritual practices. Such inner harmony characterizes existence in transcendence: in loving union with the Divine (05.29). 

Gita wisdom took Arjuna’s inner state from anarchy (02.06) to harmony (18.73). And it can do the same for all of us too. 

One-sentence summary:

By educating and elevating our desires, we can raise our inner state progressively from anarchy or tyranny to hierarchy and eventually harmony. 

Think it over:

  • Note one occasion each when you were subjected to the anarchy or tyranny of desires.
  • Whenever you have achieved anything meaningful, note how you placed your desires in a hierarchy.
  • How can you educate and elevate your desires? 

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18.73: Arjuna said: My dear Krishna, O infallible one, my illusion is now gone. I have regained my memory by Your mercy. I am now firm and free from doubt and am prepared to act according to Your instructions.

 

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