Some people learn so much from small incidents in daily life, whereas others forget the lessons learned through big blunders. Why the difference? Are some people genetically designed to success and some, to fail?

Gita wisdom explains that we aren’t genetically designed, but we are karmically inclined. We all are souls on a multi-life journey of spiritual evolution. On this journey, we all carry from one life to the next many mental impressions that we have acquired from our previous lives. And those impressions are such that they impel us toward certain kinds of behavior. The Bhagavad-gita (16.06) declares that all living beings can be classified into two broad categories: godly and ungodly. We all are born with divine or demonic impressions that have formed in our minds based on the kinds of actions we have done in our previous lives. These impressions shape our perceptions, convictions and actions. 

Those with godly impressions have the insight to not fall for sensual temptations, even if those temptations look very alluring. In contrast, those with ungodly impressions continue believing that sensuality will soon give them immense pleasure, even if that pleasure has eluded them millions of times. 

Though our past impressions impel us toward certain actions, they don’t compel us. Even though they push us in particular directions, we can use our free will to counter-push. And our counter-pushing capacity increases manifold if we learn to harmonize our human will with divine will, thereby gaining access to God’s omnipotent grace.   

By acknowledging that we are products of our past, we can be prepared for our inclinations. And by asserting that we are not prisoners of our past, we can practice bhakti-yoga diligently and create a freer and more fulfilling future. 

 

Think it over:

  • Why do we have certain inclinations?
  • How can we overcome our inclinations?
  • Which limb of bhakti empowers you to resist your unhealthy inclinations?

 

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16.06 O son of Prutha, in this world there are two kinds of created beings. One is called divine and the other demoniac. I have already explained to you at length the divine qualities. Now hear from Me of the demoniac.

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