In the previous class, we discussed chapt. 2 verse 62-63.

This verses were about attachment and how it leads to mans downfall. Krishna explains to Arjuna how this attachment is the source of all evil in the case of the unsuccessful.

62. Krishna first explains that when a man has lingering thoughts of an object, he gets "attached" to the object. This object, when not received, will create a "desire" for this  object. Finally this verse states that as we still do not receive the "object", we start to "anger".

(example) We as humans are very attached to material things, such as food. Certain people love food and develop an "attachment" for it. They constantly crave the food, and "desire" starts to affect them. If they do not receive the food, they get "angry" since they cannot think of anything else but the food that they do not posses.

63. From here, Krishna then shows how "anger" for not having the object meddles and disturbs our mind, leading us to "delusion". When this happens, we "lose our memory" of other things that impact our life. This causes the "destruction of discrimination" making our conscience to leave us. from here, we are a non-intelligent being and as such, we "perish"

(example) Because of our anger, we think of only the food, we forget about our duties, such as studying. We had a test and because our thoughts were only on food, we did not study and failed. With our thoughts on this one desire, we become a more base being, making us unable to fulfill our duties, ultimately "perishing" us.

Krishna tells this to Arjuna to make him understand that he has to control his senses. Once Arjuna does this, he will become a man of perfection. This tells us to control our mind as even though it can positively influence us, it can also hurt us.

By Ashay Morwale