CHAPTER 3, TEXT 33: Even a man of knowledge acts according to his own nature, for everyone follows the nature he has acquired from the three modes. What can repression accomplish?
The phrase nigrahaḥ kiṁ kariṣyati is translated as "What can repression accomplish?" This is a rhetorical question, because if this question is asked to any sane, intelligent person, the response would most likely be:
"A headache."
"Frustration."
"Nothing."
Repression is simply not a healthy way to live life and it accomplishes nothing. Krishna mentions that we're all conditioned by this world, "even a man of knowledge," so there's no point in denying reality and repressing one's nature and one's desires.
A very straightforward example of this is eating. The human body (and all living bodies on the planet) is built to eat and digest food. Sometimes the pursuit for not only food but delicious food is a major source of anxiety and turmoil for the living being.
So how about... not eating? After all, food is entangling - all that money! all those calories! all that time to prepare it!
But asking "How about we just stop eating?" is about as productive of a question as "What can repression accomplish?" Repressing our need to eat leads to headache, frustration, and absolutely nothing.
We need to eat. We need to sleep. We need a place to live. We need work. We need money and a livelihood. We need human connection. We need to be understood.
In this regard, Krishna advises that we do our duties and simply keep Him in our hearts with devotion. Prabhupad writes, "Kṛṣṇa consciousness helps one to get out of the material entanglement, even though one may be engaged in his prescribed duties in terms of material existence (159). This approach to spiritual life is very practical. Do your prescribed duties - do the needful - and remain conscious of Krishna. Anyone can do this. This path is open to the entire world at all times.
In practical terms, this means that I can take the food that I was already going to eat and simply offer it to Krishna first with a little love. That food then transforms my mind and even my body. This is beyond repression - this is expression of love.
The phrase nigrahaḥ kiṁ kariṣyati is translated as "What can repression accomplish?" This is a rhetorical question, because if this question is asked to any sane, intelligent person, the response would most likely be:
"A headache."
"Frustration."
"Nothing."
Repression is simply not a healthy way to live life and it accomplishes nothing. Krishna mentions that we're all conditioned by this world, "even a man of knowledge," so there's no point in denying reality and repressing one's nature and one's desires.
A very straightforward example of this is eating. The human body (and all living bodies on the planet) is built to eat and digest food. Sometimes the pursuit for not only food but delicious food is a major source of anxiety and turmoil for the living being.
So how about... not eating? After all, food is entangling - all that money! all those calories! all that time to prepare it!
But asking "How about we just stop eating?" is about as productive of a question as "What can repression accomplish?" Repressing our need to eat leads to headache, frustration, and absolutely nothing.
We need to eat. We need to sleep. We need a place to live. We need work. We need money and a livelihood. We need human connection. We need to be understood.
In this regard, Krishna advises that we do our duties and simply keep Him in our hearts with devotion. Prabhupad writes, "Kṛṣṇa consciousness helps one to get out of the material entanglement, even though one may be engaged in his prescribed duties in terms of material existence (159). This approach to spiritual life is very practical. Do your prescribed duties - do the needful - and remain conscious of Krishna. Anyone can do this. This path is open to the entire world at all times.
In practical terms, this means that I can take the food that I was already going to eat and simply offer it to Krishna first with a little love. That food then transforms my mind and even my body. This is beyond repression - this is expression of love.
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