“A person who is not disturbed by the incessant flow of desires—that enter like rivers into the ocean, which is ever being filled but is always still — can alone achieve peace, and not the man who strives to satisfy such desires.” (Bhagavad-gita As It Is, 2.70)
I remember when I first read this. It sounded so right that I wanted to base my whole life on it.
I spent huge chunks of my early life in “constant chase” mode, striving to satisfy the incessant flow of desires. I don’t remember many peaceful moments. I felt like Bugs Bunny in Grey Hounded Hare, chasing an electric “rabbit” around a greyhound race track. It looked like a cute female bunny—he couldn’t help but run after “her.” But what happens when he attains the object of his desire?
Way too slowly, way too late in life, I’m learning the importance of examining whatever it is I’m running after. Who said “the unexamined life is not worth living?” Socrates. If it’s not worth looking at closely, it ain’t worth running after.
If I hadn’t read Bhagavad-gita, hadn’t spent so many years with thoughtful, detached, scripturally astute Krishna devotees, I probably wouldn’t know there was any mode except “constant chase.” I would likely have spent the rest of this life—and who knows how many subsequent lives— chasing one electric bunny after another. I still catch myself doing it, but at least now I notice; I know I can switch to another mode.
The trick is learning how to catch myself—“what am I running after? Is it worth it? What’s the end result?” Think things through. “What’s likely to happen if I run after it and catch it?”
One great thing about “running after” Krishna, in His many forms, is that satisfaction is guaranteed. On my really good days I chant as if I’m running after the Name. The Name is right there—I’m saying it over and over—at the same time my mood is to chase it.
With Krishna, there’s satisfaction in the chase, and in the attainment. You get peace and happiness. You can’t always say that for material things. Even if you catch it, get it, and feel some satisfaction, you can’t keep it, whatever it is. How disappointing these scenarios often turn out to be.
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