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58. Desires and Four Stages of Life

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Krishna says (2.67) that the mind, which follows roving senses, carries away one's intellect as the wind carries away the boat on the water. The wind is a metaphor for our desires which drives our mind and senses making intellect (boat) unstable.  In the context of desires, life is divided into four stages namely Brahmacharya (bachelor), Grihast (householder), Vanaprastha (facing forest) and Sanyasa (renunciation) where division isn't just on age but also on the intensity of living.  The first stage includes growing up, gathering theoretical knowledge and physical strength along with some basic skills. In the second stage, it's family, work, refining skills, gathering possessions and memories, exposure to various facets of life and gaining life experiences through pursuing passions and desires either with success or failure. Through this process, one attains a cocktail of knowledge, skill and life experiences which is the breeding ground for awareness.  Tran

57. Centred in the Middle

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Krishna says (2.66) that the ' ayukta ’ (imbalanced) lacks both buddhi (intellect) and bhaav (emotions) and as a result, he will not get shanti and there is no joy for the peace less. Krishna laid emphasis on equanimity (2.38 and 2.48) and this verse highlights the same from a different angle.  Till one learns to centre oneself in the 'middle', one is likely to anchor oneself at one of the 'other' centres like friends, enemy, work, spouse, children, money, pleasure, power, possessions etc. and this anchoring is the hallmark of the ayukta .  If someone is centred on money, all his plans and actions revolve around maximizing wealth at the cost of all other things like relationships, health etc. One doesn't hesitate to deceive, cheat or do anything to attain pleasure if one is pleasure-oriented. A spouse oriented person evaluates the entire word as to how their spouse is treated. One can also be enemy centred, thinking about how to damage his enemies