86. Drop both Lust and Resolve

Every culture evolved some ‘dos’ and ‘don’ts’ for peace in society and with the evolution of justice systems, some ‘don’ts’ have come to be recognised as punishable offences. Criminal jurisprudence holds that a crime requires both intent and action. Intent is the thought behind the crime and action is the physical part. Proof of both components is essential to convict any person of a crime.

If we take the intent as sankalp (will or purpose or motive or resolve) and execution as kaam (desire), we can understand Krishna’s saying, “He whose pursuits are free from kaam and sankalp (kaam-sankalp-varjitah); whose actions are burnt by the fire of knowledge, him the wise call a pandit (sage)” (4.19).

Society is satisfied as long as there is no crime, even if one is roaming around with criminal intent. Krishna says that we should drop kaam and subsequently should even drop sankalp indicating that both action as well as intent should be dropped.

Suppression of desires can happen because of various reasons like fear of the law, lack of resources or to maintain one’s reputation. But sankalp is much deeper and if it survives there is always a chance that it gets converted into desire at a weak moment. That is why Krishna tells us to drop not only the desire but also the intent, which is the driver of desires.

We are repeatedly told since childhood that we should have the determination and desire to achieve academic, economic as well as personal growth. This hinders our progress in understanding this existential truth. The point to be noted is that a desire is a desire whether noble or ignoble. It is a progression from ignorance-based and self-centred sankalp to noble sankalp, and ultimately to the dissolution of all sankalp.

When kaam and sankalp are dropped, one attains nischal (non-oscillating) samadhi (established in self) which is freedom from attachment, fear and anger. Actions arising out of such a state are bound to be burnt and purified by this very awareness.


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