91. Study of Self

Having ‘Fire in the Belly’ means being full of energy and enthusiasm for pursuing one’s desires, interests and duties in the physical world. When such energy is used for self-actualisation, it is called ‘yoga-agni’ or the yogic flame. In this context, Krishna says that some offer all their sense activities and the functions of life force as oblations in the wisdom-kindled yogic flame of inner control of self (4.27).

In day-to-day life, we offer sense-objects like beautiful flowers and tasty food to the Paramatma. This verse takes us beyond this and says that yajna (selfless action) is offering sense activities like taste, beauty or smell themselves and not merely sense-objects. Senses keep connecting us to the external world through attachment to sense-objects and when these senses are sacrificed, what remains is unity with oneness.

Krishna further says that some devotees offer as oblations wealth, self-discipline, and the methods of yoga; while other individuals, self-controlled and keeping strict vows, offer as sacrifices the study of self and the acquirement of scriptural wisdom (4.28).

Krishna mentioned the swa-adhyay or study of self as one of the yajna. This process led to the birth of many subjects like psychology, medicine and contemporary self-help classics. Since childhood, we have been constantly labelled by factors acquired at birth like nationality, caste or religion. We spend the rest of our lives defending these labels. This labelling involves a lot of suppression or violence at a very young age. Similarly, the labelling is done based on characteristics like intelligent or dumb, hardworking or lazy and the list is endless.

We form opinions about ourselves, and others based on numerous factors. Throughout our lives we spend energy defending the same. Swa-adhyay is examining these labels as yajna and shedding them.