206. Conduct of Guna-Ateeth

Krishna explains about the conduct of the guna-atheeth who transcended three gunas (modes of nature) and says, “Those who are alike in happiness and distress; who are established in the self; who look upon a clod of earth, a stone, and a piece of gold as of equal value; who remain the same amidst pleasant and unpleasant events; the wise who accept both criticism and praise with equanimity; who remain the same in respect and insult; who treat both friend and foe alike; and who abandoned all delusions of doership –they are said to have risen above the three gunas” (14.24 and 14.25). The indication is that the guna-atheeth is equanimous as well as transcends polarities (dwandwa-atheeth). 

Polarities of pleasure and pain are generated in us when senses meet sense-objects. Krishna earlier advised us to learn to ignore them as these are transient (2.14). Life experiences tell us that polarities are not only transient but also change their nature with time. The pleasure of marriage can turn into the pain of divorce; a friend can turn into a foe. It is being equanimous when we encounter dualities of good and bad; pleasant and unpleasant.

While things happen in nature, we keep interpreting them as pleasant or unpleasant situations. We interpret words as praise or criticism and use praise as well as criticism as tools to get what we want in family and the workplace. Essentially, it is about shedding interpretations and assumptions.

The Bhagavad Gita is a textbook from kindergarten to post-graduation. These verses are very easy to understand even for beginners. But the key lies in inculcating these insights at the existential level by analysing each situation we encounter and reflecting on past experiences in which we were affected by praise and criticism; respect and insult. We should also remember Krishna’s advice to see every situation as His Leela.