224. Three Gates of Hell

In an ethics class, the teacher gives a lesson on being truthful and respecting elders. The next day, all the students memorize the lesson and repeat it in class. However, one student, who otherwise is brilliant, says he couldn’t learn the lesson and the teacher gets angry at that student as it was an easy lesson. The student explains that he lied on the previous day to protect his brother from the anger of elders, hence he couldn’t learn the lesson. This story illustrates the difference between ‘Knowing’ and ‘Being’. The following verses are one such example, they are very easy to understand but difficult to realise when we go through them.

Krishna says, “Lust, anger and greed (kaam, krodh and lobh) are three gates of hell leading to the destruction of self. Therefore, one should abandon all three (16.21). By turning away from these entrances to the realm of darkness, man does shreya (welfare of all) and thereby attains the supreme goal” (16.22).

To understand something, it is important to understand its contrast - like day and night. On many occasions, Krishna gives a contrast to what he said. In the present context he says, “Those who act under the impulse of desire, discarding the scriptural ordinance, attain neither perfection, nor happiness, nor the supreme goal in life (16.23). Therefore, take the scriptures as your guide in determining what should be done and what should be avoided. Understand the scriptural injunctions and then perform your actions in this world accordingly” (16.24). Scriptures are like maps to guide us.

A cancerous tumour is the best example to understand these verses. Though it is a part of the human body, its greed to grow faster by excessive drawing of energy (sugars) becomes a hell for the human body. It follows neither the rhythm and harmony of the body nor that of existence.

Scriptures are texts by various enlightened souls at various points in time that describe this harmony which can be used like maps for a spiritual journey.