The cause of sin

All beings, including those who do not want to indulge in

sinful acts, are drawn into the trap of evil, which is an

imminent reality in this world of material existence. Arjuna

is baled at this tendency to commit sins though one may

want to refrain from it.


Krishna replies that one should understand the Self as

distinct from the gunas that are integral to the body and

learn to extricate oneself from this bondage, pointed out

Swami Omkarananda in a discourse.


The greatest enemy to man is desire. When desire is

thwarted, it gives rise to anger. These two are always in

conjunction. Just as fire consumes more firewood and is

ready to burn more and more, the desire for sense objects

and pleasures never finds satisfaction. In fact, desire breeds

further desire. When desires multiply, sins also multiply. The

entire human race has been afected badly because of

yielding to endless desires.


Desire has the power to destroy the inherent power of

wisdom and discrimination in an individual. It conceals the

wisdom even as smoke hides the fire or dirt the mirror or the

womb the foetus. When the senses, mind and intelligence

are held by desire, the jivatma is deluded and is unable to

recognise the true wisdom about his Self. Instead, he is led to believe that attainment of riches, fame and sensual pleasures is the goal of human life and all his energies are directed in this channel. That is why scriptures reiterate that though the senses are powerful, the mind is more powerful than them; and one’s intelligence is still more powerful than the mind.


The way out is to train the mind to keep the senses in check

and align it with the intellect or buddhi which draws its

strength from the Self.


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