How to control emotion as per Bhagavad Gita?

Emotions are essential in any normal life. The problem comes when they are misdirected. Bhakti yoga described at length in Bhagavad Gita, is based on emotion because the foundation is love, and love is the strongest emotion. It is different to sentiment which as the word suggests involves only the senses. Emotion goes much deeper than the senses.

Lust, anger, and greed are not helpful and must be controlled. They arise from contact of our senses with the different sense objects. Even if contact with the sense objects is restricted, the desires can still remain and cause problems. In Bhagavad Gita Krishna states that by experiencing a higher taste, the lower taste of sense-gratification can be overcome (Bg.2.59). If the taste is gone then lust, anger, and greed will have no foothold because they can only do their work when there is material attachment. No material attachment will mean no lust, anger or greed, this is straight forward.

Sometimes we come across the idea of giving up attachment to everything. It may sound like a solution, but it’s hardly a practical one, and those advocating it don’t exhibit it. They are always busy with something and hoping to be successful at it.

What is practical is being attached to Krishna, who after all is everything. This attachment may start small, but Krishna is all-attractive and it will grow to a genuine and deep emotion if cultivated nicely.

Krishna suggests the following in Bhagavad Gita:

Whatever you do, whatever you eat, whatever you offer or give away, and whatever austerities you perform -- do that, O son of Kunti, as an offering to Me. Bg 9.27

Our ‘offerings’ may be mechanical or dutiful in the beginning, but Krishna will help, and gradually a trickle of real emotion for Krishna will find its way into our heart. This is the higher taste and automatically detachment from the material world and all it has to offer will follow.

The residents of Vraja are the topmost example. They are absorbed only in thoughts of Krishna; they see Him everywhere and everything connected to Him. There is no room for any mundane considerations and their lives are the perfect demonstration of total attachment to Krishna. Their emotions run riot from one moment to the next either in contemplation of being with Krishna; in the ecstasy of being with Krishna; or the fear of separation from His direct presence. It is a tumultuous roller coaster of emotions, but because Krishna is the object it’s all relishable even the agony of separation from His direct presence.

That is a dream for most of us, but it’s not necessary to be at that level to be able to control our lower urges. This comes by the diligent practice of devotional service because it is so powerful that detachment and knowledge automatically manifest without any extra endeavor.

By rendering devotional service unto the Personality of Godhead, Sri Krishna, one immediately acquires causeless knowledge and detachment from the world. SB 1.2.7

Remembrance of Lord Krishna's lotus feet destroys everything inauspicious and awards the greatest good fortune. It purifies the heart and bestows devotion for the Supreme Soul, along with knowledge enriched with realization and renunciation. SB 12.12.55

So in summary, we can direct our emotions towards Krishna and then they will not be a source of disturbance, but an ever-increasing source of delight. The pale offerings of the material world will be insignificant thus bringing our unwanted emotions under control.

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