Bhagavad Gita 6.18 · Krishna
When wanting goes quiet
यदा विनियतं चित्तमात्मन्येवावतिष्ठते।
निःस्पृहः सर्वकामेभ्यो युक्त इत्युच्यते तदा॥
yadā viniyataṃ cittamātmanyevāvatiṣṭhateniḥspṛhaḥ sarvakāmebhyo yukta ityucyate tadā
When the trained mind rests in the Self alone, free from craving for every desire, that person is called steady in yoga.
Words
- ātman
What it means
Krishna describes the moment practice ripens. The mind, once trained, settles back into the atman, the true Self. From there, the hunger for more simply quiets. Not because life is joyless, but because the mind has found what it was looking for all along. Wanting goes quiet when you are already home.
The story
Before the war, Krishna came to Hastinapura as a peace envoy. Duryodhana offered him a royal feast. Krishna refused it and went to eat simple food at the home of Vidura, a humble, honest counsellor. Contentment chose the plain table.
In your life
It is midnight and Owen has seven items in his online cart. He is not sure he needs any of them. He closes the tab, sits back, and notices what he actually feels. Mostly tired. He goes to sleep.
Rest in the Self. The hunger fades.