October Gītā: 2.71

vihāya kāmān yaḥ sarvān pumānśh charati niḥspṛihaḥ
nirmamo nirahankāraḥ sa śhāntim adhigachchhati

That person, who gives up all material desires and lives free from a sense of greed, proprietorship, and egoism, attains perfect peace.

Bhagavad Gītā 2.71

Here Krishna sets out what we should strive to give up if we are to attain peace.

Krishna lists material desire, greed, proprietorship (or ownership) and egoism.

The more material possessions we desire, the more our sense of peace will be disturbed.  We’ll be disturbed if we’re unable to obtain what we strive for;  if we have what we desire we’ll be disturbed by the fear of losing it; or because everything is impermanent when the thing we desire is lost,  our peace will be disturbed again.

Wealth does bring peace either, we know this because if it did those with the most wealth would be the most at peace, but this is not the case.  

The idea of ownership is false because everything is part of Krishna (or the Supreme) so our claims to own things are erroneous.  

Actions led by our ego will not bring us peace because our ego creates a sense of separation, and the path to peace is for us to understand that we are part of Consciousness and not separate from it.

While it’s easy for us to read and make sense of what Krishna is saying

truly living these values is much harder to put into practice.   This way of thinking is in direct opposition to the individualistic and capitalist way our society is constructed, yet we are at a crossroads collectively because Krishna’s teachings are essential not only for us to live in peace but also for the survival of our planet for future generations.

So how do we give up material desire, greed, ownership and egoism whilst still participating in householder life in a society that rewards wealth and favours individualism?  

I don’t have the answers….but as Krishna says practice non-attachment.  Make small changes every day… and keep studying the Gita ..

– Lauren Munday