148. Wise use of Energy

Once upon a time, two sworn enemies prayed to GOD, who decided to bless them both and appeared before them separately. The first one wanted to know about the desires of the second one. However, the second one requested GOD to bless the first one first as GOD appeared there first. Then the first one asked GOD to give him double of what the second one seeks. Thus, the second one, blinded by enmity, prays that he should lose one eye so that the first one loses both eyes; lose a leg so that the other one loses both legs. This game of lose-lose continues when one invests one's energy in hatred and that is why Krishna earlier told us to renounce hatred but not Karma (5.3). Another learning from this story is that we should wisely invest our time and energy as these are limited at our level. In this regard, Krishna says that there are two eternal paths which are, the bright path of no return and the dark path of returning again (8.23 & 8.26). The bright path is the path of channeling most of our energy towards the internal journey to reach Brahma (8.24). The dark path is channeling our energy outside (playing lose-lose games) and one returns back (8.25). Krishna uses various names and attributes for these paths. While the dark path is like a pendulum swinging between the polarities of birth and death, the bright path is to reach the pivot of the pendulum which transcends polarities and is nothing but reaching Brahma -the Supreme. Krishna says that once these paths are understood, none gets deluded (8.27). This is the balanced use of time. He further says, "He who knows the truth about the two paths gains merit far beyond any virtuous fruits (punya-phalam) assigned to Vedas, or in Sacrifices, or in Penances. That yogi reaches his Supreme Origin" (8.28).