206. Conduct of Guna-Ateeth

Krishna explains about the conduct of the guna-ateeth who transcended three gunas (modes of nature) and says, "Those who are alike in happiness and distress; who are established in the self; who look upon a clod of earth, a stone, and a piece of gold as of equal value; who remain the same amidst pleasant and unpleasant events; the wise who accept both criticism and praise with equanimity; who remain the same in respect and insult; who treat both friend and foe alike; and who abandoned all delusions of doership –they are said to have risen above the three gunas" (14.24 and 14.25). The indication is that the guna-ateeth is also equanimous and transcends polarities (dwandwa-ateeth).  Polarities of pleasure and pain are generated in us when senses meet sense objects. Krishna earlier advised to learn to ignore them as these are transient (2.14). Life experiences tell us that these are not only transient but also change their nature with time. The pleasure of marriage can turn into the pain of divorce; a friend can turn into a foe. It is being equanimous when we encounter dualities of good and bad; pleasant and unpleasant. While things happen in nature, we keep interpreting them as pleasant or unpleasant situations and interpret words as praise or criticism. Intrinsically, each one of us uses praise and criticism as tools to get what we want in family and the workplace. Essentially, it is about shedding interpretations and assumptions. The Bhagavad Gita is a textbook from kindergarten to post graduation. These verses are very easy to understand even for beginners. But the key is inculcating them at the existential level by analysing each situation we encounter and by examining our past experiences when we were affected by praise and criticism; respect and insult, and remembering Krishna's earlier advice to see every situation as HIS Leela.