Navigating

the tension between

the ideal and the practical
- Chaitanya Charan
Chaitanya charan is an author,
a motivational speaker and a monk.

• 25 books on yoga wisdom

• 4000 applied meditations on the Gita
• TEDx, World Peace Conference, Google,
Intel, Stanford, MIT…
• Over 400 talks across 100 cities in 4
continents every year

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Overview
• Inner-outer differences
• Contextualizing scriptural statement
• Ensuring our spiritual growth
What to look for inside and outside

Internal External

Intentions & Desires & Regular Occasional

values emotions words & words &
actions actions
 What are we defined by
Internal External
Internal values >> desires and emotions Regular action >> occasional actions
BG 2.70 BG 9.30
āpūryamāṇam acala-pratiṣṭhaṁ api cet su-durācāro
samudram āpaḥ praviśanti yadvat bhajate mām ananya-bhāk
tadvat kāmā yaṁ praviśanti sarve sādhur eva sa mantavyaḥ
sa śāntim āpnoti na kāma-kāmī samyag vyavasito hi saḥ
Translation: A person who is not disturbed by the incessant flow of Translation: Even if one commits the most abominable action, if he is
desires – that enter like rivers into the ocean, which is ever being filled engaged in devotional service he is to be considered saintly because he
but is always still – can alone achieve peace, and not the man who is properly situated in his determination.
strives to satisfy such desires
BG 9.31
BG 5.23 kṣipraṁ bhavati dharmātmā
śaknotīhaiva yaḥ soḍhuṁ śaśvac-chāntiṁ nigacchati
prāk śarīra-vimokṣaṇāt kaunteya pratijānīhi
kāma-krodhodbhavaṁ vegaṁ na me bhaktaḥ praṇaśyati
sa yuktaḥ sa sukhī naraḥ
Translation: He quickly becomes righteous and attains lasting peace. O
Translation: A person who is not disturbed by the incessant flow of son of Kuntī, declare it boldly that My devotee never perishes.
desires – that enter like rivers into the ocean, which is ever being filled
but is always still – can alone achieve peace, and not the man who
strives to satisfy such desires
Attitude towards inner-outer differences

Internal External Example

Discipline External is an expression Athlete doing daily work

of desire for the internal out even when uninspired
Attitude towards inner-outer differences

Internal External Example

Ritual External is done for conformity, Skeptical teenager going to

without any desire for internal temple with parents
Attitude towards inner-outer differences

Internal External Example

External is done to cover up the

Hypocrisy absence of any corresponding Ravana
internal, till a contrary internal
can be fulfilled
The key carry-home

Having inner-outer difference doesn't

define us;
our attitude toward that difference
defines us
Overview
• Inner-outer differences
• Contextualizing scriptural statement
• Ensuring our spiritual growth
Contextualizing Scripture

• Scripture is multilevel and user-friendly.

The Gita lives through those whose live the Gita

Scripture Living text

Applying scripture requires:

•Deliberation
•Discussion
•Duration
Deliberation
• What did this statement mean in its original context?

• What is the context-independent principle conveyed by this

statement?

• What is application of that principle in today’s context?

Renunciates meeting VIP’S –
opposite examples?
• Lord Chaitanya didn’t meet king Prataprudra

• Prabhupada met Indira Gandhi

Principle
• Do what enhances outreach

• In Lord Chaitanya's time, sanyasis meeting VIPs would

be perceived as attached,
• In today’s world, sanyasis meeting VIPs could be
perceived as influential.
Discussion
Dhruva
• Accepted the validity of Narada Muni’s instructions,
• Asserted their inapplicability for him
• Negotiated till he got an instruction he could apply
Discussion
The point is
Not submission
But transformation.
Eg Doctor prescribes a treatment regimen that’s
impossible for us
Discussion
The point is
Not submission
But transformation.
Eg Doctor prescribes a treatment regimen that’s
impossible for us
Discussion
• Seek like-minded friends
• Have six-fold exchanges
• Focus on understanding and encouraging,
not on judging and labeling
Optimal association

Non-judgmental
Pleasant, Encouraging
Non-
Uplifting
transformational

Confidential

Alienating
Breaks down Condemning
Shutting down
community
Duration

• Purification takes time; be patient.

• Every small step counts and we don’t which step will be
a leap across a mountain.
Overview
• Inner-outer differences
• Contextualizing scriptural statement
• Ensuring our spiritual growth
Developing our inner weapons
• Focus on developing intelligence and conscience
• Intelligence: Rational understanding of what is to be
done
• Conscience: Intuitive and emotive understanding of what
is to be done
Prioritizing our battles
• Primary devotional activities
eg. - chanting, association with devotees
• Secondary devotional activities
eg. - wearing tilak, wearing dhoti kurta
• Undesirable activities
eg. - wasting time on mundane entertainment,
oversleeping, overeating
• Unacceptable activities
eg. – eating meat, illicit affairs
Adjusting vision
• If discouraged,
look back at how far you have come

• If proud,
look ahead how far you can go

• Keep moving
Conclusion
• If we do what we can, Krishna helps us to do what we cant
THANK YOU
 Resources

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