Shrimad Bhagavad Gita Class 2018 - HTF, Tampa

What is a Sin and why do we commit Sins? -------------------------------------------- A Sin is a mistake committed by an individual ego(Jeevatma)against its own true nature, Paramatma.In my true nature, I will never commit a mistake. In my false nature, I commit a mistake. Ego (Jeevatma) is my false nature. In stanza 36 of Arjuna vishada yoga,Arjuna says to Lord Krishna as follows: O Krishna, killing Dhritarashtra's sons will not give us any pleasure. O Janardana, SIN alone will be our gain by killing these 'Felons'. Arjuna uses the word 'SIN' in this stanza. He says , If he kills Dhritarashtra's sons,he will be committing a 'SIN'.At the same time, he acknowledges that Dhritarashtra's sons are 'Felons'. 'Atatayinah' in Sanskrit means 'Felons'. Now it is important to understand that 'Manusashtra was authority on laws in those days. Manu sashtra says : whether it be a preceptor, an old man, or even veda knowing brahmana, if he is an 'Atatai' (felon) , he should be killed on the spot without a thought. There is no sin involved in killing a felon. This was the law in those days. You and I may not agree in today's jurisprudence. In our true nature, we cannot commit a mistake. If I become aware of my true nature, there is no question of committing a mistake. A ' Self realized person' is GOD upon the earth. He is Krishna of his life and times. But, at this stage of our Spiritual evolution, unfortunately, we are still egocentric. In our Egocentricity, if we commit any mistake, which is against our true nature, we are committing a 'SIN'. This could be in 'our thoughts, words or deeds'. Even if I think bad of a person, which nobody knows except me , I am committing a 'SIN'. IT does not have to be in our words or actions. An animal can be impulsive , because, it does not have intellectual comprehension. But, as Bipeds, we have conscience and intellectually, comprehend what is right and what is wrong. But still we invariably many times , act against our conscience and our true nature. That is because of our identification with our 'Jeeva or Ego'. Any mistake we commit as a misunderstood Ego, against our divine nature is a 'SIN.' If we are willing to think even deeper, Swamy Chinmayananda says: All the acts performed and motives entertained which create grosser mental impressions (Vasanas) and thereby build stronger walls between us and our cognition of the 'SELF' are also called 'SINS'. But, hopefully, we will understand this better , when we study holy Geeta fully. Eswara Dutt.