Page 4 - THE FOURTH DIMENSION

This one verse succinctly explains the reason why living entities suffer, how they can be liberated from it and
the unparalleled benefit of attaining spiritual perfection in the present and in eternal existence.

The eternal soul is not subject to suffering or any material effect that may be experienced in mundane space
and time. It is only when the soul mistakenly identifies with the temporary body, which is bound by the three
modes of nature, time, karma, birth and death, perplexing dualities, unending desires for sense gratification,
etc., that it suffers. Although the soul and the body are completely different, they become connected by the
subtle false ego that wrongly identifies with the body. Then whatever happens to the body, affects the soul due
to ignorance. The real ego identifies itself as the eternal servant of Lord Krishna.

Lord Krishna on observing the profound lamentation of Arjuna due to his apprehension for his close and
extended family members, explained how to become free from all suffering and attain boundless happiness.
Such endless and ever increasing joy is possible by becoming conscious of Lord Krishna and cultivating
one’s eternal relationship with the Lord.

Peace of mind

bhoktāraṁ yajña-tapasāṁ / sarva-loka-maheśvaram
suhṛdaṁ sarva-bhūtānāṁ / jñātvā māṁ śāntim ṛcchati

“A person in full consciousness of Me, knowing Me to be the ultimate beneficiary of all sacrifices and austerities,
the Supreme Lord of all planets and demigods, and the benefactor and well-wisher of all living entities, attains
peace from the pangs of material miseries.” (Bg 5.29)

How can there be any happiness without peace? (aśāntasya kutaḥ sukham Bg 2.66) Peace of mind is essential
for happiness. The mind that is controlled is the best friend, and the mind that is not controlled is the worst
enemy. (Bg 6.6) One cannot have peace if he lives with the worst enemy always. Thus, his quest for self-
realization and achieving the goal of life will certainly be thwarted due to an agitated mind overwhelmed with
material desires and frustration.
Everyone in material life is anxious to attain peace of mind. This is not possible as long as the mind is plagued
by lust, anger and greed. One tries to satisfy lust, and when there is frustration at not being able to do so, anger
and greed become prominent. Lust, anger and greed become the dictators of nasty thoughts and perverted
desires leading to destructive behavior.

When one is under the cloud of illusion, he tries to be the master of material possessions and people. With this
mentality of domination of nature, he becomes entangled hopelessly in the exhaustive grip of material nature
and its law of karma, action and reaction for every act either good or bad that forces one to act again in a cycle
of suffering.

Since Lord Krishna (God) is the owner and enjoyer of all material things and people, He is the Supreme
Dominator, Controller, and Owner. If a person refuses to accept this fact, he becomes a thief who tries to usurp
the property of God and he suffers. Lord Krishna explains this to Arjuna:

iṣṭān bhogān hi vo deva / dāsyante yajña-bhāvitāḥ
tair dattān apradāyaibhyo / yo bhuṅkte stena eva saḥ

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