3. Krishna Speaks To His Friend

We left Arjuna crumpled down in his vehicle (our body is our vehicle, our chariot) "overcome by despair and grief."

But Arjuna was not alone. He was not going to be allowed to wallow, to get his bonbons and pink fuzzies, and sit on the sofa of despair for long.

Then arose the Spirit of Krishna and spoke to Arjuna, his friend, who with eyes filled with tears, thus had sunk into despair and grief. --Chapter 2, verse 1, The Bhagavad Gita (Tr. Juan Mascaro)

The Spirit, Source, Godhead, Wellspring, the One-Who-Breathes-Us is our friend, is friendly to us, sees and cares, is closer to us than we can imagine. In fact, imagination gets in the way.

What does one say to a friend in despair? Here is what Krishna said:

Whence this lifeless dejection, Arjuna, at this hour, the hour of trial? Strong men (humans) know not despair, Arjuna, for this wins neither heaven nor earth. -- Chapter 2, verse 2

This is the crucial time. No time to lay down now, paralyzed by indecision. You have tossed away your strength. That has changed nothing. The energies of heaven and earth are still going on. Going into stupor accomplishes nothing.

Fall not into degrading weakness. . . . Throw off this ignoble discouragement, and arise like a fire that burns all before it. --Chapter 2, verse 3

Hoo Boy! That is Spirit talking alright.

Three directives are given. Stop the descent into the black pit. Throw off (an active vigorous movement) this cloak of discouragement. Arise like a fire.

This transformation Krishna is asking of Arjuna is sometimes called a turning about or an orthogonal rotation of consciousness. It is done both deliberately and with grace.

Deliberately through physical change of posture and movement and breath and direction of attention. With grace through the immediate responding of our Energetic Source. The more spiritual energy we manifest, the more we are given. We forget this, do not want to even know this, when we are in despair.