We Are What We Feed

Extracted from ‘The story of two sons’, Editorial in The Vedanta Kesari July 2011 issue.

Sri Krishn describes in the Gita that there are two types of treasures (sampat) which every human being possesses. He calls them as the ‘Daivi Sampat’ (divine qualities) and ‘Asuri Sampat’ (demonic qualities). The difference between human beings lies in the degree of manifestation of these forces.

Describing the Daivi Sampat, Sri Krishn says,

“Fearlessness, purity of heart, steadfastness in knowledge and Yoga, almsgiving, control of the senses, Yajna, reading of the scriptures, austerity, and uprightness;

Non-injury, truth, absence of anger, renunciation, tranquility, absence of slander, compassion to beings, non-greediness, modesty, absence of fickleness;

Boldness, forgiveness, fortitude, purity, absence of hatred, absence of pride; these belong to one born of divine state”.

As to the Asuri Sampat, Sri Krishn enumerates it thus,

“The persons of Asuri nature know not what to do and what to refrain from neither is purity found in them nor good conduct, nor truth.

They say, ‘The universe is without truth, without a (moral) basis, without a god, brought about by mutual union, with lust for its cause, what else?

Holding this view, these ruined souls of small intellect and fierce deeds, rise as the enemies of the world for its destruction.

Filled with insatiable desires, full of hypocrisy, pride and arrogance, holding evil ideas through delusion, they work with impure resolve.

Beset with immense cares ending only with death, regarding gratification of lust as the highest, and feeling sure that that is all;

Bound by a hundred ties of hope, giving over to lust and wrath, they strive to secure by unjust means hoards of wealth for sensual enjoyment.

“This today is gained by me; this desire I shall obtain; this is mine; and this wealth also shall be mine in future. That enemy has been slain by me, and others also shall I slay. I am the lord, I enjoy, and I am successful, powerful and happy. I am rich and well born. Who else is equal to me? I will sacrifice, I will give, I will rejoice”. Thus deluded by ignorance bewildered by many a fancy, covered by the meshes of delusion, addicted to the gratification of lust, they fall down into a foul hell.

Self conceited, haughty, filled with the pride and intoxication of wealth, they perform sacrifices in name, out of ostentation, disregarding ordinance;

Possessed of egoism, power, insolence, lust, and wrath, these malignant people hate me (the self within) in their own bodies and those of theirs.

Thus the moot question; which of these sampats will grow – the Daivi or the Asuri? The answer is simple and best illustrated with an old anecdote. Young Ramu said to his grandfather, “Tell me a story, Dadu.” “There were two wolves”, began the grandfather. “They lived in the same jungle. And whenever they chanced upon each other, they fought. They fought with such brutish spirit, it frightened everyone. They fought and retreated, and fought and thus went on their lives. Now tell me Ramu, which of these wolves will finally win,” grandfather stopped abruptly and asked Ramu.

Confused the young Ramu could not find a right answer. The grandfather understood his position, and said with a smile, “Of course, the one who is fed most”.

The lesson of this simple story lies in the fact what we feed becomes strong. What is the feeding? The kind of food – physical and mental, that we consume determines which wolf we are feeding.