Stanza

Knowing that the culture that we leave in is one that is very materialistic, I sought to memorize a stanza that helps to criticize that. I knew that there had to be a conversation that I would be in that had something to do with someone wanting to buy something that they probably didn’t need. On Friday I saw my opportunity. My roommate was talking about these new pair of shoes that he wanted. These shows he did not necessarily need, so I recited my stanza. I said, “Bruce, actions imprison the world unless it is done as sacrifice; freed from attachment, perform action as sacrifice.” Now, one must remember that not everyone necessarily agrees with everything that the Bhagavad-Gita has to offer us, so Bruce did not respond in the way that Arjuna might have to Krishna. In a much more censored way Bruce said, “What are you talking about?” and I told him that every action that he committed did not need to be out of want but more for need. He then responded with a “Then what is the point in living?” and I decided to end the conversation. Even though the Bruce did not fully take in the message that Krishna was trying to offer us, I still believe that what he is saying is true. We do not need to act on everything that we want, for that imprisons us, but we if act as if it is for sacrifice, then we will be doing things based more on what we need and less for what we want.