Poetic Rendering
Even when one guards the senses,
desire rises again
soft as perfume,
subtle as a shadow.
And who, truly,
can reject the rightful sweetness
of a sacred, consecrated union?
Even the wise may delight
in joys that are theirs to enjoy.
But if my mind strays
toward another’s wealth,
toward another’s spouse,
if I cross the boundary of what is right
then in that very moment,
I turn my face from You,
O Koodalasangamadeva,
and build a wall
between my soul
and Your grace.
Basavanna acknowledges that desire is natural and that rightful joys are not obstacles to spiritual life. But coveting what belongs to another wealth or spouse breaks the sacred ethical boundaries that protect the seeker. Such transgression becomes a barrier separating oneself from divine grace.
Spiritual Context
Core Spiritual Principle: Spirituality is not the suppression of natural human experience, but its conscious channeling within the framework of ethical conduct (Dharma). The violation of fundamental social ethics, especially covetousness, creates an immediate and direct rupture in one’s connection with the Divine.
Cosmic Reality Perspective: The cosmos is an intricate web of relationships governed by divine order (Rta). Each entity has its rightful place and relationships. To covet what belongs to another is to violently pull at the threads of this web, creating disorder (adharma) that severs the individual soul from the harmonious flow of cosmic consciousness (Linga).
Historical Reality (Anubhava Mantapa Context): Basavanna establishes a revolutionary community based on internal purity and social ethics, not external ritual purity. This Vachana serves as a crucial ethical charter for the Sharanas. It distinguishes their path from both ascetic repression and libertine indulgence, advocating for a householder’s life lived with intense integrity. It protects the community from internal strife and exploitation by making respect for others’ boundaries a sacred duty.
Interpretation
1. “Even when one guards the senses, desire rises again soft as perfume, subtle as a shadow.” Basavanna begins with profound psychological realism. He acknowledges that desire (vasana) is a deep, persistent energy that cannot be simply walled off by force. This prevents spirituality from becoming a brittle, repressive struggle.
2. “And who, truly, can reject the rightful sweetness of a sacred, consecrated union? Even the wise may delight in joys that are theirs to enjoy.” This is a radical affirmation of the householder path (grihastha dharma). He legitimizes worldly joys like a loving marital relationship when experienced within their “rightful” (dharmic) context. Spirituality is thus integrated into life, not opposed to it.
3. “But if my mind strays toward another’s wealth, toward another’s spouse… I cross the boundary of what is right ” The crucial pivot. The problem is not desire, but misplaced desire covetousness (lobha, kama). The “boundary” (maryada) is the line between one’s own dharma and another’s. To cross it is to move from order to chaos.
4. “then in that very moment, I turn my face from You… and build a wall between my soul and Your grace.” The consequence is immediate and metaphysical, not deferred to a future punishment. The act of coveting itself is a turning away from the Divine, which is Truth and Order. The “wall” is not built by God as punishment, but by the ego’s own act of ethical self exile.
Practical Implications: The seeker is guided to: Practice mindfulness to discern between natural feelings and the act of covetousness. Cultivate contentment (santosha) with one’s own rightful possessions and relationships. Understand that ethical living is not a set of rules but the very ground on which grace can be received.
The Cosmic Reality
Anga (Human Dimension): The Anga is the discerning individual who must navigate the world of desires. Their role is to be the gatekeeper of the mind, ensuring that their actions and intentions remain within the sacred boundaries of Dharma.
Linga (Divine Principle): The Linga is the embodiment of Divine Order (Dharma) itself. It is the cosmic principle that holds all relationships in harmonious balance. To align with the Linga is to align with this order.
Jangama (Dynamic Interaction): The Jangama is the sanctified relationship (e.g., marriage) and the wider community. It is the living context where these boundaries are practiced and honored. The dynamic interaction is the act of relating to others with respect and non covetousness, which itself becomes a form of worship.
Shata Sthala
Primary Sthala: Bhakta Sthala. This Vachana provides the essential ethical foundation for a devotee. Without this integrity of mind and action, the subtler practices of higher stages lack a stable base. The Bhakta must first learn to “guard the senses” and respect boundaries.
Supporting Sthala: Maheshwara Sthala. The inner purification of this stage involves the burning away of covetousness and other destructive desires (virakti). This Vachana describes the negative impulse that the Maheshwara seeker is striving to transcend.
Practical Integration
Arivu (Awareness Practices): Mindfulness of Desire: Observe desires as they arise without judgment, but with clear discernment: “Is this within my rightful domain, or am I coveting what belongs to another?”
Contemplation on Contentment: Reflect on the blessings of your own life, your relationships, and your possessions to cultivate a heart of gratitude that neutralizes covetousness.
Achara (Personal Discipline): Make a conscious vow to respect all relationships and possessions that are not your own. Let this be a core part of your personal code.
Kayaka (Sacred Action): Earn your wealth through righteous means and be content with it. Do not use your work as a platform to envy or undermine colleagues. Dasoha (Communal Offering): Contribute to building a community based on trust and mutual respect, where the boundaries of individuals and families are honored. This creates a safe and sacred environment for all.
Modern Application
“The Culture of Envy and Boundary Violation.” Social media constantly exposes us to curated versions of others’ wealth, relationships, and lifestyles, fueling pervasive envy and dissatisfaction. Advertising deliberately stimulates covetousness. Personal and professional boundaries are frequently blurred or violated.
This Vachana offers profound liberation from the tyranny of comparison and “fear of missing out” (FOMO). It teaches that peace is found not in having what others have, but in fully embracing and sanctifying your own unique life. It provides a spiritual framework for establishing healthy personal boundaries and respecting those of others, leading to more authentic and fulfilling relationships.
Essence
The scent of desire will always drift by.
The taste of a rightful joy is sweet.
This is life.
But the eye that lingers on another’s vineyard,
the heart that hungers for another’s feast,
builds, brick by bitter brick,
a wall so high
it shuts out the sun.
This Vachana presents a spiritual ecosystem where individual consciousness (Anga) interacts with cosmic law (Linga) within a social field (Jangama). It maps the precise point where a psychological impulse (desire) becomes a spiritual catastrophe: the moment it transgresses ethical boundaries, it disrupts the individual’s alignment with cosmic order. Its multidimensional impact is to fuse psychology, ethics, and theology into a single, seamless whole. It positions the Jangama as the lived reality of Dharma, the community where the abstract principle of non covetousness is tested and embodied.
True freedom is not the absence of boundaries, but the conscious choice to live within the sacred ones that protect your soul and honor the souls of others. Your peace and connection to the divine are directly broken not by your desires, but by your envy. Cultivate your own garden with love and integrity, and you will find it contains all the sweetness you need.
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