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The Illusory Energy and Surrender

Why do we repeat what we already know is wrong? In Gita 7.14-15 the Lord says the pull on the mind is his own power, that refuge is the way across, and why some people do not take that way.

In brief

  • The illusory energy, made of the three modes, is the Lord's own divine power, and crossing it alone is very hard (7.14).
  • Those who take refuge in him alone cross it; refuge does not mean giving up effort (7.14).
  • Those whose knowledge has been carried off and who hold to a proud bent do not turn to him; that condition can change (7.15).

We often know what is right and still repeat the old mistake. Fear does not leave because we explain it away, and pride stays even after we see it. In the seventh chapter Lord Krishna speaks to this experience.

His answer is that the pull on the mind is the illusory energy, his own divine power made of the three modes of nature, and that crossing it by our own strength is very hard. Those who take refuge in him alone cross it (Gita 7.14). The next verse says why some people do not take that refuge (Gita 7.15). Here the illusory energy means the power that keeps us from seeing clearly and breeds delusion. Refuge does not mean dropping our work. It means dropping the pride of managing alone.

This topic is the second stop on The Path of Devotion. The one before it is Devotion or the Unmanifest. The verses that follow speak of four kinds of devotees.

There are three ways to read it. A simple reading begins from an everyday struggle. A detailed reading takes the verses in order and sets them beside other chapters of the Gita. A deeper reading goes into the hard questions and the streams of commentary.

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Simple New to this topic. Plain words, one idea at a time. Why Do I Keep Falling into the Same Pattern? What the Gita Says The pull that keeps confusing the mind is the Lord's own illusory energy, and crossing it on one's own strength alone is hard (7.14). 4 min · Read → In Depth Know the basics. Verse by verse, with reasons. How to Cross the Illusory Energy: Gita 7.14-15 Verse by Verse The illusory energy, made of the three modes of nature, is the Lord's own divine power, and crossing it by one's own strength alone is very hard (7.14). 10 min · Read → Deeper Want the text itself: Sanskrit terms, commentary, close reading. Maya and Refuge: A Close Reading of Gita 7.14-15 The illusory energy is the Lord's own power, made of the modes of nature, and the way across is refuge in him alone (7.14); refuge is where effort rests, not a replacement for it (3.30, 6.5-6). 14 min · Read → Quick summary Short on time. The whole topic in a few minutes. The Illusory Energy and Surrender: Quick Summary Maya, made of the three qualities, is the Lord's own divine energy, and it is very hard to cross alone (7.14). 8 min · Read →

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