MONDAY MUSINGS SEASON 2 - EPISODE 321
7th July 2025
#SattvikDetermination
That unintelligent resolve is said to be determination in the mode of ignorance, in which one does not give up dreaming, Unnecessary fear, lamentation, feeling of dejection, and deception. (Bhagavad Gita 18.35)
This is also determination, but ‘determination in the mode of ignorance’. This is showing determination to be ignorant. It requires much determination to remain idle, feel a fear of failure in all endeavours, and continue to be in lamentation, dejection, and deception, even after knowing that these are negative emotions and lead to self-defeating behaviours.
What are the characteristics of ‘determination in the mode of ignorance’?
Obstinacy and Stubbornness:
This determination is not based on wisdom or understanding, but rather on a rigid, unyielding adherence regardless of its consequences.
Delusion and Misguided Understanding:
Individuals in this mode are often clouded by ignorance, making them unable to see things as they truly are, leading them to cling to false or distorted beliefs. For example, the belief that participating in ‘party drinking’ is essential for camaraderie is a misguided understanding.
Self-Defeating Behaviours:
Instead of constructive action, this type of determination can lead to oversleeping, a fear of everything, blaming everything and everyone, a Pessimistic approach to life, and activities that are ultimately detrimental to one's purpose in life. The Gita cites examples like clinging to past disappointments, harbouring grudges, and engaging in unnecessary arguments as manifestations of this type of determination.
Essentially, determination in the mode of ignorance is a misguided and ultimately detrimental form of resolve that stems from a lack of clarity and understanding and is often associated with negative emotions and behaviours.
Lord Krishna discusses two additional modes of determination, #DeterminationInGoodness and #DeterminationInPassion, in the two previous slokas. Let us see them also.
#GoodnessDetermination
धृत्या यया धारयते मन:प्राणेन्द्रियक्रिया: | योगेनाव्यभिचारिण्या धृति: सा पार्थ सात्त्विकी (Bhagavad Gita 18.33)
O son of Pṛthā, that determination, which is characterised by consistent activities, which is sustained with steadfastness by yoga practice, and which thus controls the activities of the mind, life and senses is determination in the mode of goodness.
#CharacteristicsOFDetermination
Determination (in the mode of goodness) exhibits two essential characteristics: dharayate and avyabhicāriṇyā, i.e., consistency and steadfastness. The actions towards your purpose / goal must be consistent and sustainable. Determination discovers for us the necessary constancy of purpose to pursue the path, despite all the mounting obstacles that arise on the way.
Consistency and resoluteness are the characteristics of determination, but how to practice determination? By practising actions that control manah, prana & indriya. #BhagavadGita discusses controlling the mind, prana, and indriya at multiple slokas. But a doubt arises as to why it is essential for determination. Can we not demonstrate determination without controlling the mind, life-air and senses? A dissipated individual, who has drained off his / her energy through wrong-thinking and false-living by not controlling his mind, life and senses, cannot sustain determination. The constancy with which one steadily controls one’s mind and sense-organs and their activities, through focused and consistent actions, is the determination of the sattwic type.
To dissuade the sense organs from their false pursuits of the ephemeral joys and the consequent dissipations, the mind must have some fixed source to draw its energies and satisfactions from and determination can be that source.
With faithful contemplation upon the Self, the mind gains in steadiness and equipoise, peace and satisfaction, and therefore, it develops a capacity to rule over the sense-organs. But all these achievements are possible only when the inward personality can constantly supply a steady stream of determination. Constancy in endeavour and consistency of purpose or “fortitude” that is expressed in any field of activity, becomes Sattwic Determination when constituted as described above.
Monday's Musings have been posted consistently for 321 Mondays so far, without missing a single Monday, and that was possible only because of some degree of control over the mind and the senses, which gave priority to this activity over other pleasure pursuits on Sundays. This is an example of ‘sattvic determination’.
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#PositiveNewsPage
Today’s positive news is about 21 young Indians who showed that nothing can stop a determined (sattvic determination) mind.
The second edition of ‘The Times of India’s’ #Unstoppable21 presented by Reliance Foundation with the Uttarakhand government awarded 21 young achievers aged between 5 to 21, across the country. It takes a great deal of determination to achieve such a distinction at a young age. All these 21 are worth case studies for determination, but let me present here one case study, that of Anoushka Jolly.
When Anoushka was in third grade, she was bullied by her classmates. She found herself doing chores no child should be forced into, such as tying shoelaces, cleaning plates, to avoid ridicule. After a long struggle, her parents noticed something was off and helped her, and the bullying stopped.
She did not let that experience go just like that. She wondered, “What about the children who don’t have someone to turn to?” In 2018, when she was only nine, she launched Anti-Bullying Squad, a blog where victims could anonymously share their stories. But she realised that solutions and support were also crucial.
Three years later, Anoushka developed a mobile app called ‘Kavach’, designed to facilitate anonymous reporting, provide real-time support, and offer educational resources for schools and students.
Her passion for empowering young people and addressing critical issues, such as bullying and mental well-being, garnered widespread acclaim and positively impacted many lives.
Her efforts gained national recognition when she received an investment of Rs . 50 lakh in Shark Tank India, 2021. She was awarded the PM Rashtriya Bal Puraskar for her contributions in 2023 and the #Unstoppable21 award this year at the age of 15. HarperCollins Publishers recently appointed her as the brand ambassador for a new wellbeing series aimed at schoolchildren and educators. Anoushka was also invited to speak at the International Baccalaureate Global Conference 2024 in Daegu, South Korea.
Kavach is a one-stop solution for those suffering from mental health problems; a safe space offering positive self-help relevant content for adolescents and cultivating a community of like-minded peers who can talk about their shared concerns and feel more supported in their struggles. When adolescents are empowered with knowledge, resources, and community support, there is no doubt they will be able to navigate through their issues.
Kavach is available for free download in Google Store and Apple Store. Try #Kavach app
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Conceived, compiled and posted as a weekly positive newsletter #MondayMusings every Monday consistently with determination by Jaganathan T (www.authorjaganathan.com).