
The thirteenth chapter of the Bhagavad Gita is called ๐๐จ๐๐๐ฉ๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐๐๐ฉ๐ง๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ค๐ (Yoga through the distinction between the field and the Knower of the field). The chapter starts with Arjun's question, “I wish to understand what are ๐ฅ๐ง๐๐ ๐ง๐๐ฉ๐ (nature or matter) and ๐ฅ๐ช๐ง๐ช๐จ๐ (spirit or living entity); and what are ๐๐จ๐๐๐ฉ๐ง๐ (field) and ๐๐จ๐๐๐ฉ๐ง๐๐๐ฃ๐ (knower of the field). I also wish to know what is knowledge and that which ought to be known" (13.1). Krishna replies, "This body is termed as ๐๐จ๐๐๐ฉ๐ง๐ and the one who knows this is called ๐๐จ๐๐๐ฉ๐ง๐๐๐ฃ๐ " (13.2). ๐๐จ๐๐๐ฉ๐ง๐ or field is a scientific word and in that sense, this chapter presents a scientific perspective too.
In verses 12.13 to 12.20, Krishna talked about various attributes which are dear to Him. These include dropping hatred, agitation, desires, expectations, jealousy, fear and anxiety; attaining ๐จ๐๐ข๐๐ฉ๐ซ๐ (equanimity) by treating praise and insult; honour and dishonour; ๐จ๐ช๐ ๐ (pleasure) and ๐๐ช๐ ๐ (suffering) as the same; being alike to friend and foe; being content, not attached to anything, ๐จ๐๐ง๐๐๐๐๐ซ๐๐๐ฃ (one with ๐จ๐๐ง๐๐๐๐๐ or trust), free of ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐ง and forgiving.
The natural questions are -how to shed negative attributes and how to attain equanimity. Scientifically, all of them exist in the ๐๐จ๐๐๐ฉ๐ง๐ which is our physical body or mind. ๐๐จ๐๐๐ฉ๐ง๐๐๐ฃ๐ is the one who experiences them. In other words, ๐๐จ๐๐๐ฉ๐ง๐๐๐ฃ๐ brings life to ๐๐จ๐๐๐ฉ๐ง๐ which carries the attributes, feelings and emotions.
The solution is to drop identification with these attributes by attaining ๐จ๐๐๐ ๐จ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ซ or being witness to them when they pass through our physical body or ๐๐จ๐๐๐ฉ๐ง๐ . Temporary numbing through alcohol and other substances brings a similar effect but it is about bringing the separation through awareness at the existential level. It is realising that ๐๐จ๐๐๐ฉ๐ง๐ and ๐๐จ๐๐๐ฉ๐ง๐๐๐ฃ๐ are separate and the realisation about the separation strengthens ๐จ๐๐๐ ๐จ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ซ.