March Forth, New Humanity! Free from the Bondage of Desire and Aversion

From Adi Shankara’s Teachings to Leafcutter Ants’ Symbiosis

Adi Shankara with a Leafcutter Ant (1) — Image by Author.

An Introduction to Raga-Dvesha and its Relevance in Modern Society

Modern society is entangled in a web of perpetual dissatisfaction, fueled by an incessant quest for fleeting pleasures and an aversion to pain. This tendency, defined in Hindu philosophy as Raga-Dvesha (passion and aversion), poses a growing challenge to individual and collective well-being, hindering the realization of our full potential and the creation of a more harmonious world.

Adi Shankara, the 8th-century Hindu philosopher and reformer, extensively explored the concept of Raga-Dvesha in his seminal works, such as the Vivekachudamani and the Bhagavad Gita Bhashya. He identified these twin afflictions as the root cause of human suffering, delving into their nature, manifestations, and the path to liberation from their grip.