Every
one of us is searching for happiness.
This is because happiness is missing in us. We are all born with happiness
which is our natural state. Since we
are filled with unhappy state of mind we have to make an attempt to get back to
our natural state, which is happiness.
We
are born as a child. We go to school for education. Thereafter we go for work
and career. Then we get married, honeymoon and bitterness starts. There are
relationship issues. We then strengthen our bond by getting a child. We still
look for happiness. The child grows up. We tell our children to study hard to
be happy. After all this, we come to read Bhagavad Gita.
Being born as a human is a gift of God. Only a human being has freewill to do anything.
Animals go about doing things according to their natural instinct. Nature of
animal is eating, sleeping, mating and defending. The difference between a man
and animal is making a higher enquiry through the study of Bhagavad Gita.
Long
long ago Kuru dynasty was ruled by
two brothers Viz., Pandu and Dhirdharastra.
Dhidharastra who was blind had 100 sons called Kauravas while Pandu had 5 sons who were called Pandavas. After the death of Pandu,
Dhirdharastra was appointed as the king. Duryodhana was the eldest son of
Dhirdharastra. Pandavas and Kauravas got the same military training. Drona and Bhisma were great teachers
who imparted the training.
Pandavas
lost the kingdom in a game of dice to Duryodhana because of Sakuni, the cunning uncle of Duryodhana.
Pandavas went to Vanvass (forest) and lived incognito for 13 years. After their
exile period was over they came back to Hastinapura
the capital of Kuru kingdom. They approached Duryodhana in the presence of Lord Krishna and asked for their share
of the kingdom as they had completed their exile. Even after Krishna pleaded with
him, Duryodhana refused to give the Pandavas space equal to even an eye of a
needle.
What does Lord Krishna
mean by 'Sama Dana Beda Danda'? How can it be applied
in the present day world?
1.
Sama
– Diplomacy
2.
Dana
– Sacrifice
3.
Bhedha
– Division
4.
Dhanda
– Punishment
Point 1: O Duryodhana! Pandavas have Dharma on their side.
They completed 13 years of exile as per the agreement. So you have to give
their share of kingdom back. Already you have done many atrocities towards
them. Take measure here.
RESULT: Fruitless.
Point 2: O Duryodhana! If you are not willing to give away
half of the kingdom, at least give 5 villages to Pandavas. Still you shall have
a fair deal and the war can be averted.
RESULT: Fruitless.
Point 3: O Karna! You are the eldest son of Kunti. Come with
me. Pandavas shall worship you. Yudhistira shall be your minister. Bhima shall
be your commander. Arjuna shall be your charioteer. Nakula and Sahadeva shall
be your body guards. You shall be the KING.
RESULT: Fruitless.
Point 4:
WAR (Kurukshektra)
RESULT: Mahabharata.
Dhirdharastra asked Sanjaya (who had divine eyes) to see the battle and report the
proceedings to him.
Dharma is
Law of the land. Dharma is to follow
one’s constitutional duty. To serve the people is your duty. If I do my duties
properly, dharma protects me from inauspicious things. Dharma protects all of
us. Dharmo rakṣati
rakṣitaḥ is a popular Sanskrit phrase. It can be loosely translated as "those who protect the Dharma are
protected by the Dharma." So, if we take care of Dharma it will protect
us.
Life lessons
FEAR: Fear is caused due to attachment. Too much
attachment causes anxiety. This further leads to anger and Stress.
DISCRIMINATION: You are partial in your actions. Being partial makes
you to think everything is for Me and Mine. This mentality of Me and Mine is
called Mamakara in Sanskrit.
INSECURED: Due to insecurity,
you brag about yourself. Self glorification is a symptom of insecurity.
DOUBT: In real life we doubt people around us. Because of
our doubting tendency, we lose people. We hurt our loved ones. We should strike
a bond by loving others.
Presence of Lord Krishna brings all auspiciousness.
Krishna was on the side of Pandavas. Krishna gave a choice to both Pandavas and
Kauravas, “I will not fight the war. I will be on one side and the whole array
of warriors on the other side”. Arjuna chose Krishna while Duryodhana was
immensely happy with a huge army battalion on his side. Krishna is a sign of
victory, wherever he is present. Hanuman’s presence in Arjuna’s flag on his
chariot indicates victory. Arjuna had a special chariot named Agnidev capable of conquering all
directions. Krishna became the driver (sarathy) of the chariot of Arjuna.
We love somebody and we get disappointed because of
difficult relationships. Achyuta’s or the lord’s relationship is eternal. Lord
Krishna never fails his devotees. Establish
relationship with one who is infallible. Lord Krishna is transcendental and
serves his devotees.
MISERIES OF
LIFE
Symptoms of
stress: You are shaken from head to
toe. Arjuna decides not to fight due to compassion. Miseries are caused by loss
of enjoyment, fear of sinful reactions, destructions of family traditions etc.
Bhagavad Gita helps you in Stress management. Arjuna was under delusion
(confused) and felt difficulty in fighting his kith and kin. Bhagavd Gita is an excellent guide in
decision making.
In life too, there would be many occasions where similar dilemma
will crop up. There will be ‘my’ people on the one side – ‘my’ in many senses,
my kith and kin, my community, my place, my friends, my subordinate, my
favourite guy, my well-wisher, he helped me in the past, he is useful, he will
take care of me etc – claiming support only because they are ‘my’ people and
genuinely deserving people on the other side. Whom do I support is something I
need to decide with a clear intellect and not with an emotional heart.
Arjuna is a picture of misery and conflict, which is
the most powerful symptom of samsara.
Arjuna the most valorous and manly person, who is never given to emotionalism
etc., starts shedding tears showing the intensity of samsara.
The rule for
a spiritual person (Guru) is to never transfer his
spiritual wisdom to anyone unless he (Sishya)
seeks sincerely. Bhagavan Krishna follows this principle. Arjuna has not asked
for advice and Krishna does not give advice in the first instant. Krishna
utters a few words so that Arjuna will go through the other 3 stages of
Samsara.
In the 2nd
chapter of Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna gives the solution to Arjuna.
Controlling the external factor (our peace of mind is linked to the external
factor) to ensure our peace of mind.
You have to delink your peace of mind from the external factor. This is tough
but a practical approach. Trying to control the world is an impractical
approach. We should work for emotional immunity. Freedom from emotional
dependence is Moksha.
Thus, the situation changes from one of battle to one
of spiritual dialogue. Sanjaya
reports to Dhirdarashtra the developments in the battlefield. Dharma is on the
side of Pandavas and they win ultimately in spite of trials and tribulations
that they go through.
Be blissful.
S.Sekar.
Contact: sekrajc@yahoo.com
