Saturday, July 3, 2021

BHAGAVAD GITA – A CRUX

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

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