-Dr. S. Vijay Kumar
In this talk, I will try to analyze, the Bhagavad Gita to lead a successful life and at the end to achieve Moksha i.e. to get relived from the vicious cycle of births and deaths. Bhagavad Gita is not just for Arjuna, but it is for the whole world. The essence of Bhagavad Gita is:
First,
to know “Who am I” that is “You are not the body, You are the Soul” The body is the field of activity i.e. Kshetra, in which God
dwells as the Knower of the Field - Kshetrajna. The body is made up of five
great elements: the senses, subtle senses, mind, ego, and intelligence. It is
the seat of desires, attachments, feelings, emotions, and such other
modifications. Soul changes bodies according to their “Karma” i.e.
according to their sins and good deeds, as people changes their dresses when
they got torn or become very old and become unfit to wear. If a person do good
deeds, he or she will get good births or otherwise will get bad or worst births
like animals. Thus, soul is permanent and immortal. But body is temporary and
mortal.
Detachment: In Chapter 3, Verse 34,
Krishna says to Arjuna: “In every purpose, the
senses are fixed affection and dislike. A wise man should not fall in the power
of these two passions, for they are the enemies of man”. Krishna says, because man possesses senses and sense-organs;
looking at the objects, he gets illusioned and is deluded. Lord says, do not be
swayed by raga and dvesha, attraction and repulsion, affection, and aversion, like and
dislike, love, and hate. Like a tortoise one should cultivate
perfect sense of mastery. When required one should employ the senses fully and
withdraw when not required.
Control
over desires i.e. Indriya Nigraham: In Chapter 3, Verse 38 of
Bhagavat Gita, it is mentioned that: “As the flame is surrounded by
smoke, and a mirror by rust, and as the womb envelops the fetus, so is the universe
surrounded by the passion”. For example, Rajo Guna i.e. a desire
is like a smoke which envelops the flame. So, when we
construct a house, we will build a fireplace to have a proper chimney
to let out the smoke in a proper direction. That is the first
step—the smoke of our personal desires must be thrown out. The moisture of
passion must be dried up and through self-control, we must purify ourselves. “Bhagavad
Gita is not against having desires, but stresses that one MUST have control
over desires and have limits that is one must not be greedy”. Otherwise,
if desires are not fulfilled they leads to worries and worries in turn leads to
lack of peace and anger. The result of anger is losing mental balance and down
falling will start and the consequence is “Self-Ruin”. One could not
achieve “Athma Gnyna” who is not coming out of Worldly desires.
Do
your duty sincerely, Leave result to God “Karmanye Vadhikaraste” Chapter 2 of
Bhagavad Gita tells us do your duty with detachment, renouncing
the doer ship. By merely restraining your senses and controlling your
mind, you will not be able to free your soul from the cycle of births and
deaths. For success on the path, you have to cultivate detachment and remain
free from attraction and aversion to things, besides knowing the difference
between actions that bind you and actions that free you. Perform the
duties i.e. Karma without attachments “like a lotus-leaf is untouched by the water in which it grows”. Accept the results gracefully and gratefully. True renunciation is the renunciation of the desire
for the fruit of one’s actions. This is called in Gita
as “Nishkama karma” means one should not worry about result, but they
must do their duty sincerely. Forget “I” which develops “Ego”. In
Mahabharata, when Arjuna was dithering while performing his duty as a warrior,
then he was directed by Lord Krishna to perform his duty as a warrior and leave
result to Him. Thus, everybody must perform their duties sincerely without fail
and leave result to the God. They should think that they are the only means to
discharge their duties and end results are left to the Lord, Who give fruits
according to their “Karma” i.e. according to their works.
Purification: There are four kinds of
purity: (1) Mental purity; (2) Purity of emotions and Character, or Moral
purity; (3) Purity of speech; (4) Purity of deeds or actions. Purity is the key
word for the first stage of development. To live a pure life and one should
overcome the impulsiveness of negative factors like anger, lust, and greed.
Kill selfishness. Live according to “Dharma” means the “Right
Way” of living. “Dharmo Rakshithi Rakshitha” this is, if you protect
dharma, it will protect you.
Self - Confidence: In Chapter -17, Lord says, one should have faith in
reality and accept it, which is a great source of strength. A man is what his
faith is, as the faith so will be our desires and thoughts and action.
Sthitapragnya: In Gita, Lord
Krishna explained about “Sthitapragnya”. It means one should not
become emotional or over joyous when one achieves victories and become very
nervous when failures occur. This means, one should maintain balance between
success and failure.
Moral
Duties and Self Control: Gita explains about our moral duties and talks about
holistic spiritual development and way to achieve these through self - control,
mental purity, and dedication to God.
Follow
Swadharma: In Chapter 3 of Bhagavad Gita, Lord says about Swadharma,
here refers to one’s own religion. You follow only your own religion, because
it is very much suitable to you to live in a right way and discharge your
duties.
Spend
Some Time in Pranayama: Again, in Chapter- 3 of Bhagavad Gita, He says about
pranayama, means do some breathing exercises, which are good for health. All we
know that “Health is Wealth”, if we have good health, we can perform our duties
in time and in a better way.
Yuktahara Viharasya: In Chapter -6 of
Bhagavad Gita, Lord explained about meditation i.e. Yoga, Prayer, Moderation in
Food, Sleep, Speech, Exercise, Recreation and Elimination of Stress, Timely
food, timely sleep, avoiding unnecessary talk, regular exercise, and recreation,
which is very essential for leading a good life. Daily prayer and meditation
will bring peace and happiness.
Integrated
Personality: Chapter 2 explains about integrated personality. It aims
at developing the whole or the total human being which gives tremendous
satisfaction.
Finding
out one’s own temperament: Here, temperament means, one should introspect his own
character especially regarding to his demerits and rectify himself.
Implementing
and practicing: Lord Krishna said implementing and practicing what is said
in Bhagavad Gita is important rather than parayanam i.e. reading and preaching.
To
Conclude, in Gita, Lord Krishna said “Surrender to me with devotion, nobody is
nearer i.e. affectionate or enemy to me. I only give results according their
Karma. Although I am impartial
and shows no favors, I readily responds to my devotees. I love them and reduce their
sufferings and give Moksha for those people who prey me without asking for any
favour and follow the follow: (a) Sama Bhava i.e. who love and treat
all creatures equally there by maintaining “Eco Balance” on this earth (b)
Friendly behavior (c) No ego (d) Treating happiness and sorrows equally i.e. Sthita
Pragnya (e) Having patience (f) Self Control (g) Performing Dhyana and Anustana
(h) Whole heartedly praying God (i) Non- Violence (j) Pure heart (k) Respecting
elders and Acharyas i.e. teachers (l) Showchyam i.e. Cleanliness (m) Sthairyam i.e.
Courageous (o) Self Confidence (p) Coming out from materialistic world i.e. luxuries
and knowing about “Self” i.e. “Who am I” and what is the real purpose of life
(q) Knowing Adhyatmika Gnyana i.e. Knowledge about God and Soul (r) One should
have sacrificing nature i.e. leaving selfishness (s) Lastly, to know that man
also can become God, if he follows the said principles scrupulously”. We all
know that “Rama was born as a man and became God”.
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