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Central message of shreemad bhagavad Gita.
Bhagavad Gita, “the divine song” is one of the greatest contributions India has made to the world. Gita’s subject is the war within, the struggle for self-mastery that every human being must wage. It addresses the most profound questions of life and gives not just philosophical clarity on the meaning of life but practical guidance on living a better life.
In the following note, I have tried to synthesize 15 central messages of the Gita for me. I have divided them into 4 sections –
1. Governing Thought
2. Meaning of Life
3. Path for Self/God Realization and
4. Practical Tips
~Governing Thought of the Gita~
1. Focus on selfless duty –
both the beginning and end of Gita are about Lord Krishna exhorting Arjuna to do his duty. Performing one’s duty selflessly and in accordance with Dharma is perhaps the most salient message of the Gita. Dharma is the universal law which holds all life together in unity. Each being must do its part in the grand scheme in things. Any code of life based on the satisfaction of mere desire leads to destruction. Therefore, selfless duty that goes beyond selfish motives and is for greater good is necessary. At the same time Gita encourages that action should be done with dispassion and without worrying about the outcomes. Performance of one’s duty is in all respects better than inaction. We have to do our duty and leave the outcome to the will of God.
~Meaning of life~
While Gita’s governing message is a call to action, it recommends we understand the meaning of life so it can guide us to right action
2. Nature of Self –
Starting point is to understand the nature of our Self. Our being has two aspects, the life spirit or the soul (Purusha, or Atman) that is eternal and indestructible, and the physical existence (Prakriti) that is transient and perishable. Life comes to be from this union of body and soul. The soul goes through cycles of life and death, and takes on new physical forms as if it is wearing and shedding clothes. This concept of the nature of self and recognition of the existence of soul is the core foundation from which then flow the various messages of Gita
3. Law of Karma –
The cycle of life and death that our eternal self goes through implies that the results of our current actions reflect in not just this life but also in future lives. Equally our situation in current life (intellect, tastes, inclinations) is because of latent impressions from actions in past life. When the soul departs from body after death, it takes with it a load of character or Gunas by the activities so far gone through.
This principle is key to understanding the apparent uncertainties of life and the lack of perfect correlation between input and output. At the same time, this principle of cause and effect teaches us that we ourselves are responsible for what happens to us, whether or not we understand how. It follows that we can change what happens to us by changing ourselves; we can take our destiny into our own hands. It also encourages ethical action with the realization that every action will have equivalent impact whether in this life or later.
4. Nature of God –
God is the universal force, the Brahman that is the basis for all creation and the continuous cycle of life. It is without beginning or end. It is the infinite, indivisible reality underlying all life. It is the essence of all existence. It is the life spirit behind all life forms. It is all pervasive. It is inside all of us (Jivatama) and also connects all existence. Thus, the individual soul may also be looked upon as a fragment of the universal spirit. This is beautifully captured by the words Tat Tvam Asi: “Thou are That”. Atman is Brahman: the self in each person is not different from the Godhead.
The pervasive nature of Brahman implies unity of all existence. Thus, the very heart of Gita’s message is to see the Lord in every creature and act accordingly.
5. Maya or Illusion –
The underlying unity of existence is distorted by Maya or Illusion. In general use the word Maya means a kind of magic. In the Gita, Maya becomes the creative power of the Godhead that makes unity appear as the world of innumerable separate things. It is not that the phenomenal world is an illusion or unreal. The illusion is sense of separateness.
This separateness is fed by our ego and attachment to senses. Ego creates a false impression that we are separate. The more we feed the ego (“I am the doer”) more the sense of separateness grows. Senses take us further away from self and towards attachment by making us a slave of desires. Gita puts it beautifully – “just as a fire is covered by smoke and a mirror is obscured by dust, just as the embryo rests deep within the womb, knowledge is hidden by selfish desire.”
6. Our higher purpose –
is to have union with God, our source and the ultimate reality. It is to realize the oneness between God and self. When we go beyond the many layers of physical existence (mind, body, intellect, senses, ego), we realize our true self – the eternal life spirit, the Atman. And, in that discovery is the realization of oneness with God. When that happens we get liberated (Moksha) from the continuous cycle of deed and consequence, of life and death.
~Paths for Self/God realization~
7. 4 Paths of Yoga –
There are multiple paths to realizing our true self/God and gaining liberation from the cycle of life and death. Gita calls them Yogas, disciplines for achieving the state of union. Gita describes 4 Yogas. These are
1) Karma Yoga – the path of action
2) Gyan Yoga – the path of knowledge
3) Bhakti Yoga – the path of devotion and
4) Raja Yoga – the path of meditation.
The path or combination of paths that work for you depends upon your nature. The common factor in the 4 Yogas is renunciation. This is harnessing the senses and subordinating our ego and thus overcome the main obstacles that stop us from realizing our true self and God.
The being enlightened by Yoga sees himself in all beings and all beings in himself. The contemplation and realization of this supreme oneness is the end and aim of Yoga.
8. Karma Yoga –
As we understand the nature of self, the law of Karma and the purpose of life, we can better appreciate Gita’s advice to act selflessly, with dispassion and without focus on outcomes. Action for self feeds the ego, the sense of “I”, and increases the separation. While selfless action done with dispassion and submitting the outcomes to the will of God cuts through the ego and does not leave a Karmic residue. Therefore, progressing on the path of action also advances us on the path of renunciation. True renunciation and true performance of work are identical, the essence of both being giving up of personal desire.
9. Gyan Yoga –
is the understanding of the nature of self, the interplay between its different aspects, and the oneness between the true self and God. Knowledge is not gained necessarily through a study of scripture but is a process of self-realization.
10. Bhakti Yoga –
is the path of love, of devotion. It is the path of humility, where you submit yourself to the will of the Lord. It is devotee’s identification with the Lord of his heart. It is moving from attachment to “I, I, I” to submitting to “You, You, You”. Absorbing oneself with a formless, unmanifest God is difficult. Therefore, focusing on a manifest form becomes an easier path for many.
11. Raja Yoga –
is stilling various layers of physical existence through Yoga and meditation. When we still ourselves we realize our inner core and the infinite wisdom and joy that come with it. Gita says, “When meditation is mastered, the mind is unwavering like the flame of a lamp in a windless place. In the still mind, in the depths of meditation, the Self reveals itself.” Gita further recommends the path of moderation. It says neither asceticism nor indulgence will aid meditation.
~Practical Tips~
12. Three Gunas or Inherited Propensities –
The Gita divides human activities, desires, tastes, and indeed everything into three classes or “Gunas”
a) Sattvic – wherein the spirit of truth and harmony dominates.
b) Rajasik – wherein the urge to action, the passion nature dominates.
c) Tamasik – wherein inertia dominates
We are all born with a certain mix of Gunas based on our past Karma, which find expression in our personality and behavior. However, Gita makes it clear that by personal effort and by the practice of self-control we may be delivered of the character load with which we begin. Gunas are states of energy, and each can be converted into the others.
13. 3 Gateways of Hell & Power of choice–
We are born with a mix of Gunas but we have the power of choice to change the mix and potentially liberate ourselves from them. Equally we could move on a downward path and sink deeper. Gita talks about “3 gateways of hell”. These are lust, anger and greed, which are the enemies of good resolution. Those who want to improve themselves must abandon these 3 vices.
Krishna gives the following advice to move on a divine path:
a) Be fearless and pure; never waiver in your determination or your dedication to Dharma
b) Be self-controlled; control your senses and regulate the routine of life, work, food, sleep etc. For example, the food we daily take has its effect on our psychology and character
c) Realize the truth of the scriptures; learn to be detached and take joy in renunciation
d) Be unselfish but attentive in performance of duties. Cultivate vigor, patience, will, purity; avoid malice and pride
e) Do not get angry or harm any living creature, but be compassionate and gentle; show good will to all. Give freely
f) Meditate for turning the mind inwards
g) Surrender to God’s grace
These lines from the The Gita sum up beautifully the choice it wants us to make – “True happiness does not come from that which at first is like nectar, but which in the end becomes venom. Self-control leads to true happiness, though in the beginning it is hard and bitter.”
14. Ideal man –
Most men are totally caught up in the frenzy of daily life, and then there are some who chose to leave everything and take Sanyas. Gita’s ideal man is one who is dedicated to action but with a mindset of surrender – a Karma Yogi who is a Sanyasi. It says, “As a duck swims in water and when it steps out sheds the water from off its back, so should we learn to move in the world; not wanting in expertness or efficiency in work, but vigilantly guarding against the development of selfish attachments.”
Gita’s ideals are Lord Krishna or Raja Janak who have attained enlightenment but still perform the various deeds of the world. They act not because of any expectation because it is the right thing to do. They work for the guidance of other men and to improve the world, because that is how the world progresses.
15. Shraddha or Faith –
Gita is a lamp that lights our paths in darkness. However, we cast our own shadows on our path inspite of the lantern in our hands. Our progress on the path, the shadows we cast, is determined by our Shraddha, our faith. Our Shraddha is the sum total of our values, what we really hold to be important in our lives. Shraddha determines our destiny. All that we are is the result of what we have thought. Therefore, we should progress on the path shown by Gita with faith. On this path efforts will never go waste and there is no failure.
#shreemadbhagavadgita #writcostory
#inpringstory #writcowrittingapp
#indian #mythology #eyeopening
#inspirationalmessage #followyourgod
© yoursoul24
In the following note, I have tried to synthesize 15 central messages of the Gita for me. I have divided them into 4 sections –
1. Governing Thought
2. Meaning of Life
3. Path for Self/God Realization and
4. Practical Tips
~Governing Thought of the Gita~
1. Focus on selfless duty –
both the beginning and end of Gita are about Lord Krishna exhorting Arjuna to do his duty. Performing one’s duty selflessly and in accordance with Dharma is perhaps the most salient message of the Gita. Dharma is the universal law which holds all life together in unity. Each being must do its part in the grand scheme in things. Any code of life based on the satisfaction of mere desire leads to destruction. Therefore, selfless duty that goes beyond selfish motives and is for greater good is necessary. At the same time Gita encourages that action should be done with dispassion and without worrying about the outcomes. Performance of one’s duty is in all respects better than inaction. We have to do our duty and leave the outcome to the will of God.
~Meaning of life~
While Gita’s governing message is a call to action, it recommends we understand the meaning of life so it can guide us to right action
2. Nature of Self –
Starting point is to understand the nature of our Self. Our being has two aspects, the life spirit or the soul (Purusha, or Atman) that is eternal and indestructible, and the physical existence (Prakriti) that is transient and perishable. Life comes to be from this union of body and soul. The soul goes through cycles of life and death, and takes on new physical forms as if it is wearing and shedding clothes. This concept of the nature of self and recognition of the existence of soul is the core foundation from which then flow the various messages of Gita
3. Law of Karma –
The cycle of life and death that our eternal self goes through implies that the results of our current actions reflect in not just this life but also in future lives. Equally our situation in current life (intellect, tastes, inclinations) is because of latent impressions from actions in past life. When the soul departs from body after death, it takes with it a load of character or Gunas by the activities so far gone through.
This principle is key to understanding the apparent uncertainties of life and the lack of perfect correlation between input and output. At the same time, this principle of cause and effect teaches us that we ourselves are responsible for what happens to us, whether or not we understand how. It follows that we can change what happens to us by changing ourselves; we can take our destiny into our own hands. It also encourages ethical action with the realization that every action will have equivalent impact whether in this life or later.
4. Nature of God –
God is the universal force, the Brahman that is the basis for all creation and the continuous cycle of life. It is without beginning or end. It is the infinite, indivisible reality underlying all life. It is the essence of all existence. It is the life spirit behind all life forms. It is all pervasive. It is inside all of us (Jivatama) and also connects all existence. Thus, the individual soul may also be looked upon as a fragment of the universal spirit. This is beautifully captured by the words Tat Tvam Asi: “Thou are That”. Atman is Brahman: the self in each person is not different from the Godhead.
The pervasive nature of Brahman implies unity of all existence. Thus, the very heart of Gita’s message is to see the Lord in every creature and act accordingly.
5. Maya or Illusion –
The underlying unity of existence is distorted by Maya or Illusion. In general use the word Maya means a kind of magic. In the Gita, Maya becomes the creative power of the Godhead that makes unity appear as the world of innumerable separate things. It is not that the phenomenal world is an illusion or unreal. The illusion is sense of separateness.
This separateness is fed by our ego and attachment to senses. Ego creates a false impression that we are separate. The more we feed the ego (“I am the doer”) more the sense of separateness grows. Senses take us further away from self and towards attachment by making us a slave of desires. Gita puts it beautifully – “just as a fire is covered by smoke and a mirror is obscured by dust, just as the embryo rests deep within the womb, knowledge is hidden by selfish desire.”
6. Our higher purpose –
is to have union with God, our source and the ultimate reality. It is to realize the oneness between God and self. When we go beyond the many layers of physical existence (mind, body, intellect, senses, ego), we realize our true self – the eternal life spirit, the Atman. And, in that discovery is the realization of oneness with God. When that happens we get liberated (Moksha) from the continuous cycle of deed and consequence, of life and death.
~Paths for Self/God realization~
7. 4 Paths of Yoga –
There are multiple paths to realizing our true self/God and gaining liberation from the cycle of life and death. Gita calls them Yogas, disciplines for achieving the state of union. Gita describes 4 Yogas. These are
1) Karma Yoga – the path of action
2) Gyan Yoga – the path of knowledge
3) Bhakti Yoga – the path of devotion and
4) Raja Yoga – the path of meditation.
The path or combination of paths that work for you depends upon your nature. The common factor in the 4 Yogas is renunciation. This is harnessing the senses and subordinating our ego and thus overcome the main obstacles that stop us from realizing our true self and God.
The being enlightened by Yoga sees himself in all beings and all beings in himself. The contemplation and realization of this supreme oneness is the end and aim of Yoga.
8. Karma Yoga –
As we understand the nature of self, the law of Karma and the purpose of life, we can better appreciate Gita’s advice to act selflessly, with dispassion and without focus on outcomes. Action for self feeds the ego, the sense of “I”, and increases the separation. While selfless action done with dispassion and submitting the outcomes to the will of God cuts through the ego and does not leave a Karmic residue. Therefore, progressing on the path of action also advances us on the path of renunciation. True renunciation and true performance of work are identical, the essence of both being giving up of personal desire.
9. Gyan Yoga –
is the understanding of the nature of self, the interplay between its different aspects, and the oneness between the true self and God. Knowledge is not gained necessarily through a study of scripture but is a process of self-realization.
10. Bhakti Yoga –
is the path of love, of devotion. It is the path of humility, where you submit yourself to the will of the Lord. It is devotee’s identification with the Lord of his heart. It is moving from attachment to “I, I, I” to submitting to “You, You, You”. Absorbing oneself with a formless, unmanifest God is difficult. Therefore, focusing on a manifest form becomes an easier path for many.
11. Raja Yoga –
is stilling various layers of physical existence through Yoga and meditation. When we still ourselves we realize our inner core and the infinite wisdom and joy that come with it. Gita says, “When meditation is mastered, the mind is unwavering like the flame of a lamp in a windless place. In the still mind, in the depths of meditation, the Self reveals itself.” Gita further recommends the path of moderation. It says neither asceticism nor indulgence will aid meditation.
~Practical Tips~
12. Three Gunas or Inherited Propensities –
The Gita divides human activities, desires, tastes, and indeed everything into three classes or “Gunas”
a) Sattvic – wherein the spirit of truth and harmony dominates.
b) Rajasik – wherein the urge to action, the passion nature dominates.
c) Tamasik – wherein inertia dominates
We are all born with a certain mix of Gunas based on our past Karma, which find expression in our personality and behavior. However, Gita makes it clear that by personal effort and by the practice of self-control we may be delivered of the character load with which we begin. Gunas are states of energy, and each can be converted into the others.
13. 3 Gateways of Hell & Power of choice–
We are born with a mix of Gunas but we have the power of choice to change the mix and potentially liberate ourselves from them. Equally we could move on a downward path and sink deeper. Gita talks about “3 gateways of hell”. These are lust, anger and greed, which are the enemies of good resolution. Those who want to improve themselves must abandon these 3 vices.
Krishna gives the following advice to move on a divine path:
a) Be fearless and pure; never waiver in your determination or your dedication to Dharma
b) Be self-controlled; control your senses and regulate the routine of life, work, food, sleep etc. For example, the food we daily take has its effect on our psychology and character
c) Realize the truth of the scriptures; learn to be detached and take joy in renunciation
d) Be unselfish but attentive in performance of duties. Cultivate vigor, patience, will, purity; avoid malice and pride
e) Do not get angry or harm any living creature, but be compassionate and gentle; show good will to all. Give freely
f) Meditate for turning the mind inwards
g) Surrender to God’s grace
These lines from the The Gita sum up beautifully the choice it wants us to make – “True happiness does not come from that which at first is like nectar, but which in the end becomes venom. Self-control leads to true happiness, though in the beginning it is hard and bitter.”
14. Ideal man –
Most men are totally caught up in the frenzy of daily life, and then there are some who chose to leave everything and take Sanyas. Gita’s ideal man is one who is dedicated to action but with a mindset of surrender – a Karma Yogi who is a Sanyasi. It says, “As a duck swims in water and when it steps out sheds the water from off its back, so should we learn to move in the world; not wanting in expertness or efficiency in work, but vigilantly guarding against the development of selfish attachments.”
Gita’s ideals are Lord Krishna or Raja Janak who have attained enlightenment but still perform the various deeds of the world. They act not because of any expectation because it is the right thing to do. They work for the guidance of other men and to improve the world, because that is how the world progresses.
15. Shraddha or Faith –
Gita is a lamp that lights our paths in darkness. However, we cast our own shadows on our path inspite of the lantern in our hands. Our progress on the path, the shadows we cast, is determined by our Shraddha, our faith. Our Shraddha is the sum total of our values, what we really hold to be important in our lives. Shraddha determines our destiny. All that we are is the result of what we have thought. Therefore, we should progress on the path shown by Gita with faith. On this path efforts will never go waste and there is no failure.
#shreemadbhagavadgita #writcostory
#inpringstory #writcowrittingapp
#indian #mythology #eyeopening
#inspirationalmessage #followyourgod
© yoursoul24
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