Each day when we wake up, we face a choice. Will we listen to our true and higher self, or will we give in to our ego? The days we choose to follow our true self are often the ones where we feel aligned with our purpose and true nature. In contrast, the days we let our ego take the lead tend to be filled with challenges, making life feel like a struggle.
The Bhagavad Gita – a guidebook to life
The Bhagavad Gita is one of the ancient texts of India, originating from the epic poem, The Mahabharata. This epic remains the longest poem ever composed, containing over 100,000 shlokas or more than 200,000 verses. Although it is just a section of The Mahabharata, the Bhagavad Gita is considered one of the most significant and respected yogic texts ever written.
Other texts like The Upanishads and the Dhammapada are also included in this epic. However, the Bhagavad Gita is frequently regarded as the key to personal transformation:
The Bhagavad Gita serves as both a map and a guidebook. It provides a structured overview of life's journey, highlighting different paths to the summit along with their advantages and challenges. It offers advice on what to carry with us and what to let go. Unlike the Upanishads and the Dhammapada, it feels more like a personal guide, addressing the questions we might have. These are not just philosophical or mystical inquiries, but practical questions about how to navigate life effectively amidst challenges and changes.
~ Eknath Easwaran – The Upanishads Introduction.
The entire narrative of the Bhagavad Gita unfolds on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, where two factions of a family – the Pandavas and the Kauravas – are gearing up for conflict. The focus of the text is a dialogue between two key figures: Krishna and Arjuna.
Similar to other ancient texts like the Upanishads and the Dhammapada, the Bhagavad Gita, or ‘Song of The Lord,’ possesses a timeless quality. Its themes resonate whether we lived a millennium ago or in today's world. The story delves into Arjuna's struggle with profound, life-altering choices, particularly the dilemma of fighting against his own kin in a war framed as ‘good’ versus ‘evil,’ highlighting the significance of leading a life grounded in truth and purpose.
One of the most intriguing yet often misinterpreted elements of the Bhagavad Gita is its representational and symbolic nature. There is no literal battlefield or victory to achieve; instead, the text symbolizes the internal conflicts we face. It emphasizes how we can navigate challenges, overcome self-doubt, and ultimately pursue a life of authenticity and meaning.
The Bhagavad Gita serves as a powerful metaphor for anyone who feels their mind is a battleground. Its relevance endures for contemporary practitioners just as it did for ancient yogis.
The characters
To fully appreciate the text, it's essential to grasp what each character symbolizes:
- Arjuna: represents us in our human form, embodying all our doubts, worries, and habits. He stands for you and me as we confront the various aspects of ourselves that hinder us from recognizing our true nature on the battlefield of life.
- Krishna: symbolizes the ‘higher Self’ or ‘divine’.
- The Pandavas: embody the great virtues within us.
- The Kauravas: represent the opposing forces within us.
- The Chariot: signifies our physical body.
- The Horses: illustrate our five senses, which must be guided by the Self to help us realize our true nature.
‘Young graduates are often told to “find their passion” and then “pursue their dreams.” This advice, frequently given at graduation ceremonies, is misguided. Most successful young people don’t start by looking inward and planning their lives. They don’t embark on a journey of self-discovery and emerge fully formed, ready to tackle the world’s challenges. Instead, it is through living that they come to know themselves. By facing life’s challenges and engaging with problems that ignite their energies, they uncover their capabilities and what truly matters to them. In essence, our potential or purpose is revealed not through thought alone, but through our active participation in the world.’
Life’s ‘purpose’
No matter what we think our ‘life purpose’ might be, there’s one common purpose we all share: to live life to the fullest. To delve into everything there is to discover both within ourselves and in the world around us. As Siddhartha Gautama wisely stated, “to discover your world and with all your heart – give yourself to it.”
Life can sometimes feel like a battlefield, yet many texts also describe it as a ‘drama.’ When we view it this way, we can reflect on whether we are truly playing our part to the fullest. Are we fully engaging with our lives and the world around us, living with intention?
The Bhagavad Gita inspires us to approach life with purity, strength, discipline, honesty, kindness, and integrity. By embodying these qualities, we can uncover our purpose and embrace it wholeheartedly. Just as Krishna encourages Arjuna to set aside his doubts and trust in his higher Self, we too can draw on the wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita to face our own challenges and choices with courage and sincerity, learning to live authentically and fully.