Gita Jayanti, celebrated today, December 11, is also called Mokshada Ekadashi or Matsya Dvadashi. This day marks the beginning of the Bhagavad Gita dialogue between Arjun and Lord Krishna on the Kurukshetra battlefield. On the occasion of Gita Jayanti, we honor the power of the Bhagavad Gita and its ability to change lives, helping us live more fulfilling and productive lives.
Reading the Bhagavad Gita can be challenging. Many people struggle to grasp its ethical and spiritual teachings. Fortunately, various writers and philosophers have provided commentaries to help us understand it better. If you can’t understand the original text, you can always refer to these translations and commentaries.
- Gītārahasya- Lokamānya B.G. Tilak (Translations available in multiple languages. Original penned By B.G. Tilak in Marathi)
- LEEP (Life Empowerment and Enrichment Programme) by Soham [Swami Vimalananda] published by Central Chinamya Mission Trust
- Holy Gītā for ready reference published by Chinmaya International Foundation
- Gītā-Pravacana by Vinoba Bhave (Translations available in multiple languages. Original penned By Vinobaji in Marathi
I can help you start your reading of the Bhagavad Gita and show you how it can bring positive changes in your life. If any teachings from the Bhagavad Gita (mentioned here) resonate with you, feel free to book a one-on-one session with me to learn more about its essence.
What is Bhagavadgītā?
Bhagavadgītā is a highly respected text that contains important teachings and spiritual wisdom.
Other significant gītā-s include:
- Viduragītā from the Mahābhārata, which focuses on wisdom and right action (dharma).
- Rāmagītā from the Rāmāyaṇa, which emphasizes living righteously.
- Haṁsagītā from the Bhāgavatam, exploring the nature of the divine.
- Gurugītā from the Skandapurāṇa, offering advice on devotion.
- Ramaṇagītā attributed to Gaṇapatimuni, encouraging spiritual growth.
Cakradhara Kr̥ṣṇa and Muralīdhara Kr̥ṣṇa are unique forms of divine energy, showing grace and creativity in their stories.
This timeless scripture acts as a useful guide for managing a business, explaining essential principles for success. It also serves as a manual for personal relationships, promoting understanding and empathy, sharing insights on achieving large profits through ethical means, and offering guidance on self-improvement and inner growth to reach one’s fullest potential in life.
Bhagavadgītā Lessons
Lesson 1: People can impact you on the outside, but you are eternal on the inside.
In the Bhagavadgita, Krishna explains that our bodies may go away, but the soul lives on and returns. When we die, the soul takes a new journey in a different body. In the end, it reaches freedom (moksha) or peace (nirvana)—escaping the cycle of rebirth.
There are times in our lives when we feel broken and disconnected. We struggle to make the right choices. During these moments, our main goal is to protect ourselves from self-harm. If we realize that harm can only come from outside, we can grow and thrive, living our best lives.
Kirkegaard, an existentialist philosopher, emphasized subjectivity. He argued that we become alienated from ourselves by viewing and treating ourselves as objects.
When we start valuing our thoughts, feelings, and judgments, we show ourselves the respect we deserve and prioritize self-knowledge. To gain understanding from within, we must stop letting external comments and judgments harm us.
Lesson 2: Surrendering Your Actions and Results to God Eliminates Guilt
The Bhagavad Gita teaches us to focus on our actions rather than the results (BG 2.47). This means prioritizing the effort we put into our tasks, as good results stem from improved actions.
Results are uncertain and depend on various factors, so we should not see ourselves as solely responsible for outcomes. This mindset can reduce guilt and self-blame.
One should not consider oneself to be the agent of action but attribute all one’s actions to God. Many times in life for any wrong that has happened with us, we make ourselves feel guilty. It is not just we also keep on blaming ourselves every now and then.
We tend to punish ourselves every day for the things we did in past. In such a scenario, one should try to adopt the power of surrender. It could help us to be stronger from the inside which in turn changes our entire reality.
Lesson 3: Things may not be the same, the way they used to be. Things and circumstances change. We should neither expect people, nor surroundings, not even society to be same. They all change with time.
Everyone has got their expiry date. If we rely on other opinions, decisions, and judgments to move ahead in life, then we will never be able to grow. It’s time that we should make decisions straight from our heart, since everything is changing with time, and so the opinions of people also change.
We should not bother about what people say to us; we should just focus on what we are doing.
Our actions should be louder than words. Our actions should be impactful. This is what we are learning from the Bhagavad Gita: to take powerful action and make wonderful decisions.
Lesson 4: Ill feelings towards other living beings is the cause of man’s inner destruction. It must be avoided.
Negative feelings toward others, such as anger, jealousy, and resentment, can lead to one’s inner turmoil and destruction.
For example, holding onto grudges can create stress and unhappiness, affecting one’s mental well-being. Similarly, feelings of jealousy may lead to isolation and dissatisfaction in relationships.
To maintain inner peace, it’s crucial to cultivate compassion and understanding instead. This shift in mindset can foster healthier connections and promote personal growth.
Compassion can be created by the feeling of selflessness, where we are not attached to self and are not self-centered.
Lesson 5: The Pathways to Downfall and Self-Destruction – Lust, Greed, and Anger (BG 16.21)
A person’s attraction to lust, greed, and ongoing anger eventually leads to their own downfall.
The journey starts with lust. This strong desire creates greed, leading to an endless need for more, no matter the cost.
When these desires can’t be satisfied, lust turns into anger. This emotional struggle disrupts one’s peace, which can lead to self-destruction.
In conclusion, the combination of lust, greed, and anger disturbs the balance of both mind and spirit. These feelings block spiritual growth and are seen as paths to self-destruction.
I am sure all these lessons resonate with you. If you want to give a thought to reading and understanding the Bhagavad Gita with me, then you could book my one-on-one service, and I would be delighted to help you in taking the essence of the Bhagavad Gita word by word. If you want to see related posts, check here.
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