Bhagavad Gita is not just a scripture meant to sit at our altar.
Bhagavad Gita: chapter 2 verse 6
न चैतद्विद्म: कतरन्नो गरीयो
यद्वा जयेम यदि वा नो जयेयु: |
यानेव हत्वा न जिजीविषाम
स्तेऽवस्थिता: प्रमुखे धार्तराष्ट्रा: || 6||
We do not know which would be the better for us: that we should conquer them or they should conquer us. Arrayed against us stand the very sons of Dhritarāshtra, after slaying whom we should not wish to live.
The Game of Self-Deception:
"We do not know which would be the better for us: that we should conquer them or they should conquer us."
Arjuna jumps from topic to topic, trying to justify his faintheartedness to Krishna. First, he talks about respecting elders who deserve worship. Now, he's suddenly worried about winning and losing. This shows how confused and emotional he is. Doesn’t this look familiar? When we're trying to justify something we know isn't right, we often do the same - grabbing at any reason that might stick. When you're truly right, you often have one strong argument, not many weak ones.
This behaviour shows up when fighting addictions too. Your firm resolution crumbles when tested. Suddenly, you can't even remember why you wanted to change. Your failed 2024 New Year's resolution is a perfect example.
Why? Because emotions, not intellect, are in control. When feelings cloud your thinking, willpower is your only tool. You can't beat emotions with reasoning alone.
“Arrayed against us stand the very sons of Dhritarāshtra”
Your bad habits aren't separate from you. Like the Kauravas to the Pandavas, they're family. You've grown up together, played together. That's why they're so strong. But remember, their nature is to eventually bring you down.
“After slaying whom we should not wish to live.”
Pandavas and Kauravas are two sides of the same coin - you. They represent your virtues and vices. You don't want to kill your vices because they give quick pleasure. If you can't quit a bad habit, it's because you're still attached to how it makes you feel. To truly change, detach from that pleasure. Look past the good feeling to see the real effects. This is viveka (discrimination).
This battle within ourselves - between our higher nature and our lower impulses - is the real war that the Bhagavad Gita addresses. And this brings us to a crucial point:
Bhagavad Gita: Not just a scripture, but our life story!
What I am trying to show you today is that: Don't see the Gita as just another holy book. It's the story of your life. Through Arjuna, Krishna addresses all our life problems. The Gita doesn't just give knowledge, it gives wisdom. It changes your character. Bhagavad Gita is a complete self transformation system in itself. It’s a step by step roadmap for your Growth. A structured course for all your self-help needs!
As you read deeply, you'll see how it matches the challenges in your life. The Gita isn't meant to sit on an altar, but to transform your life. It helps you grow with each verse, revealing the secrets of the human mind.
It doesn't matter who you are or what you do. If you follow the Gita's system, you'll do better at whatever you choose.
Tread with me daily on this miraculous path of self-growth, structured by none other than our Lord Krishna, and see the changes yourself!
