Important Lessons from the Bhagavad Gita
Note #2
I took Hinduism in my last semester of college and took major learnings away during the Bhagavad Gita unit. Wanted to share some of notes with you all as well :) Some of these mental models will positively change the way you look at life.
Karma
Karma Yoga: defined as selfless action.
Perform your duties and actions with detachment from the desire for personal gain or outcome.
Chapter 2, Verse 47: "You have a right to perform your prescribed duties, but you are not entitled to the fruits of your actions. Never consider yourself to be the cause of the results of your activities, nor be attached to inaction.”
What is Karma? Karma is not meant to make us look at people, judge them, and try to decode why they are going through certain things (ex: they probably were bad in their past life)
The law of karma is meant to help us look at people and say “wherever you are whatever you are going through by your activities and by your response now, you can create a beautiful future for yourself.”
You can act now, there are things you can do now which will create a beautiful future for you.
It is said that being alike in success and failure is the essence of Yoga.
Maintaining an evenness of mind, or equanimity, in the face of success or failure is important. By not being attached to the outcome of our actions, we can avoid the ups and downs of life and remain centered in our pursuit of spiritual growth and enlightenment. This evenness of mind is considered to be the essence of Yoga.
Gyaana Yoga
Gyaana Yoga: to overcome the illusion of duality and separation between the self and ultimate reality, and to realize the underlying unity and interconnectedness of all things. Through this realization, one can attain liberation from the cycle of birth and death and experience the eternal bliss of the ultimate reality.
How to Pursue Gyaana Yoga: Seek deeper understanding and knowledge. Challenge yourself to look beyond surface-level appearances and find the interconnectedness in all things.
Dharma
Dharma - refers to the ethical and moral principles that govern human behavior and contribute to the maintenance of order and harmony in the world.
Dharma emphasizes the importance of fulfilling one's duty and responsibility towards oneself, family, society, and the environment. Prioritize our responsibilities over our personal desires and to act in accordance with our obligations.
Another concept of Dharma = that which makes a thing what it is without which a thing is not what it is
Ex 1: what would you say makes sugar what it is without what it is? Sweetness.
Sweetness makes sugar what it is. Take away sweetness, it is no longer sugar.
Ex 2: the dharma of fire is heat. There is no such thing as cold fire.
What makes you who you and without it you are not who you are?
Reflect: If you take away your face, are you still you?
To maintain life, one must act. However, being too attached to the results of those actions can lead to disappointment, frustration, and suffering. The concept of Bhakti involves surrendering one's actions to a higher power, or Bhagvan, and seeking refuge in the divine will. This surrender allows one to let go of the ego-driven desire for control and allows for a more natural, effortless flow of action.
How to Find your Dharma? : Reflect on what makes you truly who you are and align your actions with these core principles. Prioritize duties over desires and act with integrity and honesty.
"The mind is everything. What you think you become" (Chapter 6, Verse 40).
Lessons of Dharma:
Respect and Reverence
Dharma emphasizes the importance of respect and reverence for all beings and things in the universe. Treat all beings and the environment with respect. This can be practiced through mindful living and recognizing the sanctity in all forms of life.
Selflessness and Sacrifice
"A gift is pure when it is given from the heart to the right person at the right time and place, and when we expect nothing in return" (Chapter 17, Verse 20). This is the importance of giving selflessly and with pure intentions.
Practice Selflessness and Sacrifice: Give without expecting anything in return. This could involve volunteering, helping others, or simply being more empathetic and compassionate in daily interactions.
Integrity and Honesty
Dharma emphasizes the importance of integrity and honesty in all our dealings. Be truthful and to act with integrity even in the face of adversity.
Self-Discipline and Self-Control
"One who is able to withdraw his senses from sense objects, as the tortoise draws its limbs within the shell, is to be understood as truly situated in knowledge" (Chapter 2, Verse 58). Like the tortoise retracts its limbs, learn to withdraw from unnecessary distractions, and focus on inner growth and self-control.
"One who has control over the mind is tranquil in heat and cold, in pleasure and pain, and in honor and dishonor; and is ever steadfast with the Supreme Self" (Chapter 6, Verse 7).
"One who sees inaction in action and action in inaction is intelligent among men" (Chapter 2, Verse 50). This quote emphasizes the importance of seeing beyond the surface level of things and understanding the true nature of actions.
In Chapter 11 of the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna tells Arjuna that those who have faith in him and surrender to him will be protected and guided on the path of righteousness. At the end of the day, the highest thing one can do is surrender to Krishna. The highest form of dharma is worshipping Lord Krishna.
Surrendering to the Divine: Whatever your faith or belief system, find a way to connect with something greater than yourself, be it through prayer, meditation, or contemplation.
Hope this resonated with you all, and that you took away something meaningful :)