om spirit
T
he Bhagavad Gita is the best
known Indian scripture and a
timeless manual for a more
yogic life. The story begins
on a battlefield, however it
soon becomes apparent that it is in fact
a metaphorical battle, referring to the ‘war
within’. In it, the main protagonist, Arjuna
(and indeed any reader of this scripture) is
encouraged to examine his true inner self
and adopt a moral, responsible and loving
nature. The messages of the Gita are a
guide to live a more meaningful, fulfilling
and worthwhile life.
I believe the first message we can take from
the Gita is that ‘yoga’, in the holistic sense,
should still happen when we leave our mats. It
is not just an activity we do now and then, but
an attitude, a lifestyle, and an example.
Throughout the Gita, messages outline
what is later simplified by Patanjali as an
eight limbed path of yoga. This means that
any of the intrinsically spiritual benefits of
yoga will never be attained if the primary
goal is physical fitness. This could be
compared to a Christian attending church
once a week but never fulfilling the true
nature or beliefs of Christianity.
A huge aspect of this is the act of karma.
The Gita emphasises that no act or intention
adds to spiritual growth if it is faithless.
Therefore, this further reinforces the need for
any action to come with conviction in order
to be worthwhile. In fact, the broader crux of
the teachings in the Gita are: Be selfless.
I can relate to this as I increasingly
become more mindful about doing things for
others without wanting anything in return —
random acts of kindness. Even something as
simple as offering to make someone a cup of
tea. The Gita states: “Every action leads to a
reasonable result”. In other words, you reap
what you sow.
The concept of not doing something solely
for reward can also be related to society
today as a whole. With social media creeping
deeper into our lives and priorities, the need
and expectation for ‘likes’ and followers
seems to consume people to the point of
unhappiness and insecurity. The rajasic guna
embodies this selfish desire and craving for
attention and instant gratification, and quite
often this is for something superficial such
as perfect make-up or shiny hair. When this
is not met with approval, people feel deflated
and purposeless. This message could be
interpreted as not being afraid to stand out
from the crowd, following your heart, living in
the moment and having a sincere mind-body
connection. This results in a more sattvic
attitude which is free from egotism and
selfish attachment.Non-attachment
Another theme of the Gita which resonates
with me is one of non-attachment. I can
relate this to my daily life when I feel cross if
someone lets me down, or I am confronted
with a difficult client at work. While the Gita’s
message is not to deny your emotions, it
suggests that you manage them responsibly.
In other words, to detach positive emotions
of love and kindness from negative feelings
of jealousy, envy, control or rejection.
This would be a helpful tool and attitude
in dealing with these small nuances that
often confront me in a more graceful and
detached manner.I can also relate non-attachment to
physical desires. I have always found joy
in clothes and styling myself. However,
the desire for new things can sometimes
consume me, as at the time I strongly believe
that a different garment is going to make me
feel more positive about myself and impact
on my enjoyment of an event or day. During
periods when I make this less of a priority I
feel calmer, happy and no less prosperous
or content. In addition, I undoubtedly feel
lighter and more free after a decent clear
out. It seems the less I possess, the less
‘things’ possess me.
A sentence in the Gita that particularly
resonates with me is the analogy of the lotus
flower... “It spends its life floating in water, yet
the drops of water roll off its leaves withoutever wetting them.” I think this sums up non-
attachment, both physically and emotionally,
beautifully and is a visualisation I will gladly
meditate on during times of frustration.Modern society
Another topic which sprung to mind whilst
reading the Gita is of modern politics.
Today, most developed countries follow a
democratic system of government which
greatly differs from the monarchic times that
the Gita was written in. A leader of a country
is supposed to represent the country’s
views and values, and rule the country in
accordance with those values. I think many
people would agree that this is currently not
the case in some parts of the world. The
teaching of not giving into selfish desire
is most relevant and applicable in today’s
political climate. The message of the Gita
is to always aim for what is better for the
world’s future and not to lead by using fear
or hatred.
It is during difficult times when our strong
attributes and true nature shines through.
Leaders need to be unafraid to face
challenges and be there for their nation.
This could be said for former prime minister
David Cameron’s resignation after the Brexit
referendum. He backed out of his role as
leader after the vote that he called for didn’t
go his way.
Not backing down from challenges is
a teaching that anyone can learn from,
whatever they are passionate about, so long
as they believe that they are doing it for the
betterment of society.
While facing these challenges, it is
also important to stay resilient – another
teaching from the Bhagavad Gita. Krishna
told Arjuna not to fall prey to paths that may“Throughout the Gita,
messages outline what
is later simplified by
Patanjali as an eight
limbed path of yoga.”Worldmags.net