Many of you expressed interest in exploring how the Bhagavad Gita applies to modern life and can help in our journey to self-mastery. In response, I’m beginning a series of articles titled #EmbodyingTheGita, with the intention of bringing the Gita’s wisdom into our everyday lived experience.
Before I begin, a small caveat. I am very much a student of the Gita, not an expert. This series is part of my own journey of deepening my understanding of this profound scripture. Any gaps, errors, or misinterpretations are entirely mine, shaped by my limited understanding. I invite you to read with discernment, reflect deeply, and take only what resonates.
As I reflected on where to begin, it became clear that the setting of the Gita’s teaching is the most fitting starting point. Without the battlefield, there is no crisis for Arjuna. And without that crisis, there is no Gita. If we wish to apply the Gita to our own lives, we must first understand our own battlefield – Where is it? Who are we truly battling? And What’s at stake for us?
In brief, the Bhagavad Gita is set amidst the battlefield of Kurukshetra as the Pandavas fight the Kauravas(their cousins) for their rightful kingdom. Arjuna’s conundrum, while seemingly simple – To Fight or Not To Fight, is layered and nuanced, and the entire Song of the God goes on to unlayer this dilemma.
But let’s be honest, most of you reading this don’t lead lives that require you to take arms and wage wars. So, if we take it literally, the entire Mahabharata can feel like a fantasy action-packed fiction novella. But it isn’t. That’s why we still talk about it.
So, where is the battlefield really?
Our battlefield is not Kurukshetra. It is not happening in some faraway land. In fact, it doesn’t even have a physical location. For our battlefield is in our minds. Day in and Day out, we wage an internal war in our heads, in our minds. There’s a tug of war happening within us every single day – to do or not to do, to say or not to say, to leave or not to leave. The conflicts are endless. Leaving us exhausted and drained, as we see no way out. The Gita offers wisdom to resolve this inner conflict as both Arjuna and Krishna live within us. This is the journey to conquering the self in self-mastery.
So the direction is not outward but inward. We are not spectators eating popcorn while watching a battle between ancient clans unfold. We are on the battlefield playing for and against ourselves in our minds.
#Insight 1: Recognising the battle is not out there but within us.
Then, what are we battling?
The next question is to ask ourselves what our daily conflicts look like. It could be similar to Arjuna, wanting to escape to the mountains and meditate instead of fighting boardroom battles or the game of who’s right with your spouse. Or it could be subtler, such as desiring something but afraid to pursue it for fear of judgment or failure. It could also be having different points of view, but having the urge to please people or belong. It could be recognising something (behaviour, life circumstance, or person) is not serving us, but being unable to let go of the pattern. Having big aspirations but constantly feeling like we are not enough.
Here are some common themes I’ve seen in the course of my self-discovery and while partnering with others on their inner journeys towards self-mastery:
- Desire v/s Fear – We want something, but fear putting ourselves out there. We fear failure, judgment, and rejection, yet cannot let go of our desires. For example, we may want a relationship but fear rejection, or want to be an author but fear not being good enough.
- Security v/s Satisfaction – We all know this. We stick to jobs we dread, just for a steady income. In contrast, we hesitate to pursue fulfilling careers, since they may not guarantee regular pay. The same goes for staying in dead-end relationships, choosing uncomfortable familiarity over venturing into the unknown.
- Authenticity v/s Acceptance – We want to speak our mind, find our voice, and stand our ground. At the same time, we fear not being accepted for who we are. We are afraid of rejection and want to belong so much that we compromise what we truly want to do/be to be accepted.
- Love v/s Jealousy – We want to love our friends and family. We want to genuinely wish them well, but are also envious of who they are or what they possess. We might be insecure about not being enough and feel possessive in relationships.
- Instant v/s Delayed Gratification – The classic we want to lose weight but also eat the seven-layered chocolate cake. Or we want to pursue excellence and mastery, but love the dopamine hits and gratification that comes from doing it for the gram.
This is not an exhaustive list. There could be many other subtle and nuanced inner battles that we each experience.
#Insight 2: Awareness of our dominant inner conflicts is the first step to addressing them.
Why bother though? What’s truly at stake?
We also need to introspect on why we are delving into this exploration. These inner conflicts cost us something very valuable – our inner peace. They don’t let us rest in ease and leave us feeling constantly restless. We feel the need to overexert and go above and beyond on some days. On other days we swing to the other extreme of avoidance, neglect, and heedlessness. Both extremes lead to emotional turmoil within and that’s what truly at stake here – to relieve us of this emotional rollercoaster.
Embodying the Gita begins with recognising what our inner conflicts are and what needs to be resolved for us to find more ease and peace within.
Meraklis Insight:
Spend some time reflecting on what inner conflicts you struggle with on a daily basis. There might be one or two core themes that occur repeatedly across life contexts. Simply begin by becoming aware of the conflict and understanding it a bit deeper. Awareness is the beginning of self-mastery.
Some prompts for reflection:
What is my dominant inner conflict?
Where all does it arise? (In my career, close relationships, when I try to do something new?)
What do I do or not do when the conflict arises in me?
