Suffering and Enjoyment. From Bhagavad Gita Verse

Learn the way of life from this Bhagavad Gita Verse.

Vinod Kumar Kashyap
ILLUMINATION
Published in
3 min readJun 12, 2024

--

Bhagavad Gita is a sacred text from the Hindu religion. It is one of the most critical pieces of literature every Hindu in India reports on. It explains the way of life and how one should live.

Many verses, known as ‘shlokas ‘, in the Bhagavad Gita can transform your perspective.

One such shloka, a poetic form of expression in Hindu scriptures, delves into the profound understanding of the duality of enjoyment and suffering in life, inviting you to explore its depths.

मात्रास्पर्शास्तु कौन्तेय शीतोष्णसुखदुःखदाः ।

आगमापायिनोऽनित्यास्तांस्तितिक्षस्व भारत ।।

— Bhagvada Gita, Shloka 2.14 (Chapter 2, Verse 14)

The Bhagavad Gita reminds us that enjoyment and suffering are fleeting in life.

We are destined to encounter both, and we should embrace them with a sense of contentment, knowing that they are part of the duality of life, a concept that [brief explanation of duality in the Bhagavad Gita].

Let’s see what it will reflect in our life.

Temporariness

Everything in our lives is temporary. When winter comes, summer will come, too. After every night, the day will come.

“Everything passes. Joy. Pain. The moment of triumph; the sigh of despair. Nothing lasts forever — not even this.”
― Paul Stewart

Everything is temporary, even our emotions and state of mind.

We face joy and pain. But they will remain impermanent. They will change over time. It would help if you did not ponder upon those for longer times.

Balance

There are good and bad moments in life. While the happy times help us appreciate the good times, the problematic times strengthen us and provide important lessons.

“Perhaps there could be no joy on this planet without an equal weight of pain to balance it out on some unknown scale.”
― Stephenie Meyer

Remember, maintaining this equilibrium is not just a suggestion; it’s a crucial part of your development. Regardless of any situation, you have the power to choose your attitude.

Bring balance to your life.

Perspective

Our perception of enjoyment and suffering can change depending on our perspective. It all depends on our mindset.

“One person’s craziness is another person’s reality.”
― Tim Burton

Sometimes, what seems enjoyable to you may not be suffering to someone else.

You can see many examples in your life where someone loves the same job, what you hate to do. It’s all your perspective that makes the sense.

Growth

Either pleasure or pain presents chances for personal development. Pleasure can inspire us to follow our ambitions and maintain a positive attitude.

“When things do not go your way, remember that every challenge — every adversity — contains within it the seeds of opportunity and growth.”
― Roy T. Bennett

However, despite being uncomfortable, suffering results in resilience, personal development, and a better awareness of oneself. It is sometimes good.

If you want growth, you need to enjoy every bit of life.

Present Moment

Focusing on the here and now allows us better to comprehend the fleeting nature of happiness and misery. Being present helps us better handle sorrow.

“Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin.”
― Mother Theresa

Because we know that it, too, will pass, allowing us to experience happiness when it arises.

For a successful life, you need to be in the present moment.

In conclusion, suffering and enjoyment are part of our lives. We should not run away from it. After every suffering, there will be enjoyment.

And after every enjoyment, suffering will be there.

It would help if you decided what to do, but as humans, it’s inevitable. We need to focus on the present moment and work towards growth.

--

--

Vinod Kumar Kashyap
ILLUMINATION

Digital Writer & Storyteller | Bringing Visions to Life Through Premium Ghostwriting​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​