Spiritual Quest
My Spiritual Inquiries
Shrimad Bhagavad Geeta Chapter- 2a
Context from Chapter 1
Verse 1.28 to 1.47
#0 To remain focused is the biggest challenge
We may lose the purpose anytime until we achieve our goal. Arjun, the protagonist of the epic, succumbed to an illusion on the battlefield. He refused to fight and sat down, questioning the very purpose of the war.
Who was Arjun? Was he a run of a mill warrior? Someone who falls in the average class and best be seen as a shooting star? Not at all. In fact, he belonged to the elite class. Next only to none. Then why had he not argued this in the boardroom, when the decision to fight for land (to survive) was being justified?
Perhaps at that moment, his impulses were forcing him to take revenge. Under those intense emotions, he failed to foresee the consequences. And now, on the battlefield, he feels sorry for his imminent actions and their consequences.
Reasoning and logic (governed by our intellect, called Buddhi, in Hindi) are a powerful tool to keep us moving towards our goal. Alas, our intellect sits on a liquid foundation of our mind (called man, in Hindi) which paralyzes it when we need it the most.
We all are Arjun, the best warriors in our own kingdom, but we are fallible to illusions. We fight many battles with ease, yet we struggle in a few. Our battles are our life projects — education, relationship, career, health, wellbeing and many more. We struggle with those projects in which we lose our deterministic vision, the purpose.
Realizations from Shrimad Bhagavad Geeta Chapter-2
Verse 2.1 to 2.10
#1 Surrender is the first step towards enlightenment
The first reaction of Bhagawan Shri Krishna is of surprise and outright rejection of Arjun’s reasons to fall back. Arjun was least expecting such a response, for his agony was intense and real. He repeated his dilemma, stressing on some part of his reasonings. But soon he realized his fallacy and surrendered. He accepts Bhagwan Shri Krishna as his guru and solicited his direction.
Until Arjun surrendered, there was no advice. But the moment he renunciate his intellect and ego (called Ahamkar, in Hindi), Sadguru Shri Krishna poured the spiritual wisdom upon him.
I feel that this part of the epic probe us to surrender to an accomplished guru. But there are some practical challenges. First, like Arjun, who acknowledged his illusion and felt the need for a deterministic vision, do we realize we need a guru? Second, if we feel the need and urgency, whom do I surrender? How would I find an accomplished guru to show me the deterministic path?
Think of the challenges of our materialistic life. Often we bump upon a roadblock and feel like giving up. Is giving up the right thing to do? Can we see through the illusion, cut out the influence of our impulses (mind), and evaluate the situation?
When we surrender to the guru and practice the principles, we strengthen our inner voice — the voice of the spirit (called aatma, in Hindi). When the voice of the spirit amplifies, it attenuates all the noise of our wavering mind. It empowers our intellect. We feel the clarity of thoughts and attain a deterministic vision in our endeavors.
Verse 2.11 to 2.30
#3 Accept your limitations in the infinite schema of the creation
Wise men don’t fret about the inevitable. Instead, they focus on their duty.
Arjun’s fear was that he could commit to wrong by killing his kin and reverend. Sadguru Shri Krishna instructs Arjun not to think about things that are inevitable. He reminds him about the limitations of his action (of killing) by describing the properties of soul. He stresses that in the infinite loop of this creation, Arjun’s action of killing bears no significance. In this war, Arjun will not kill the soul, but only the body. His kin would eventually inherit alternative forms (of body) as they were in the past before they took birth as Arjun’s kin.
Verse 2.31 to 2.38
#4 Focus on the sense of duty and not on the outcome
Instead, the decision to fight or not would produce a profound impact on Arjun. If he quits, it will be a denial of duty. Adversaries will make fun of him and allies would be disheartened. He could not convince others about his wisdom and reasons to quit. Eventually, he will lose his credit and credibility. What can be a bigger pain than being discredited by your own allies?
I see this as a lesson on ownership in our life projects — personal or professional. We are bound by our duty. To maintain high standards for ourselves and live a life of high self-esteem, we must be relentless in performing our righteous duty.
Ownership in your relations means you do your part, nevertheless. In business, it means giving your best shot once you have agreed to commit. Ownership is the fuel for self upliftment — an important attribute of spiritual human being.
Way Forward
In the first part of Chapter 2, Shri Krishna transforms into the persona of an accomplished guru only after Arjun completely surrendered and begged for a deterministic decision that would be best for him. This part of the epic stresses on knowing our limitations and duty. In the second half of Chapter 2, Shri Krishna describes the principles of Karma Yoga.
Related Post: My realizations on the Chapter-1
Where can I get the access to the original text?
Beginners may find this useful.
For deeper insights, get a copy of the book from Vihangam Yoga. If you are in the US, contact North America Institute of Vihangam Yoga.
These revelations are based on my over twenty years of immersion in Swarved, The Encyclopedia of Spirituality. Swarved is available on Amazon and on Google Play store in multiple languages.
