How to Motivate Yourself in depressed situations - Bhagwad Gita Perspective

 

This article deals with how you can Motivate Yourself in depressed situations of life.  When you get depressed in life then its very difficult and frustrating to cope with it. With proper guidance, you can come out of depression & eventually can come out of it. To come out of depression shall not be easy but you can motivate yourself through the methods shown below & can do it surely. 

In our day to day life, whether you are working for an organization or are doing your own business or are responsible for your household work, the most common thing many times is that you get depressed while doing your work. Depressed employees in any organization is a common sight. Dejected employees, depressed employees, unmotivated employees, desolate employees, morose looking employees are very harmful to any organization as they not only decrease the productivity but they also create an atmosphere in which other colleagues may also feel de-motivated & dejected. Similarly if you run your own business & remain depressed while doing your work, certainly you shall not achieve that much in your business if you would have been highly motivated & energetic.

Now, De-motivation, Depression, Dejection, Desolation all these D-words relates to your mind or relate to your mental position. It's only your MIND that gets depressed, dejected. You may be physically fit with blood oozing in your nerves, but if you are not well with your MIND then you are certainly not going to perform to your full potential. Mental health is where the key to success lies. If you are mentally supercharged then you can achieve any milestone in spite of having any physical inadequacy.

Now, how to get out of this Depression, De-motivation & how to increase the productivity at work is where the great teachings of "Bhagwat Gita" come into play. Now for those who do not know about "Bhagwat Gita".

"Bhagwat Gita" is an ancient religious book of the "Hindus" & in this book are great philosophies of Hinduism. These philosophies teach you all about, how you should do your duty, how you should lead your life etc. This "Bhagwat Gita" teachings were given by "Lord Sri Krishna", God Himself, to his disciple "Arjuna" on the battle field of Kurukshetra in Haryana state of India in ancient times. "Arjuna" was involved in a war against his enemies (some of them his own relatives too) but he refused to do his duty of fighting a righteous battle as he got infatuated & started thinking of his enemies as his own near & dear ones. He told his master "Lord Sri Krishna" that he is going away from the war & do not want to fight on the battle field. Arjuna's mental health became weak & he got deeply depressed. To overcome his disciple Arjuna's depression & to motivate him to fight a righteous war, "Lord Sri Krishna" gave the great teachings of "Bhagwat Gita" to his disciple "Arjuna". After listening to all these great teachings, Arjuna's mental health became well & he became motivated & energetic to fight the war.

Now many of us & many of our employees in our organization find themselves in the same state of mind, as that of "Arjuna". Their de-motivated, depressed state of mind can be changed to motivated & energetic one by these teachings of "Bhagwat Gita". Through these teachings, mental equilibrium of any depressed person can be overcome & he can come out of any crisis situation. The teachings of "Bhagwat Gita" can simply transform a person.

Now Bhagwat Gita teaches about "Mind Control". Mind is that makes the personality of a person. De-motivated mind makes a person depressed one & a motivated one makes a person cheerful. If one's mind is in one's control & he/she can concentrate deeply on one's work, then that person can do wonders at work. Mind is very powerful one & to control it, to keep it in one's control is very difficult. It just wanders like wind here & there & it takes enough of self discipline & practice of meditation to control it, to get it concentrated on any job or activity. As per "Arjuna" to "Lord Sri Krishna" in Chapter Six verse 34:

"chanchalam hi manah krishna
pramathi balavad drdham
tasyaham nigraham manye
vayor iva su-duskaram" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Six verse 34)

"Arjuna said: For the mind is restless, turbulent, obstinate and very strong, O Krishna, and to subdue it, to control it, I think, is more difficult than controlling the wind."

"sri-bhagavan uvacha
asamsayam maha-baho
mano durnigraham chalam
abhyasena tu kaunteya
vairagyena cha grhyate" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Six verse 35)

"Lord Sri Krishna said: O mighty-armed Arjuna, it is undoubtedly that mind is very difficult to curb & is restless, but it is possible by suitable practices of meditation and by detachment."

"asamyatatmana yogo
dusprapa iti me matih
vasyatmana tu yatata
sakyo ’vaptum upayatah" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Six verse 36)

"Lord Sri Krishna said: For one whose mind is unbridled, uncontrolled, self-realization is a difficult work. But he whose mind is controlled and who strives by appropriate means is assured of success. That is My opinion."

So in the Bhagwat Gita, "Lord Sri Krishna" first of all asks one to do his DUTY. If a person does his/her duty then half of the problems of that person are solved. Not doing one's duty is very harmful as it produces negative results only in one's life, like frustration, depression, de-motivation etc. If one does at least his/her duty, then such negative factors affect that person to a lesser degree or do not affect at all. As per "Lord Sri Krishna", doing one’s prescribed duties, even though faultily is better to have a better Mental Health.

"sreyan sva-dharmo vigunah
para-dharmat sv-anusthitat
sva-dharme nidhanam sreyah
para-dharmo bhayavahah" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Three verse 35)

"Lord Sri Krishna said: It is far better to discharge one’s prescribed duties, even though faultily, than another’s duties perfectly. Destruction in the course of performing one’s own duty is better than engaging in another’s duties, for to follow another’s path is dangerous."

Another teaching of "Bhagwat Gita" is to do one's work for the sake of work only without caring for the fruit arising out of that work. That simply means to get deeply involved in one's work or to just think single mindedly about performing the best in one's job without thinking about the results arising out of those actions performed while doing one's work or duty. Just concentrate on your work, that's it. Below verse of "Bhagwat Gita" explains this.

"karmany evadhikaras te
ma phalesu kadachana
ma karma-phala-hetur bhur
ma te sango ’stv akarmani" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Two verse 47)

"Lord Sri Krishna said: You have a right to perform your prescribed duty, but you are not entitled to the fruits of action. Never consider yourself the cause of the results of your activities, and never be attached to not doing your duty."

Another below verse of "Bhagwat Gita" explains that one should do one's duty equi-poised or to have the equanimity of mind, without caring & renouncing all attachment to success or failure. If one does one's duty efficiently & with single minded devotion, without any fear of success or failure in his/her Endeavour, then certainly that person shall succeed in his/her work, as he/she is doing that work without any fear of success or failure. His/her mind shall be at peace & ease while doing such work without any fear of success or failure. Any person whose mind is at peace, certainly works effectively.

"yoga-sthah kuru karmani
sangam tyaktva dhananjaya
siddhy-asiddhyoh samo bhutva
samatvam yoga ucyate" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Two verse 48)

"Lord Sri Krishna said: Perform your duty equi-poised, O Arjuna, abandoning all attachment to success or failure. Such equanimity is called yoga."

So if a person is dedicated to his work & works for the sake of work only without any fear of success or failure, then that person is going to be certainly successful in his/her carrier. By doing meditation & other yoga techniques, one can control one's mind & a disciplined mind can be made to concentrate on one's job better, producing better results. So by following the teachings of "Bhagwat Gita" one is certainly going to excel in his/her job & in life.

Jai Shri Krishna

Understanding Karmayoga as per the Hindu Philosophy

In the Earlier post on Karma, we have known & understood in detail about the "Karma" & how it is related to the origin of one's own body. How Karmas of earlier births become the basis of this birth & how Karmas of this birth become the basis of one's next birth & so on. Now in this post we shall understand about the Karmayoga & how one can know God through Karmayoga.

Simple meaning of Yoga is to get attached to God or to get one with the God. To attain this, there are many types of Yogas that are expounded in the Bhagwat Gita, like Sankhyayoga or the Yoga of Knowledge, Karmayoga or the Yoga of Selfless Action, Bhaktiyoga or the Yoga of Devotion etc. Among all these Yogas, Karmayoga is the one through which one can attain God by just devoting all his/her daily actions to God i.e. doing service of God by doing/devoting all life actions to Him.

Below are the verses from "Bhagwat Gita-Chapter Twelve- Verse - 6-7", in which God is asking his disciple Arjuna to do all his actions / activities for Him only.

'Ye tu srvani krmani
myi sanyasya mat-para
anany-naiv yogen
maam dhyayant upasate'

'Tesham-aham samud-dharta
mrityu-sansar-saagrat
bhavami na-chirat parth
mayy-avesita-chetsam' ( Bhagwat Gita: Chapter XII verse 6-7 )

'Those people, who worship Me by surrendering all their activities unto Me, are always devoted to Me, always meditate upon Me, Having always fixing their minds upon Me, O Parth - to them, I swiftly rescue from the ocean of birth and death.'

Through above verse 6 & 7, God is telling 'Parth' (another name of Arjuna, his disciple), that those people who work for God only & offer all their activities & work to Him only, to such a Soul He shows great mercy, always protects him & finally rescues him during & after death.

Now, how can we work for God only? This whole world is the creation of God only & knowingly, unknowingly, we all are working for the maintenance of this world only. Just introspect & see that, whatever, work or job (good one), you are doing in this world, it is helping in someway or the other in maintaining & sustaining this world. Just take it in that sense, that if all the people of the earth stop doing their daily work, duties, this whole world shall come to a standstill. In that case nobody shall grow food, vegetables, fruits & other things which sustain our life & hence we shall all die. Same is the case with other professions & each person is adding value to this world by doing his/her duty.

Now, though we do duty to sustain this world only but we don't realize that. As this world is a creation of God, so we should work for Him only. If we develop this sense that we are working selflessly to sustain this world created by God only, then also we shall develop an affinity towards God. In the above verses, God is making very clear that if a person offers all his work & activities to God, thinking this world to be a creation of God only, then also He shall be happy with that person & shall protect & shall deliver that person from the cycles of birth & death. By working for God, we shall attain peace & shall attain His love & devotion. So Let's all Work for God only.

Below is a verse from "Bhagwat Gita-Chapter Two Verse - 47",

"karmany evadhikaras te
ma phalesu kadachana
ma karma-phala-hetur bhur
ma te sango ’stv akarmani" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Two verse 47)

"Sri Krishna said: You have a right to perform your prescribed duty, but you are not entitled to the fruits of action. Never consider yourself the cause of the results of your activities, and never be attached to not doing your duty.

In the above verse God is asking his disciple Arjuna to perform his prescribed duty & not get attached to the fruits of its action. If one does all his/her actions without considering or thinking about the Fruits these actions shall produce & devotes that action & its fruit to the God only, then he/she is not bound by that action & that action shall not bear such fruits which shall be the cause of his/her next birth. Once a person is relieved of taking rebirths then that person can go to the abode of God & live there with Him & he becomes a liberated soul.

Art of doing actions for the sake of God only & doing all his/her actions without thinking or keeping in mind the fruit of that action is only what is called Karmayoga.

Jai Shri Krishna

Body is the Outer Cover of Soul, just like Clothes are to Body

Day in, day out, we identify ourselves with this body of ours. We look our body in the mirror & feel that this is our real self. However, this delusion of ours goes momentarily, when we see someone dead. Then we think, that one day this body shall die. If you are a non-believer then you may think that a person is dead forever but if you believe in God & religion then you may think otherwise that the Soul of a person has survived the body at death.

In fact we are the Soul inside our body & this Soul can never die though body may die. As per the 'Bhagwat Gita', our body is like our clothes that we wear on our body & after death these worn out clothes are dropped by the embodied Soul. In that sense our body is the Overcoat of our Soul inside. We in essence are a 'Soul' & this 'Soul' of ours shall take another body (read, shall wear another pair of clothes / Overcoat) after death. So this eternal Soul is indestructible which changes its present embodied form/body for another embodied form/body, when the physical body dies.

Below are some verses of 'Bhagwat Gita' which explains the same truth.

First one is "Verse - 22, Chapter Two of Bhagwat Gita"

“vasansi jirn-nani yatha vihaay
navani grihnati naro-parani
tatha sharirani vihaya jirnany-
anyani sanyati navani dehi” (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter II verse 22)

"Sri Krishna says to Arjuna: As a person discarding worn-out clothes, puts on new garments, likewise the embodied soul, casting off worn-out bodies,enters into other bodies which are new."

Second one is "Verse - 23, Chapter Two of Bhagwat Gita"

“nainum chindanti shastrani
nainum dahati pavaka
na chainam kledayanty-apo
na soshayati maruta” (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter II verse 23)

"Sri Krishna says to Arjuna: Weapons cannot cut the soul, nor it can be burned by fire, nor water can moisten it, nor wind can make it dry."

Third one is "Verse - 24, Chapter Two of Bhagwat Gita"

“acchedyo-ayam adahyo-ayam
akledyo-asoshya ev ch
nity sarv-gatah sthanur
achalo-ayam sanatanah” (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter II verse 24)

"Sri Krishna says to Arjuna: For this individual soul is incapable of being cut; and insoluble, and can be neither burned nor dried. This soul is eternal, constant, omnipresent, unchangeable, immovable and everlasting."

Fourth one is "Verse - 30, Chapter Two of Bhagwat Gita"

"dehi nityam avadhyo-ayam
dehe sarvasy bharat
tasmat sarvani bhutani
na tvam shochitum-arhasi” (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter II verse 30)

"Sri Krishna says to Arjuna: O descendant of Bharata, this soul residing in the bodies of all can never be slain. Therefore you should not grieve for any living being."

Jai Shri Krishna

Shape & Color Of Water

Water is the most essential element to complete the creation on earth. Without water we cannot imagine our life & rather there cannot be any life without water. Can you describe the shape & color of water? There is unlimited amount of water in the ocean or a river but what's the color & shape of this water?

In reality there is no color or shape of water. In fact, whatever, color is put into the water, it appears of that color only. Similarly, water takes the shape of the Pot, whatever type & size of the pot is. If the pot is spherical, then water takes the shape of sphere, if the pot is rectangular, water appears to be taking the shape of rectangular pot. So the shape of the water is spoken in relation to the shape of the Pot, in which water is put.

Same is the case with "Soul". The Omnipresent Soul which is invisible, indivisible & all pervasive in this universe, appears to be taking the shape of a body, when seen in relation to a body. In fact all pervasive, omnipresent soul is beyond the concept of shape, color etc. but similar to water, it appears to be taking the shape of the body, with which we are relating it. If we see a human being, we relate the omnipresent soul behind that body to be limited to the body of that particular human being. Same is the case with other bodies of animals etc. too, while in fact it is still beyond the body & is omnipresent.

Most of us identify ourselves with this body of ours. We see this body of ours in the mirror & feel that this is our real self. We start feeling ourselves as one point body in space & forget to feel the greatness of Soul which is sustaining this body of ours & which is all pervading in this universe.

As per Bhagwat Gita, we should think ourselves to be that Soul which is beyond this body, which is unthinkable, imperishable, ineffable, eternal, all pervading, immobile, un-manifest & immutable. Our nature is also that only which is also called Brahmn.

In fact we are the Omnipresent Soul inside our body & this Soul can never die though body may die. Bhagwat Gita explains this:

“acchedyo-ayam adahyo-ayam
akledyo-asoshya ev ch
nity sarv-gatah sthanur
achalo-ayam sanatanah” (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter II verse 24)

"Sri Krishna said: For this individual soul is incapable of being cut; and insoluble, and can be neither burned nor dried. This soul is eternal, constant, omnipresent, unchangeable, immovable and everlasting."

“dehi nityam avadhyo-ayam
dehe sarvasy bharat
tasmat sarvani bhutani
na tvam shochitum-arhasi” (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter II verse 30)

"Sri Krishna said: O descendant of Bharata, this soul residing in the bodies of all can never be slain. Therefore you should not grieve for any living being."

"athakasa-sthito nityam
vayuh sarvatra-go mahan
tatha sarvani bhutani
mat-sthanity upadharaya" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Nine verse 6)

"Sri Krishna said: Understand that just as the mighty wind, blowing everywhere, rests always in the sky, so do all created beings rest in Me (Universal Soul)."

The above verses explain the omnipresent & everlasting nature of God or the Universal Soul (one who is present everywhere).

So we should not think our self limited to this body only. We are that omnipresent soul which is appearing to be this perishable body, due to our self relating it with the body; just like we think water is of the shape of the Pot, while in reality, water is having no shape & appears to be taking the shape of the Pot.

Jai Sri Krishna

Soul Survives The Body

We all see our self in the mirror & think our self to be this body. We daily feed this body of ours with different types of food & decorate it with designer clothes, perfumes etc. so that this body of ours can look good to others.We all also know that this body of ours shall perish or die in the some point of time in future. But is there life after death? Can we survive after death also? Are we different from this body & shall we survive death? Yes, as per 'Bhagwat Gita', it's so. As per 'Bhagwat Gita', we in essence are different than this body & we in essence are that indestructible 'Soul' & this 'Soul' is there in our body even when we are living right now.

As per 'Bhagwat Gita -Chapter Two Verse - 18',

"antavanta ime deha
nityasyoktah saririnah
anasino ’prameyasya
tasmad yudhyasva bharata" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Two verse 18)

"Sri Krishna says: All these bodies pertaining to the indestructible, immeasurable and eternal living entity / Soul are spoken of as perishable; therefore, considering this Soul as indestructible, you should fight, Arjuna."

As per 'Bhagwat Gita -Chapter Two Verse - 22',

"vasamsi jirnani yatha vihaya
navani grhnati naro ’parani
tatha sarirani vihaya jirnany
anyani samyati navani dehi" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Two verse 22)

"Sri Krishna says to Arjuna: As a human being puts on new garments, giving up old ones, the soul similarly accepts new material bodies, giving up the old and useless ones."

Our body is like our clothes that we wear on our body & after death these worn out clothes are dropped by the embodied soul . You in essence are a 'Soul' & this 'Soul' of yours shall wear another body ( read, shall wear another pair of clothes) after death. So this eternal Soul which is indestructible, changes its present embodied form for another embodied form, when the physical body perishes.

As per 'Bhagwat Gita-Chapter Two Verse - 20',

"na jayate mriyate va kadacin
nayam bhutva bhavita va na bhuyah
ajo nityah sasvato ’yam purano
na hanyate hanyamane sarire" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Two verse 20)

"Sri Krishna says to Arjuna: The soul is never born nor dies at any time. Soul has not come into being, does not come into being, and will not come into being. Soul is unborn, eternal, ever-existing and primeval. Soul is not slain when the body is slain."

Eternal Soul was there always & was there even before this 'World creation'. This Soul is never born nor does it die ever. It is an indestructible substance. So if we have a firm belief that we are that eternal Soul which never dies then we shall also feel to be someone beyond this body & fear of death shall go away from our mind as then we shall know that we have life even after the death. Yes, we all are that immortal Soul & shall never die. Have firm faith in these words & all your fears of death shall go away in thin air.

Defeatism & Victory in Life

How many times in your life you have felt yourself depressed, de-motivated & dejected? How many times you have felt yourself defeated in life? If one feels like a defeated person in life then the battle of life is lost for that person. So we should not let our mind delve into the state of depression, de-motivation & dejection. We should never let our mind feel defeated as then there is no positive meaning of life. You can never succeed & be victorious in life if you feel yourself defeated at mind.

In the ancient Kurukshetra war, "Arjuna" the great disciple of "Lord Sri Krishna" also came into such a de-motivated & dejected state of mind. In that war "Arjuna" refused to do his duty of fighting a righteous battle as he got infatuated & started thinking of his enemies as his own near & dear ones. His mind became week & highly de-motivated. He told his master "Lord Sri Krishna" that he is going away from the war & do not want to fight on the battle field. Arjuna's mental health became weak & he got deeply depressed. To overcome his disciple Arjuna's depression & to motivate him to fight a righteous war, "Lord Sri Krishna" gave the great teachings of "Bhagwat Gita" to his disciple "Arjuna". After listening to all these great teachings, Arjuna's mental health became well & he became motivated & energetic to fight the war. Below are verses of Bhagwat Gita which shows how Arjuna became de-motivated & how he refused to do his duty of fighting a righteous war.

"tatrapasyat sthitan parthah
pitrn atha pitamahan
acharyan matulan bhratrn
putran pautran sakhims tatha
svasuran suhridas chaiva
senayor ubhayor api" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter One verse 26)

"Now Arjuna saw stationed there in the midst of the both armies, his fathers, grandfathers, teachers, maternal uncles, brothers, sons, grandsons, friends, and his fathers-in-law and well-wishers as well."

"tan samiksya sa kaunteyah
sarvan bandhun avasthitan
kripaya parayavisto
visidann idam abravit" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter One verse 27)

"Seeing all these relations present there, the son of Kunti, Arjuna was overwhelmed with extreme compassion and spoke these words in sadness."

"arjuna uvacha
drstvemam sva-janam krishna
yuyutsum samupasthitam
sidanti mama gatrani
mukham cha parisusyati" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter One verse 28)

"Arjuna said: Krishna, at the sight of these friends and relatives present before me in such a fighting spirit, my limbs give away, my body quivering and my mouth is parched."

"vepathus cha sarire me
roma-harsas cha jayate
gandivam sramsate hastat
tvak chaiva paridahyate" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter One verse 29)

"My complete body shakes & my hair stands on end. The bow Gandiva is slipping from my hand, and my skin is burning."

"na cha saknomy avasthatum
bhramativa cha me manah
nimittani cha pasyami
viparitani keshava" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter One verse 30)

"My mind is reeling & I am now unable able to stand here any longer. I see the omens also inauspicious; only causes of misfortune, O Krishna, killer of the Keshi demon."

"sanjaya uvacha
evam uktvarjunah sankhye
rathopastha upavisat
visrjya sa-saram chapam
soka-samvigna-manasah" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter One verse 46)

"Sanjaya said: Arjuna, having thus spoken on the battlefield, cast aside his bow and arrows and sat down on the chariot, his mind overwhelmed with grief."

"sanjaya uvacha
evam uktva hrishikesham
gudakeshah parantapah
na yotsya iti govindam
uktva tusnim babhuva ha" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Two verse 9)

"Sanjaya said: O King, having spoken thus to Sri Krishna, Arjuna, again said to Krishna, “Hey Govinda, I shall not fight,” and fell silent."

Below are verses of Bhagwat Gita in which Lord Krishna gave sermon to Arjuna to do his duty of fighting a just & righteous war & motivated his mind.

"sreyan sva-dharmo vigunah
para-dharmat sv-anusthitat
sva-dharme nidhanam sreyah
para-dharmo bhayavahah" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Three verse 35)

"Lord Sri Krishna said: It is far better to discharge one’s prescribed duties, even though faultily, than another’s duties perfectly. Destruction in the course of performing one’s own duty is better than engaging in another’s duties, for to follow another’s path is dangerous."

"karmany evadhikaras te
ma phalesu kadachana
ma karma-phala-hetur bhur
ma te sango ’stv akarmani" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Two verse 47)

"Lord Sri Krishna said: You have a right to perform your prescribed duty, but you are not entitled to the fruits of action. Never consider yourself the cause of the results of your activities, and never be attached to not doing your duty."

"yoga-sthah kuru karmani
sangam tyaktva dhananjaya
siddhy-asiddhyoh samo bhutva
samatvam yoga ucyate" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Two verse 48)

"Lord Sri Krishna said: Perform your duty equi-poised, O Arjuna, abandoning all attachment to success or failure. Such equanimity is called yoga."

By the teachings of Lord Krishna, weakness of mind of Arjuna was gone & he became motivated. Below is a verse of Bhagwat Gita in which Arjuna acknowledges that his weakness of mind has gone & that he is now motivated to do his duty of fighting a just & righteous war.

"arjuna uvacha
nasto mohah smritir labdha
tvat-prasadan mayacyuta
sthito ’smi gata-sandehah
karisye vachanam tava" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Eighteen verse 73)

"Arjuna said: O Lord Sri Krishna, my illusion is now gone. I have regained my memory by Your grace. I am now firm and free from doubt and am prepared to act according to Your instructions."

So it is seen above, how the defeated & de-motivated mind of Arjuna became good & motivated by the teachings of Bhagwat Gita. Similarly we can also come out of the state of depression, de-motivation & dejection by reading the teachings of Bhagwat Gita. These teachings show us how to do our duty properly & how to lead a good life. So let's all follow the great teachings of Bhagwat Gita as told by Lord Sri Krishna Himself to Arjuna. These teachings are as much relevant in fast day to day life of ours today as these were in ancient times.



Jai Sri Krishna

Fragility of Life

As per one Report:

"Even as India still has a long way to go before achieving the target of full registration of births and deaths, the country currently registers at least 34 births and 10 deaths every minute............but the figure accounted for less than 70% of the actual data as a number of states lagged far behind in the process."

So if we see, every minute people are born & every minute people are dying. Yet it seems to us that we shall be permanent on earth & forget that we shall have to leave this earth, one day or the other. Life is not permanent on earth & we too shall have to leave everything behind someday. So why this ego & attachment. Let's see the Fragility of Life & do something good in life. What good can be than devoting your whole life to God by doing all our actions for the God so that our present & hereafter life shall be better.

"jatasya hi dhruvo mrityur
dhruvam janma mrtasya cha
tasmad apariharye ’rthe
na tvam socitum arhasi" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Two verse 27)

"Sri Krishna said to Arjuna: One who has taken his birth is sure to die, and after death one is sure to take birth again. Therefore, in the unavoidable discharge of your duty, you should not lament."

It's Journey not the Outcome that matters

How many of you want success in life? Everybody. How many of you want Failure in life? Nobody. How many of you have always succeeded in every endeavor in your life? Nobody. How many of you have tasted failure also on the way to success in life? Everybody. Now why it is that we all want Success only in life & no one expects Failure in life, while Failure is as a part & parcel of life as the Success is. Answer is simple, Success makes you feel at the top of the world, while Failure makes you feel depressed, demotivated. Have you ever wondered why we feel uncomfortable at failure & always dislike it?

Simple answer to why we dislike failure is that we are always result oriented & always have end result in our mind. We always expect a preset outcome for our work. If outcome is to our expectation then we are happy, otherwise, we get disappointed & depressed. It is the nature of our mind only that it gets elated & depressed at the results of our expectations. Say you have appeared for an exam & it's result is to be declared. If you have a preset in your mind that you shall get First class in the exams then you have tuned your mind for an expectation of First class. Now mind shall do it's own work when the result is declared. Just think what, simple, if you do get First class, then your mind shall rejoice & if you don't, it shall get depressed. Problem is not with the mind but with YOU who have programmed it for an expectation. Same is the case with all the work you do in your life with a preset outcome or expectation for your work.

Whenever we are doing a work keeping in mind the end result (say money, promotion etc.) then we tend to live in tension & desperation, driven to "the result" and attached to an outcome. While doing the work in this way takes a toll on our life. We may succeed, we may fail in our goal but in such a case we shall not be doing the work with peaceful mind.

Now see this Philosophy of enjoying the process or life experience while doing any work. Now if you do not work with the end result or preset outcome in mind & rather enjoy the way, the process, the path in doing any work, it shall be much better. Doing any work not keeping the preset end result in mind shall also relieve you from the disappointment of failure. In fact "Life is a journey and not a destination". If we love the journey of doing any work, we shall be more happy & satisfied than if we work with a preset end result in our mind. If we love the journey of doing any work then we shall not be in tension while doing the work. It shall also relieve you of any negative feeling, emotion, embarrassment, regret, etc. in the end if the outcome is negative.

It is the same philosophy that "Bhagwat Gita" teaches us. Here below is the famous quote of Bhagwat Gita:

"Karmanye vadhikaraste
ma phalesu kadachana
ma karma-phala-hetur bhur
ma te sango ’stv akarmani" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Two verse 47)

"Sri Krishna said to Arjuna: You have a right to perform your prescribed duty, but you are not entitled to the fruits of action. Never consider yourself the cause of the results of your activities, and never be attached to not doing your duty."

Basic meaning of this verse is to do your duty and be detached from its outcome. It is only teaching not to be driven by the end product but rather enjoy the process of getting there. The enjoyment of the process, experience of getting there is more important than the end result. It is teaching the same thing, "Life is a journey and not a destination". So enjoy the Journey not only the end result. So it is better to perform your actions and carry out your duty in an efficient way rather than caring or worrying about the results. Below verse also explains more.

"Yoga-sthah kuru karmani
sangam tyaktva dhananjaya
siddhy-asiddhyoh samo bhutva
samatvam yoga ucyate" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Two verse 48)

"Sri Krishna said to Arjuna: Perform your duty with an equipoise mind, abandoning all attachment to success or failure. Such equanimity is called Yoga."

Basic meaning of this verse is that if we do our duty or work with equipoise, peaceful mind & do not get attached to success or failure or end result of that endeavor, then we shall do our work effectively. In this way disappointment shall also be not there if we somehow do not succeed in the end. All the philosophy of Bhagwat Gita is only teaching that it is the process, journey of doing work which is important than the end result. Having this attitude of mind, you shall enjoy any activity or situation that you shall come across in your life, without the fear of failure.

Let your life be like a River. River flows with full vigor & power throughout it's journey. So same be your attitude to any work. Do your work with full vigor, enthusiasm & power. Enjoy your work. Doing your work or duty in such a way, your whole life shall be full of joy.

Read also...................................What is Karma?

Read also...................................What is Karmayoga?

You are a Wave of the Ocean

Whenever you see the Ocean in it's calm state, there are no waves in it. It seems peaceful, calm & still. But when you see the ocean raging with turbulence, then you see waves in it. Sometimes these waves takes the huge proportion & are also called "Sunami", which causes lot of destruction.

Now, what basically these waves are? These waves are nothing but water of ocean only which are having lots of energy in it, which makes it to rise & fall in the ocean. When, there is no such turbulent energy in the ocean which can make it's water rise & fall, then there are no waves in it & ocean is still & calm.

Can you differentiate waves from the ocean? No, as waves are the water of the ocean only. Waves are Ocean only. Waves & Ocean are one & the same thing. Just due to turbulent energy of the ocean, waves appear to be different than the ocean. Waves are nothing but the effect of turbulence in the ocean. Is there any independent existence of Waves? No, it has it's existence only in relation to Ocean. Basically, Waves have no independent existence as Ocean is Waves & Waves are the Ocean. When waves merge in the Ocean then it's existence disappears & it's Ocean only that remains. So basically, sometimes waves only appear to be a separate identity but in reality it is the Ocean only in totality.

Same is the case with this world. This whole universe is appearing to be real. But in reality it is the result of the energies of that Universal Soul (God). This whole world has it's existence in that Universal Soul only. Universal Soul (God) is like the ocean & this whole world is appearing to be having it's own independent existence just like the waves in the ocean, but it is not so in reality. Just like the waves have no independent existence other than the ocean, similarly this whole universe has no independent existence other than the Universal Soul (God). In reality this whole seemingly universe is nothing but that Universal Soul (God) only. As you cannot separate the waves from the ocean, so in the same way, you cannot separate the Universe from the Universal Soul (God). Both are one only. That's why it is said that we should treat each person, each living creature of this world to be God only.

So, You are the waves, You are the ocean. We are all waves of the same Ocean. There is no higher or lower wave. The waves and the ocean are one. You have to plunge yourself in the ocean & be one with it. Just leave aside your ego of your independent identity in this world. Be humble & lose your ego. It's your ego only which is keeping your separate identity in this world. Just lose your ego & dive yourself in the ocean of Universal Soul.

In Bhagwat Gita Lord Krishna also tells us about the creation of this universe from the un-manifest God.

"maya tatam idam sarvam
jagad avyakta-murtina
mat-sthani sarva-bhutani
na chaham tesv avasthitah" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Nine verse 4)

"Sri Krishna said: By Me, in My un-manifested form, this entire universe is pervaded. All beings are in Me, but I am not in them."

"avyaktadini bhutani
vyakta-madhyani bharata
avyakta-nidhanany eva
tatra ka paridevana" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Two verse 28)

"Sri Krishna said: All created beings are un-manifest in their beginning, manifest in their interim state, and un-manifest again when annihilated. So what need is there for lamentation?"

"athakasa-sthito nityam
vayuh sarvatra-go mahan
tatha sarvani bhutani
mat-sthanity upadharaya" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Nine verse 6)

"Sri Krishna said: Understand that just as the mighty wind, blowing everywhere, rests always in the sky, so do all created beings rest in Me (Universal Soul)."

Read also............Be Calm like an Ocean

Read also............What is Ego?

Water in the Pot

"Pani Re Pani Tera Rang Kaisa", this a line from a Hindi Film Song, which means in English, "Oh Water, What's your Color". Can anyone describe the color of water or in fact can anyone tell us the shape of water? There is unlimited amount of water in the ocean or a river but what's the color & shape of this water?

In reality there is no color or shape of water. In fact, whatever, color is put into water, it appears of that color. Similarly, water takes the shape of the Pot, whatever type & size of pot is. If the pot is spherical, then water takes the shape of sphere, if the pot is rectangular, water appears to be taking the shape of rectangular pot. So the shape of the water is spoken in relation to the shape of the Pot, in which water is put.

Same is the case with "Soul". The Omnipresent Soul which is invisible, indivisible & all pervasive in the universe, appears to be taking the shape of a body, when seen in relation to a body. In fact all pervasive, omnipresent soul is beyond the concept of shape, color etc. but similar to water, it appears to be taking the shape of the body, with which we are relating it. If we see a human being, we relate the omnipresent soul behind that body to be limited to the body of that particular human being. Same is the case with other bodies of animals etc. too. If we see a dog, then we think the omnipresent soul behind that dog's body is limited to that dog only, while in fact it is still beyond that body & is omnipresent.

Most of us identify ourselves with this body of ours. We see this body of ours in the mirror & feel that this is our real self. We start feeling ourselves as one point body in space & forget to feel the greatness of soul which is sustaining this body of ours & which is all pervading in this universe.

As per Bhagwat Gita, think yourself to be that soul which is beyond this body, which is unthinkable, imperishable, ineffable, eternal, all pervading, immobile, un-manifest & immutable. In fact your nature is also that only which is also called Brahmn.

In fact we are the omnipresent soul inside our body & this soul can never die though body may die. Bhagwat Gita explains this:

“acchedyo-ayam adahyo-ayam
akledyo-asoshya ev ch
nity sarv-gatah sthanur
achalo-ayam sanatanah” (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter II verse 24)

"Sri Krishna said: For this individual soul is incapable of being cut; and insoluble, and can be neither burned nor dried. This soul is eternal, constant, omnipresent, unchangeable, immovable and everlasting."

“dehi nityam avadhyo-ayam
dehe sarvasy bharat
tasmat sarvani bhutani
na tvam shochitum-arhasi” (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter II verse 30)

"Sri Krishna said: O descendant of Bharata, this soul residing in the bodies of all can never be slain. Therefore you should not grieve for any living being."

"athakasa-sthito nityam
vayuh sarvatra-go mahan
tatha sarvani bhutani
mat-sthanity upadharaya" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Nine verse 6)

"Sri Krishna said: Understand that just as the mighty wind, blowing everywhere, rests always in the sky, so do all created beings rest in Me (Universal Soul)."

The above verses explain the omnipresent & everlasting nature of God or the Universal Soul (one who is present everywhere).

So we should not think our self limited to this body only. We are that omnipresent soul which is appearing to be this perishable body, due to our self relating it with the body; just like we think water is of the shape of the Pot, while in reality, water is having no shape & appears to be taking the shape of Pot.

Money & Happiness of Life

What do you think, how the happiness in life comes to you? Is it earning lot's of money in life & enjoying it or is it doing your duty without caring much for money & taking the life & money as it comes? As per Bhagwat Gita, it is doing your duty in a proper manner without caring much for the fruits or the money that it shall generate. As per "Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Two verse 47", Lord Sri Krishna says to his disciple Arjuna:

"karmany vadhikaraste
ma phalesu kadachana
ma karma-phala-hetur bhur
ma te sango’stv akarmani"

"You have a right to perform your prescribed duty, but you are not entitled to the fruits of action. Never consider yourself the cause of the results of your activities, and never be attached to not doing your duty."

So as per Bhagwat Gita, money etc. are just the "by-products" of doing your duty. Main thing is that you do your duty with full devotion in life without caring much for the fruits or money it shall generate. Here below are comments on money of a Singapore’s Youngest Millionaire Mr. Adam Khoo (Adam Khoo is an entrepreneur, a best-selling author and a peak performance trainer. A self-made millionaire by the age of 26, he owns and runs several businesses in education, training, event management and advertising, all with a combined annual turnover of $30 million.).

As per Adam Khoo in one of his Blog Post reproduced by Mr. Amitabh Bachchan in his blog:

"Recently, someone came up to me on a plane to KL and looked rather shocked. He asked, ‘How come a millionaire like you is traveling economy?’ My reply was, ‘That’s why I am a millionaire. ‘ He still looked pretty confused. This again confirms that greatest lie ever told about wealth (which I wrote about in my latest book ‘Secrets of Self-Made Millionaires’ ). Many people have been brainwashed to think that millionaires have to wear Gucci, Hugo Boss, Rolex, and sit on first class in air travel. This is why so many people never become rich because the moment that earn more money, they think that it is only natural that they spend more, putting them back to square one.

The truth is that most self-made millionaires are frugal and only spend on what is necessary and of value. That is why they are able to accumulate and multiply their wealth so much faster. Over the last 7 years, I have saved about 80% of my income while today I save only about 60% (because I have my wife, mother in law, 2 maids, 2 kids, etc. to support). Still, it is way above most people who save 10% of their income (if they are lucky). I refuse to buy a first class ticket or to buy a $300 shirt because I think that it is a complete waste of money. However, I happily pay $1,300 to send my 2-year old daughter to Julia Gabriel Speech and Drama without thinking twice.

When I joined the YEO (Young Entrepreneur’ s Organization) a few years back (YEO is an exclusive club open to those who are under 40 and make over $1m a year in their own business) I discovered that those who were self-made thought like me. Many of them with net worth's well over $5m, traveled economy class and some even drove Toyota’s and Nissans (not Audis, Mercs, BMWs).

I noticed that it was only those who never had to work hard to build their own wealth (there were also a few ministers’ and tycoons’ sons in the club) who spent like there was no tomorrow. Somehow, when you did not have to build everything from scratch, you do not really value money. This is precisely the reason why a family’s wealth (no matter how much) rarely lasts past the third generation. Thank God my rich dad (oh no! I sound like Kiyosaki) foresaw this terrible possibility and refused to give me a cent to start my business.

Then some people ask me, ‘What is the point in making so much money if you don’t enjoy it?’ The thing is that I don’t really find happiness in buying branded clothes, jewellery or sitting first class. Even if buying something makes me happy it is only for a while, it does not last. Material happiness never lasts, it just give you a quick fix. After a while you feel lousy again and have to buy the next thing which you think will make you happy. I always think that if you need material things to make you happy, then you live a pretty sad and unfulfilled life.

I think the point I want to put across is that happiness must come from doing your life’s work (be in teaching, building homes, designing, trading, winning tournaments etc.) and the money that comes is only a by-product. If you hate what you are doing and rely on the money you earn to make you happy by buying stuff, then I think that you are living a life of meaninglessness."

So the above views of Mr. Adam Khoo clearly say the same thing what "Bhagwat Gita" teaches, that money is not what gives you the real happiness of life, rather it is doing your duty in a proper way. Money is just the by-product of doing your duty. So do your duty efficiently without much hankering for the fruits or money it shall generate.

Motivation & Bhagwat Gita - Management Perspective

In our day to day life, whether you are working for an organization or are doing your own business or are responsible for your household work, the most common thing many times is that you get depressed while doing your work. Depressed employees in any organization is a common sight. Dejected employees, depressed employees, unmotivated employees, desolate employees, morose looking employees are very harmful to any organization as they not only decrease the productivity but they also create an atmosphere in which other colleagues may also feel de-motivated & dejected. Similarly if you run your own business & remain depressed while doing your work, certainly you shall not achieve that much in your business if you would have been highly motivated & energetic.

Now, De-motivation, Depression, Dejection, Desolation all these D-words relates to your mind or relate to your mental position. It's only your MIND that gets depressed, dejected. You may be physically fit with blood oozing in your nerves, but if you are not well with your MIND then you are certainly not going to perform to your full potential. Mental health is where the key to success lies. If you are mentally supercharged then you can achieve any milestone in spite of having any physical inadequacy.

Now, how to get out of this Depression, De-motivation & how to increase the productivity at work is where the great teachings of "Bhagwat Gita" come into play. Now for those who do not know about "Bhagwat Gita".

"Bhagwat Gita" is an ancient religious book of the "Hindus" & in this book are great philosophies of Hinduism. These philosophies teach you all about, how you should do your duty, how you should lead your life etc. This "Bhagwat Gita" teachings were given by "Lord Sri Krishna", God Himself, to his disciple "Arjuna" on the battle field of Kurukshetra in Haryana state of India in ancient times. "Arjuna" was involved in a war against his enemies (some of them his own relatives too) but he refused to do his duty of fighting a righteous battle as he got infatuated & started thinking of his enemies as his own near & dear ones. He told his master "Lord Sri Krishna" that he is going away from the war & do not want to fight on the battle field. Arjuna's mental health became weak & he got deeply depressed. To overcome his disciple Arjuna's depression & to motivate him to fight a righteous war, "Lord Sri Krishna" gave the great teachings of "Bhagwat Gita" to his disciple "Arjuna". After listening to all these great teachings, Arjuna's mental health became well & he became motivated & energetic to fight the war.

Now many of us & many of our employees in our organization find themselves in the same state of mind, as that of "Arjuna". Their de-motivated, depressed state of mind can be changed to motivated & energetic one by these teachings of "Bhagwat Gita". Through these teachings, mental equilibrium of any depressed person can be overcome & he can come out of any crisis situation. The teachings of "Bhagwat Gita" can simply transform a person.

Now Bhagwat Gita teaches about "Mind Control". Mind is that makes the personality of a person. De-motivated mind makes a person depressed one & a motivated one makes a person cheerful. If one's mind is in one's control & he/she can concentrate deeply on one's work, then that person can do wonders at work. Mind is very powerful one & to control it, to keep it in one's control is very difficult. It just wanders like wind here & there & it takes enough of self discipline & practice of meditation to control it, to get it concentrated on any job or activity. As per "Arjuna" to "Lord Sri Krishna" in Chapter Six verse 34:

"chanchalam hi manah krishna
pramathi balavad drdham
tasyaham nigraham manye
vayor iva su-duskaram" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Six verse 34)

"Arjuna said: For the mind is restless, turbulent, obstinate and very strong, O Krishna, and to subdue it, to control it, I think, is more difficult than controlling the wind."

"sri-bhagavan uvacha
asamsayam maha-baho
mano durnigraham chalam
abhyasena tu kaunteya
vairagyena cha grhyate" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Six verse 35)

"Lord Sri Krishna said: O mighty-armed Arjuna, it is undoubtedly that mind is very difficult to curb & is restless, but it is possible by suitable practices of meditation and by detachment."

"asamyatatmana yogo
dusprapa iti me matih
vasyatmana tu yatata
sakyo ’vaptum upayatah" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Six verse 36)

"Lord Sri Krishna said: For one whose mind is unbridled, uncontrolled, self-realization is a difficult work. But he whose mind is controlled and who strives by appropriate means is assured of success. That is My opinion."

So in the Bhagwat Gita, "Lord Sri Krishna" first of all asks one to do his DUTY. If a person does his/her duty then half of the problems of that person are solved. Not doing one's duty is very harmful as it produces negative results only in one's life, like frustration, depression, de-motivation etc. If one does at least his/her duty, then such negative factors affect that person to a lesser degree or do not affect at all. As per "Lord Sri Krishna", doing one’s prescribed duties, even though faultily is better to have a better Mental Health.

"sreyan sva-dharmo vigunah
para-dharmat sv-anusthitat
sva-dharme nidhanam sreyah
para-dharmo bhayavahah" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Three verse 35)

"Lord Sri Krishna said: It is far better to discharge one’s prescribed duties, even though faultily, than another’s duties perfectly. Destruction in the course of performing one’s own duty is better than engaging in another’s duties, for to follow another’s path is dangerous."

Another teaching of "Bhagwat Gita" is to do one's work for the sake of work only without caring for the fruit arising out of that work. That simply means to get deeply involved in one's work or to just think single mindedly about performing the best in one's job without thinking about the results arising out of those actions performed while doing one's work or duty. Just concentrate on your work, that's it. Below verse of "Bhagwat Gita" explains this.

"karmany evadhikaras te
ma phalesu kadachana
ma karma-phala-hetur bhur
ma te sango ’stv akarmani" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Two verse 47)

"Lord Sri Krishna said: You have a right to perform your prescribed duty, but you are not entitled to the fruits of action. Never consider yourself the cause of the results of your activities, and never be attached to not doing your duty."

Another below verse of "Bhagwat Gita" explains that one should do one's duty equi-poised or to have the equanimity of mind, without caring & renouncing all attachment to success or failure. If one does one's duty efficiently & with single minded devotion, without any fear of success or failure in his/her Endeavour, then certainly that person shall succeed in his/her work, as he/she is doing that work without any fear of success or failure. His/her mind shall be at peace & ease while doing such work without any fear of success or failure. Any person whose mind is at peace, certainly works effectively.

"yoga-sthah kuru karmani
sangam tyaktva dhananjaya
siddhy-asiddhyoh samo bhutva
samatvam yoga ucyate" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Two verse 48)

"Lord Sri Krishna said: Perform your duty equi-poised, O Arjuna, abandoning all attachment to success or failure. Such equanimity is called yoga."

So if a person is dedicated to his work & works for the sake of work only without any fear of success or failure, then that person is going to be certainly successful in his/her carrier. By doing meditation & other yoga techniques, one can control one's mind & a disciplined mind can be made to concentrate on one's job better, producing better results. So by following the teachings of "Bhagwat Gita" one is certainly going to excel in his/her job & in life.

Jai Shri Krishna

What is Karmayoga?

In the Earlier post on Karma, we have known & understood in detail about the "Karma" & how it is related to the origin of one's own body. How Karmas of earlier births become the basis of this birth & how Karmas of this birth become the basis of one's next birth & so on. Now in this post we shall understand about the Karmayoga & how one can know God through Karmayoga.

Simple meaning of Yoga is to get attached to God or to get one with the God. To attain this, there are many types of Yogas that are expounded in the Bhagwat Gita, like Sankhyayoga or the Yoga of Knowledge, Karmayoga or the Yoga of Selfless Action, Bhaktiyoga or the Yoga of Devotion etc. Among all these Yogas, Karmayoga is the one through which one can attain God by just devoting all his/her daily actions to God i.e. doing service of God by doing/devoting all life actions to Him.

Below are the verses from "Bhagwat Gita-Chapter Twelve- Verse - 6-7", in which God is asking his disciple Arjuna to do all his actions / activities for Him only.

'Ye tu srvani krmani
myi sanyasya mat-para
anany-naiv yogen
maam dhyayant upasate'

'Tesham-aham samud-dharta
mrityu-sansar-saagrat
bhavami na-chirat parth
mayy-avesita-chetsam' ( Bhagwat Gita: Chapter XII verse 6-7 )

'Those people, who worship Me by surrendering all their activities unto Me, are always devoted to Me, always meditate upon Me, Having always fixing their minds upon Me, O Parth - to them, I swiftly rescue from the ocean of birth and death.'

Through above verse 6 & 7, God is telling 'Parth' (another name of Arjuna, his disciple), that those people who work for God only & offer all their activities & work to Him only, to such a Soul He shows great mercy, always protects him & finally rescues him during & after death.

Now, how can we work for God only? This whole world is the creation of God only & knowingly, unknowingly, we all are working for the maintenance of this world only. Just introspect & see that, whatever, work or job (good one), you are doing in this world, it is helping in someway or the other in maintaining & sustaining this world. Just take it in that sense, that if all the people of the earth stop doing their daily work, duties, this whole world shall come to a standstill. In that case nobody shall grow food, vegetables, fruits & other things which sustain our life & hence we shall all die. Same is the case with other professions & each person is adding value to this world by doing his/her duty.

Now, though we do duty to sustain this world only but we don't realize that. As this world is a creation of God, so we should work for Him only. If we develop this sense that we are working selflessly to sustain this world created by God only, then also we shall develop an affinity towards God. In the above verses, God is making very clear that if a person offers all his work & activities to God, thinking this world to be a creation of God only, then also He shall be happy with that person & shall protect & shall deliver that person from the cycles of birth & death. By working for God, we shall attain peace & shall attain His love & devotion. So Let's all Work for God only.

Below is a verse from "Bhagwat Gita-Chapter Two Verse - 47",

"karmany evadhikaras te
ma phalesu kadachana
ma karma-phala-hetur bhur
ma te sango ’stv akarmani" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Two verse 47)
"Sri Krishna said: You have a right to perform your prescribed duty, but you are not entitled to the fruits of action. Never consider yourself the cause of the results of your activities, and never be attached to not doing your duty.

In the above verse God is asking his disciple Arjuna to perform his prescribed duty & not get attached to the fruits of its action. If one does all his/her actions without considering or thinking about the Fruits these actions shall produce & devotes that action & its fruit to the God only, then he/she is not bound by that action & that action shall not bear such fruits which shall be the cause of his/her next birth. Once a person is relieved of taking rebirths then that person can go to the abode of God & live there with Him & he becomes a liberated soul.

Art of doing actions for the sake of God only & doing all his/her actions without thinking or keeping in mind the fruit of that action is only what is called Karmayoga.

Be Calm like an Ocean

In your normal life, just introspect & check the state of your mind. Normally whether it remains calm or it remains agitated & disturbed. It is generally said that we see this world through our mind, if our mind is peaceful; we see this world in a Good way & enjoy the beauties of nature & love being born to enjoy this life. But if our mind remains in a disturbed, agitated state of mind, we may miss the simple beauty of a flower in our nearby place also. We shall never enjoy our life if our mind remains in a disturbed state of mind.

The main reason why our mind remains disturbed is that we are not satisfied with our present state. If you have something, you are not happy with it. If you have your family, sons, daughters etc. then you may not have harmonious relations with them. If you have a particular amount of money with you, it seems less to you & you want more of it. Same is that, you have Greed for other things & don’t know how to enjoy the one’s you are already having.

To be peaceful at mind, the first & foremost thing is to be satisfied with what you have at present & try to make harmonious relations with the people all around you. Once you are able to do that then you shall find that you are better off & much peaceful.

The great Bhagwat Gita also teaches us on the same matter & teaches us to be like an Ocean in which all the rivers merges & yet it remains undisturbed. So we too should be calm like an Ocean & though enjoying all things of life & doing our duties should be peaceful just like the Ocean.

In relations, we should also act like shock absorbers where we are not able to retaliate, if some near & dear one says something which is not pleasing to ourselves. We should make understand others about their mistakes by passive rather than active, retaliatory methods. In all cases, we should not lose the peace of our mind by any of our acts & just be Calm like an Ocean. Below is a good verse, "Verse - 70, Chapter Two of Bhagwat Gita" teaching the same thing.

“aapurya-manam achala-prathistham
samudram apah pravishanti yadvat
tadvat-kama yam pravishanti sarve
sa shantim-apnoti na kama-kaami” (Gita: Chapter II verse 70)

"Sri Krishna said: O Arjuna, As the waters (of different rivers) enters the Great Ocean, which though full on all sides remains undisturbed, like wise a person who is not disturbed by the incessant flow of desires - can alone achieve peace, and not the man who runs after these desires & strives to satisfy such desires."

So keep your desires in control & do not hanker after these desires & be just like an Ocean & never lose your peace of mind in any of the circumstances.

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Our Body is Overcoat of the Soul Inside

Most of us identify ourselves with this body of ours. We see this body of ours in the mirror & feel that this is our real self. However, this delusion of ours goes momentarily, when we see someone dead. Then we think, shall we too be dead like him one day or shall we live after leaving this body too? If you are a non-believer then you may think yourself to be dead but if you believe in God & religion then you may think otherwise.

In fact we are the soul inside our body & this soul can never die though body may die. As per the 'Bhagwat Gita', our body is like our clothes that we wear on our body & after death these worn out clothes are dropped by the embodied soul. In that sense your body is the Overcoat of your soul inside. You in essence are a 'Soul' & this 'Soul' of yours shall wear another body (read, shall wear another pair of clothes / Overcoat) after death. So this eternal soul is indestructible which changes its present embodied form/body for another embodied form/body, when the physical body dies.

Below are some verses of 'Bhagwat Gita' which explains the same truth.

First one is "Verse - 22, Chapter Two of Bhagwat Gita"

“vasansi jirn-nani yatha vihaay
navani grihnati naro-parani
tatha sharirani vihaya jirnany-
anyani sanyati navani dehi” (Gita: Chapter II verse 22)

"As a person discarding worn-out clothes, puts on new garments, likewise the embodied soul, casting off worn-out bodies,enters into other bodies which are new."

Second one is "Verse - 23, Chapter Two of Bhagwat Gita"

“nainum chindanti shastrani
nainum dahati pavaka
na chainam kledayanty-apo
na soshayati maruta” (Gita: Chapter II verse 23)

"Weapons cannot cut the soul, nor it can be burned by fire, nor water can moisten it, nor wind can make it dry."

Third one is "Verse - 24, Chapter Two of Bhagwat Gita"

“acchedyo-ayam adahyo-ayam
akledyo-asoshya ev ch
nity sarv-gatah sthanur
achalo-ayam sanatanah” (Gita: Chapter II verse 24)

"For this individual soul is incapable of being cut; and insoluble, and can be neither burned nor dried. This soul is eternal, constant, omnipresent, unchangeable, immovable and everlasting."

Fourth one is "Verse - 30, Chapter Two of Bhagwat Gita"

“dehi nityam avadhyo-ayam
dehe sarvasy bharat
tasmat sarvani bhutani
na tvam shochitum-arhasi” (Gita: Chapter II verse 30)

"O descendant of Bharata, this soul residing in the bodies of all can never be slain. Therefore you should not grieve for any living being."