Of all the books to come out of Hinduism, the lessons of the Bhagavad Gita are the most cited. Still one of the greatest spiritual books of our time, the Bhagavad Gita holds the doctrines of Universal Truth. There are so many lessons one can learn from Bhagavad Gita.
The Bhagavad Gita is actually a story extract from the Hindu epic, the Mahabharata. The famous scene that takes place is a discussion between the prince Arjuna and Lord Krishna.
Arjuna is in the heat of a battle when he suddenly questions his ability to defeat his enemies. Lord Krishna comes to his aid and teaches him important lessons in life. Hindus call this the ‘Gita Gyan.’ The lessons influence readers as much today as they did when the Mahabharata was first published almost 2000 years ago.
The purpose of the Bhagavad Gita is to give life meaning so that devotees can find inner peace. This article looks at 10 lessons you can use to help cultivate your own inner peace.
#1: Materialism encourages greed
In today’s world, materialism is a pandemic that causes widespread suffering. We are being groomed as consumers and measure our success on the size of our homes, cars and the number of possessions we have.
But in reality, material possessions are just a short term fix to satisfy your emotions. Rather than cultivating inner peace, you develop greed, one of the seven deadly sins that ultimately manifests as tension and anxiety. By letting go of your desire for worldly possessions helps to release your suffering.
#2: Keeping the mind quiet cultivates inner peace
There is a lot of reference to meditation in the Bhagavad Gita. Meditation is several things; first and foremost, meditation is the ability to focus your attention on one thing. It is better known as concentration.
But meditative practices often performed by Hindus concentrate on keeping the mind still. When you can sit comfortably in silence without feeling the need to do something, you reach a state of Samadhi – pure bliss. This is the ultimate goal for everyone, and by keeping the body and mind still, you can cultivate inner peace.
#3: Use consciousness as your guide
The writers of the Bhagavad Gita portray Krishna as the Supreme Godhead. The true meaning of the Supreme Godhead is confused by all religions including Hinduism.
The Godhead is consciousness. And consciousness guides you just as Krishna guides Arjuna on the battle field. When you put your complete faith in the “Godhead” you have nothing to fear. Consciousness is the core of your thoughts and emotions. All you have to do is listen to what they say and follow the instructions.
#4: Evolution is the nature of consciousness
Consciousness needs to evolve. This is how the world we live in today is created. Because nature creates. And because mankind is a part of nature, we are the ultimate creators. In essence, we are, or can be Gods.
The problem for most people is that ego does not understand consciousness. We usually listen to the basic needs of our unconscious which is based on survival. But our unconscious needs to thrive as well. So sometimes, we need to step away from our comfort zone and try new experiences without fearing the outcome.
#5: Living in the now
Living in the moment is atypical advice these days. The origin of this philosophy dates back to ancient Hindu writers long before even the Mahabharata was written.
The idea is to savor the moment you are experiencing without worrying about the future or thinking about what has happened in the past. As Albert Einstein say, ‘time is relative.’ Time is merely a fragment of our reality because we have clocks.
#6: Everything changes
No matter how comfortable or miserable you are in your life, it won’t stay that way forever. Everything is in a constant state of perpetuation, and the energy we create and emit each day ultimately manifests itself as reality.
Once you accept that nothing will stay the same, you learn to go with the flow of life and live in the moment. And when you become absorbed in the present, you release all the tension, anguish and other fear related motions that keep holding you back.
#7: Don’t worry about results
It’s quite typical for us to worry what other people think of us or how well we can do something. This is a negative program we develop at a young age when we attend school. We are judged on our abilities thus become protective about ourselves and judgmental about others.
As adults we carry this negative program into our working life and feel pressured to achieve results. But the reality is, you will achieve better results if you don’t worry about achieving results. By concentrating on what you have to do, you will naturally do it well.
#8: Live moderately
Too much of a good thing is not a good thing. When we indulge in things too often, we become addicted, obsessed and irrational. This type of behavior plays havoc with our minds and we struggle to find peace.
By living in moderation, you are able to balance all aspects of your nature. This ultimately reinvigorates you, keeps your energy levels high and you find more enjoyment from life because you give yourself more chances to experience many other good things you can enjoy in life.
#9: Mastering the mind eases suffering
The reason we experience chaotic moments in life is because we have chaotic minds. We allow our thoughts to run away with internal chattering, and as a result we wind ourselves up.
Being consciously aware of your thoughts and state of mind eases suffering. By not allowing the ‘monkey mind’ to constantly chatter, your thoughts are clearer to enjoy life and make better decisions.
#10: Everybody suffers
The Bhagavad Gita reminds us that everyone sufferers. This is something we forget when we criticize, yell and pick fun out of people. The truth is we all have faulty programs and a view of life that causes suffering.
Sometimes, to release emotional blockages and ease your own suffering, you have to forgive others. By acknowledging everyone suffers from the same complexities as you, it is easier to forgive. You come to the realize it is how people are mentally and socially programmed that makes us act and react the way we do.