Respected Spiritual Leaders
Greetings!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Spiritual Stimulus
Happiness model of the Bhagwad Gita
There are many models of happiness presented in the bhagwad gita sometimes happiness is implied, and at other times it is directly the subject of lord Krishna‘s sermon to Arjuna. Arjuna never directly asks about how to be happy. However, as the dialogue starts with Arjuna being extremely unnerved and distressed about facing His relatives in the battlefield, and since he engages in the battle wholeheartedly at the end of the sermon, it is reasonable to expect some guidance in the Bhagwad Gita about how one can deal with stressful situations and be happy. In this chapter, the content of the Bhagwad Gita is analyzed looking for terms associated with peace and happiness.
The Bhagwad Gita is categorical about happiness being in the domain of spirituality rather than in the material world. Often, enjoyment is stated to lead to unhappiness
Prajahaati yadaa kaamaan sarvaan paartha manogataan; 2.55
Aatmanyevaatmanaa tushtah sthitaprajnastadochyate.
When a man completely casts off, O Arjuna, all the desires of the mind and is satisfied in the Self by the Self, then is he said to be one of steady wisdom!
Duhkheshwanudwignamanaah sukheshu vigatasprihah; 2.56
Veetaraagabhayakrodhah sthitadheer munir uchyate.
He whose mind is not shaken by adversity, who does not hanker after pleasures, and who is free from attachment, fear and anger, is called a sage of steady wisdom.
Vishayaa vinivartante niraahaarasya dehinah
Rasavarjam raso’pyasya param drishtwaa nivartate 2.59
The objects of the senses turn away from the abstinent man, leaving the longing (behind); but his longing also turns away on seeing the Supreme
Yatato hyapi kaunteya purushasya vipashchitah;
Indriyaani pramaatheeni haranti prasabham manah. 2.60
The turbulent senses, O Arjuna, do violently carry away the mind of a wise man though he be striving (to control them)!
Aapooryamaanam achalapratishtham
Samudram aapah pravishanti yadwat;
Tadwat kaamaa yam pravishanti sarve
Sa shaantim aapnoti na kaamakaami. 2.70
He attains peace into whom all desires enter as waters enter the ocean, which, filled from all sides, remains unmoved; but not the man who is full of desires
In verse 2.70, the simile of ocean is used to map the notion of peace by stating that as water flowing into an ocean from many tributaries does not disturb the ocean, similarly when desires enter a person he or she is not perturbed by them; such a person attains peace, not a person who is habitually chasing desires. This verse needs to be examined in the context of the preceding 15 verses (from 2.55 to 2.69), since the verse refers to a special person that is referred to as sthitaprajna (literally, sthita means standing or firm, and prajna means judgment or wisdom; thus meaning one who has calm discriminating judgment and wisdom). In verses 2.55–2.61, the concept of sthitaprajna is introduced, and then in the later verses, the ideas are further elaborated upon. In verse 2.55, it is stated that when a person gives up all desires that are in his or her manas or mind and remains contented internally by himself or herself, then the person is said to be sthitaprajna. Adi zankara explains this in his commentary as the state in which a person has given up the three desires of family, wealth, and fame and remains in the service of people at large without any expectation. In verse 2.56,4 such a person is described as one whose manas neither gets agitated when encountering sorrow nor enjoys or seeks pleasure associated with the senses; one who is beyond emotions such as attachment, fear, and anger; or one for whom these emotions are completely destroyed.
Veetaraagabhayakrodhaa manmayaa maam upaashritaah; 4.10
Bahavo jnaana tapasaa pootaa madbhaavam aagataah.
Freed from attachment, fear and anger, absorbed in Me, taking refuge in Me, purified by the fire of knowledge, many have attained to My Being.
Thanks & regards
Rohit Puri
Management teacher
Founder ( Spiritual teacher Forum)
Reference Email :
Rohit rohit2sep@rediffmail.com r
date
Fri, Aug 19, 2011 at 2:08 PM
subjectHapiness model of Bhagwad Gita (Spiritual Stimulus 1-20)
