Pride – In Gita Verse 2.34 People will always speak of your infamy, and for a respectable person, dishonour is worse than death.
In the profound narrative of the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna is not simply guiding Arjuna through the mortal quandaries of the Kurukshetra; he speaks directly to the core of our existence, addressing the turmoil within each of us. His wisdom calls us to emerge from the stupor of societal validation to embrace and revere the spark of the divine that resides within us – an eternal flame of awareness, a quiet yet profound assertion of being.
Within the realm of human experience, concepts like pride, self-respect, and individuality often become entangled with the deceptive webs of ego. Here, Krishna’s clarion call to Arjuna transcends the hollow allure of this egoic facade; it is an invitation to rediscover divine pride, to acknowledge one’s authentic self that lies beyond the fabricated, worldly identity.
True self-respect echoes with the reverberation of our divine essence – the immutable “self” in unity with the cosmos, and impervious to the fleeting praise or censure offered by societal measures. The ego, in stark contrast, amasses itself from external sources, constructing a precarious edifice on the shifting sands of collective opinion.
To “respect” is to embark on a journey of self-discovery, to introspect again with greater depth. When we attune our gaze inward, we can perceive the divinity inherent to our being, our intrinsic value independent of societal endorsement. As you insightfully remark, it is this inward gaze, this act of witnessing, that dissolves the ego, revealing the illuminated path to our authentic self – a realm where pride is unmeasured, unspoken, yet omnipresent.
The essence of self-respect is not found in the inflation of the ego. It lies within the gentle embrace of our eternal nature, the acknowledgment of an inner sanctity that remains untainted by external assaults. It is the recognition of our complete and perfect nature, encompassed by its natural flaws, and worthy of deep admiration from the sanctum of our own consciousness.
Contemplate the essence of true individuality – not as an isolated fragment but as a singular, beautiful manifestation of the universal consciousness. The individuality of which Krishna speaks rejects the ego’s clamorous assertions of uniqueness. It is the serene acceptance of our part in the cosmic theatre, a role we undertake wholeheartedly, free from attachments and indifferent to public recognition.
Let us close by reaffirming that the dialogue between Krishna and Arjuna is akin to the timeless conversation between the universe and every soul that has strayed into the ego’s wilderness. The ‘shock’ that Krishna imparts to Arjuna is, in fact, a loving summons from existence – beckoning its progeny back to the essence of self, where the ego evaporates, and what remains is sheer pride – an exuberant celebration of our participation in this wondrous, incomprehensible tapestry of life.
In reflecting upon this sacred text, it becomes clear that the distinction between shallow, ego-driven pride and the profound, divine pride of the soul, as well as the difference between the respect acquired from societal triumphs and the deep, internal reverence for one’s own being, shines with the luminosity of the Gita’s immortal wisdom.
Tags: Pride
