Choose – In Gita Verse 2.36 Your enemies will describe you in many unkind words and scorn your ability. What could be more painful for you?
In the epic discourse within the Bhagavad Gita, the revered Lord Krishna presents a profound spiritual quandary through the lens of a warrior’s duty. When confronted with the fear of disrespect and the scorn of enemies, the teaching transcends mere battlefield advice and touches upon the universal struggle of human authenticity and action.
Arjuna, standing between two massive armies, is every soul caught in life’s dichotomies. His reluctance to fight is not a mere refusal of war but a deeper hesitation to participate in a cycle of action that may perpetuate suffering. Yet, Krishna’s counsel is not a spur to violence but an invitation to conscious engagement with life.
When we examine our own conflicts, the fear of disrespect or dishonour often propels us to act against our nature. But Krishna gently redirects our gaze to the inner war – the struggle between action and inaction, consciousness and unconsciousness.
Choose, you must. But let your choice spring from the well of awareness, for unconscious choice is the root of all suffering. Whether you step forward into light or retreat into shadow, the responsibility is entirely your own.
Disrespect is merely a reflection of society’s expectations, a temporary smear on the canvas of eternity. True honour lies not in the eyes of the beholder but in the purity of one’s action. Do we act with the totality of our being or do we seek approval and fear scorn?
Karma, in its essence, is not merely action but the intent and total presence within that action. An act performed without ego, where doer and deed merge, transforms into an effortless flow, a dance of divinity. Such action is devoid of the dichotomy of karma and Karta, for it transcends the very concept of action and actor.
The pursuit of perfection is an illusory goal, forever out of reach, stirring unrest within the soul. Totality, however, is attainable here and now. It is the commitment to embrace each moment, each task with your entire being, regardless of the nature of the act. Be it the crafting of clothes or the contemplation of the cosmos, the divine is equally present in all.
Krishna’s message to Arjuna and to us is clear: the freedom to choose is yours until the moment action is taken. Choose with consciousness, and even in the midst of turmoil, you will find an island of serenity.
Three freedoms are revealed:
The freedom that seeks a goal, a ‘from’ or a ‘for’, is the starting point for many. Yet, it is often tethered to another form of bondage – the promise of a paradise that justifies present suffering.
The freedom that combines ‘from’ and ‘for’ is the second step – a rebellion against and an aspiration towards. It acknowledges duality and moves within it.
The ultimate freedom is beyond duality, beyond the limited definitions of ‘from’ and ‘for’. It is the transcendental freedom – moksha. It is the state of pure being, bound by neither past reactions nor future goals.
In this exalted state, every action becomes an offering, every breath a meditation, every moment a testament to the divine dance of existence. This freedom bestows not just liberation upon oneself but upon all beings. Each act becomes a ray of enlightenment, potentially guiding others to their own liberation.
Krishna beckons Arjuna and each one of us towards this highest freedom, found only through the unwavering light of awareness. It is in this light that one becomes an agent of liberation, on the battlefield or in the quietude of one’s heart.
Remember, you are both the creator of your destiny and the destiny itself. Dance your dance, not in pursuit of an elusive perfection, but in the totality of your being. Embrace your role in the cosmic dance with every fibre of your existence, and let each step be your path to transcendental freedom.
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