11 Brief Lessons From The Bhagavad Gita For Bringing Peace Into Our Lives
One of Hinduism’s oldest texts still teaches ways to improve existence.
The Bhagavad Gita is one of the Hindu texts that emerged from the Mahabharata, the longest epic poem in the history of mankind. Specifically, the Bhagavad Gita is 700 verses from the sixth book of the Mahabharata. In it, Arjuna, the prince of the Pandava speaks with Krishna, one of the major deities of the Hindu pantheon. At that time, Krishna was a guide, a charioteer and a legendary archer.
Arjuna, on his way to fight against the Kauravas, received the advice of Krishna on achieving moksha, a Hindu notion involving liberation through dharma (virtue), artha (prosperity) and kama (pleasure). Krishna instructed Arjuna on the principles of a just life, one oriented toward the purification of the soul, and also in yoga and Hindu spirituality.
In this sense, the Gita is a didactic text, and one from which it is, even today, possible to extract lessons for their brevity and simplicity. We we can also easily share and put them into practice.
- Thoughts on the small and the big, yours or mine, should be set aside.
- The busy mind cannot meditate.
- We should do our work no matter the outcome.
- Desires come and go.
- We do not get anything in this world; nor do we take anything.
- You are not the only one suffering.
- Whatever happened, happened for good. What is happening is happening for good. What will happen, will happen for good.
- Be moderate in everything.
- The world expires, and someday, someday will also come.
- Anger leads to misjudgment.
- The soul is immortal and the body perishes. But the soul never dies.
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