The Bhagavad Gita  famously begins with Arjuna on the battlefield. At the time of his birth, his dharma is clear. He’s been born into the warrior caste, which means his dharma is to fight the good fight, to maintain ‘goodness’ in the world. 

Yet, looking across the battlefield, who does he see? His cousins, his uncles, his teachers.

He turns to Krishna and says, You can’t tell me that fighting my friends and family is dharmic, that it won’t make me a horrible person! It would be much better for me to go meditate instead’. 

I bet you feel for Arjuna in that moment but his circumstances probably feel far removed from your own, right?

Wrong. 

You have a lot in common:

Think about how important the opinions of others are to you. 

Think of every time you’ve known what the right choice was and then chosen something else because you were afraid of what others would think.

Think about every time you’ve decided that keeping others happy was more important (or at least safer)  than doing what felt true?

Arjuna’s battle is a metaphor. 

The battle is ages old. It’s one we each face in moments where what is true lies in contrast to what feels good and Krishna is about to dish out some tough love:

To Arjuna, he says: 

‘I can see your concerns come from a good place. I can see why you think that fighting would be wrong. Let me ask you, though, would you be equally worried if you weren’t fighting your family? Would you care what others thought if you didn’t know who they were? Your concerns about dharma are really just self interest. You’re trying to preserve the image others have of you, and that you have of you.’

Ouch! 

But also….fair point.

Think about many times you’ve been in this position. You know what you need to do and….you’re back-pedaling. 

You’re hoping to do what’s right while keeping what feels good on the table.

At least that’s what you did before the Bhagavad Gita worked its magic on you 😉

The you on the other side of that journey is a force to be reckoned with (I’m excited for you, btw, great job)!

For Arjuna (and for you) the opportunity is clear (not easy, at all, but clear) because what the Bhagavad Gita offers is a path out of a life based on fear and self interest, and into a life that can only grow out of the choices of an awakened heart.