Understanding Emotions in the Bhagavad Gita: Lessons for a Balanced Life

In my opinion, the Bhagavad Gita does not advocate for emotionlessness; rather, it teaches the importance of having the right emotions and actions. The Gita emphasizes the right balance and control over our emotions to live a happy and fulfilling life.

Emotions and Actions

While humans are naturally emotional beings, the Bhagavad Gita teaches us how to channel these emotions in a way that serves our duties and leads to personal growth. For instance, Lord Rama, a beloved figure in Hindu mythology, indeed had profound emotions for Sita, but he chose to act according to the societal and religious duties that he felt called to fulfill. Similarly, Lord Krishna, during the Mahabharata war, guided Arjuna with the verses of the Bhagavad Gita, helping him to overcome his emotional distress and fulfill his kingly duty.

Action without Attachment

The core of the Bhagavad Gita is the idea of performing actions without attachment to the results. Attachment to outcomes often leads to sorrow, as exemplified by the feeling of loss and anxiety when we become overly attached to people or objects. The Gita teaches us to detach from the results while staying attached to the moral integrity and righteousness of our actions.

Emotions as Natural Waves of Consciousness

Emotions are natural waves of feelings that arise from different circumstances. Love, anger, fear, happiness, distress, anxiety, and even jealousy are all part of the human experience. The Bhagavad Gita emphasizes the importance of aligning these emotions with right action. It does not advise against emotions but against letting them control our actions.

The Role of Emotions in Duty and Action

At the onset of the Mahabharata war, Arjuna's emotional breakdown almost led to him abandoning his duties as a warrior. It was Krishna's teachings through the Bhagavad Gita that helped Arjuna regain his composure, enabling him to fulfill his kingly duty against Adharma (injustice).

Continuous Enjoyment and Monism

The ultimate message of Lord Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita is about attaining a state of continuous enjoyment and happiness, even amidst problems. The Gita teaches that negative emotions, much like positive ones, are a natural part of life and should be embraced rather than avoided. This continuous enjoyment of life, irrespective of positive or negative experiences, is called Brahmi sthitih, a state of monism (non-dualism) where the individual becomes one with the divine.

Application of the Teachings

Lord Krishna embodied the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita in his own life. For example, he remained unperturbed even during his own death, enjoying the situation as if it were a form of entertainment. He also demonstrated detachment from negative events like the destruction of his family or insults. His actions show that true enjoyment and detachment come from a balanced perspective that sees life as a cosmic play, where good and bad are both part of the divine tapestry.

Conclusion

The Bhagavad Gita teaches us to channel our emotions in a way that aligns with our duties and moral principles. It does not advocate for emotional detachment but rather teaches us to control and guide our emotions to live a truly fulfilling life. By following these teachings, we can attain a state of continuous enjoyment that transcends the duality of positive and negative experiences.

For those seeking to apply these teachings in their own lives, the Bhagavad Gita provides a profound and timeless wisdom that can lead to a more balanced and contented existence.