Synopsis of 'My Gita': Karma Yoga

Bhagavad Gita is undoubtedly the most revered book of Hindus. Some people believe that it is meant only for retired octogenarians or people who seek detachment from the world. But nothing can be further from the truth. Gita does not contain dogmatic practices, but pragmatic guidelines which apply to everybody’s daily lives, covering diverse issues ranging from social dilemmas to corporate affairs. It does not contain the commandment of Krishna but rather the advice given to Arjun when he was filled with confusion and trepidation on the battlefield. The stories of Indian mythology and the lessons associated with them have always fascinated and intrigued me. Every event complements the other and is part of a bigger jigsaw puzzle. For me, Ram and Krishna are like teachers and role models, and not just Gods.

Below is a synopsis of the first 6 chapters of the book ‘My Gita’ written by the famous mythologist Devdutt Pattanaik, mixed with my own comments and observations. These chapters expound upon the 'Karma Yoga' (emphasis on action) while comparing the Hindu beliefs with other contemporary religions. In my opinion, this is the most invigorating section of the entire book. 

The first chapter explains the importance of 'darshan' (analysis) in our lives. Arjun became a recipient of this divine knowledge because he was able to do darshan. He became disenchanted by the thought of killing his kin. Others were simply prisoners of their fears and opinions. Dhritarashtra and Duryodhana refused to do darshan even when Krishna showed them his Viraat Roop during the peace negotiations. Darshan can only happen when one sheds personal biases and understands all the facets of a situation. Nowadays, its meaning has been reduced to just gazing upon a stationery deity. To truly understand the essence of Bhagavad Gita, we need to expand the horizons of our minds. Reaching conclusions based on half-knowledge will yield nothing. SWOT analysis and introspection are very crucial to thrive in the professional world.

Prima facie, it appears that birth and death mark the beginning and ending of life. However, the second chapter which talks about the aatma (or soul), renders death completely irrelevant. The soul never had a beginning and will never have an end. When a person dies, his mortal body will decay but his aatma will simply migrate to a different body. This belief is contradictory to Abrahamic religions where there is only one life, and every event is a part of God’s will. However, the concept of rebirth in Hindus helps explain the disparity in socio-economic conditions of different people born into different families. While one enjoys the luxuries of a big mansion, the other rots on the streets, begging for money. Our present situation is a consequence of our past deeds, and our future will be determined by our present actions.

Everybody experiences life differently and views the world differently. The third chapter focuses on making us realize our identity. Everyone has his/her opinion. Our identity is also based on how we perceive ourselves and our surroundings. Even ideas like equality, justice, and freedom are envisioned by humans. They don't have any scientific basis. Still, they are very crucial for any civilisation. Our ability to concoct such ideas gives us an edge over other creatures. While looking for rational explanations for everything, one must not forget that even concepts like iota and zero are imaginary concepts, yet they are present at the very heart of modern science and mathematics. Even in corporate life, a professional must respect his colleague's perspective and try to persuade him diplomatically. Such mutual understanding will benefit everybody around him.

The fourth chapter delves into the spiritual aspect of karma yoga. It tells us about the eternal dweller 'dehi' (or soul) which resides in 'deha' (physical body). Dehi does not have any form, shape or colour (nirakar) and is free from all materialistic bonds. Similarly, it talks about 'purusha' (consciousness) which resides in 'prakriti' (nature/surroundings). Deha separates us from prakriti while dehi connects us to the purusha. We tend to seek external validation from external sources like social media. But that only fuels our aham (ego). To get internal peace, validation must come from within. It is the internal validation from our dehi that makes us connect to the world and make it more meaningful. This chapter again enforces the idea of introspection and self-analysis.

The fifth chapter informs the reader about the karma one does and the consequences associated with it. We might be able to regulate our own actions but not others' actions. Hence we don't have any control over the results. One who believes in karma does not think about its outcome. He/she simply does what seems right to him without seeking any control over the result. However, Lord Krishna is not endorsing total inaction either, since getting the desired outcome is not guaranteed in that case either. Whether you are preparing for a competitive exam or dealing with a tricky client in a business meeting, just focus on your preparation and forget about the outcome. Whatever will be the outcome, you cannot control it. Accepting every moment without judging or blaming anyone is the real essence of karma yoga.

The sixth chapter of this book further enforces the concept of karma by distinguishing between dharma and adharma. Humans are neurologically enabled to empathize, unlike plants and animals. Usually, dharma is equated to righteousness, that is compliance with a defined set of rules (following punya and shunning paap).  However, it is the purpose of your action that brings more value rather than just the action. When your karma is not just about your own self and empathizes with others as well, we call it dharma. When Draupadi was outrageously dragged by hair to be disrobed in the public court, nobody objected or tried to stop it. All of them were following their so-called principles of dharma. Lord Krishna reminds us time and again that the motive behind our actions is what defines it as right or wrong.

The entire book is subdivided into 18 chapters. The remaining 12 chapters talk about 'Bhakti Yoga' (Devotional component) and 'Gyana Yoga' (Intellectual component), which I'll try to cover in my upcoming blogs.