If Everything Is MOH and MAYA, How Should We Live? Insights from the Bhagavad Gita

Imagine holding sand in your hands. The tighter you grip, the faster it slips through your fingers. Life, the Bhagavad Gita tells us, works much the same way. The world of moh (attachment) and maya (illusion) is enticing, yet fleeting. The relationships we cherish, the emotions we feel, and the material possessions we accumulate are part of this illusion, creating a web of desires and expectations. But does the Gita advocate abandoning these entirely? Not at all. It teaches us to live fully—by understanding our emotions, engaging with life, and embracing the truth beyond these illusions.

Here’s what the Bhagavad Gita reveals about how to navigate life’s attachments, illusions, and emotions, and how to truly live without being ensnared by them.


Relationships often become a source of moh because we cling to people as if they define us. The Gita teaches that love rooted in selflessness—not possession—is what liberates.

अद्वेष्टा सर्वभूतानां मैत्रः करुण एव च।
निर्ममो निरहङ्कारः समदुःखसुखः क्षमी॥
(Bhagavad Gita 12.13–14)
"One who is free from malice, friendly and compassionate to all, free from possessiveness and ego, and equal in happiness and distress—such a person is dear to me."

True relationships uplift rather than bind. Instead of viewing people as extensions of ourselves, we must see them as independent souls, supporting their growth and walking alongside them without controlling their paths.


Grief, jealousy, joy, and affection are part of being human. The Gita doesn’t ask us to suppress these emotions but to experience them with awareness and balance.

जितात्मनः प्रशान्तस्य परमात्मा समाहितः।
शीतोष्णसुखदुःखेषु तथा मानापमानयोः॥
(Bhagavad Gita 6.7)
"For one who has mastered the mind and is serene, the soul remains steadfast in heat and cold, pleasure and pain, honor and dishonor."

Instead of avoiding emotions, allow yourself to feel them, but practice stepping back. Observe your anger or grief as you would watch waves in the ocean. By detaching from their intensity, you regain clarity and peace.



What drives us is often not the work itself but the desire for rewards—recognition, wealth, or praise. The Gita reminds us to focus on the process, not the outcome.
कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन।
मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि॥
(Bhagavad Gita 2.47)
"You have a right to perform your prescribed duties, but not to the fruits of your actions. Never consider yourself the cause of the results of your activities, nor be attached to inaction."

Find joy in giving your best effort, rather than being consumed by the results. This approach transforms work from a burden into a path of self-discovery.

The Gita describes the material world as a reflection of a higher reality. By recognizing that maya is temporary, you free yourself from despair when things fall apart or joy when they align.

ऊर्ध्वमूलमधःशाखमश्वत्थं प्राहुरव्ययम्।
छन्दांसि यस्य पर्णानि यस्तं वेद स वेदवित्॥
(Bhagavad Gita 15.1)
"The banyan tree, with its roots above and branches below, represents the material world. He who understands this tree is a knower of the Vedas."

The material world is like a shadow—it’s meaningful but not the source. By seeking the eternal (spiritual growth, inner peace), you align with a greater purpose.


In a society obsessed with success, the Gita shifts the focus to self-mastery. Real success isn’t about winning accolades but conquering your fears, doubts, and ego.

उद्धरेदात्मनात्मानं नात्मानमवसादयेत्।
आत्मैव ह्यात्मनो बन्धुरात्मैव रिपुरात्मनः॥
(Bhagavad Gita 6.5)
"Elevate yourself through self-discipline and do not degrade yourself. The self is your best friend or worst enemy."

Instead of comparing your achievements to others, focus on whether you’ve grown emotionally, spiritually, and intellectually.

Much of moh arises from regrets about the past or anxiety about the future. The Gita emphasizes staying in the present moment and acting with awareness.

कर्मणि अकर्म यः पश्येदकर्मणि च कर्म यः।
स बुद्धिमान् मनुष्येषु स युक्तः कृत्स्नकर्मकृत्॥
(Bhagavad Gita 4.18)
"One who sees inaction in action, and action in inaction, is wise among men and remains engaged in all actions."

By focusing on the present, you let go of the unnecessary mental clutter that attachments and illusions bring.


The Gita underscores the power of dhyana yoga (meditation) in calming the mind and connecting to your higher self.
योगी युञ्जीत सततमात्मानं रहसि स्थितः।
एकाकी यतचित्तात्मा निराशीरपरिग्रहः॥
(Bhagavad Gita 6.10)
"A yogi should always try to concentrate his mind on the Supreme Self, remaining alone in a secluded place, free from desires and possessiveness."

Through regular meditation, you cultivate detachment, enabling you to engage with the world without being overwhelmed by it.
The Bhagavad Gita doesn’t advocate abandoning the world or suppressing your humanity. Instead, it teaches you to live fully yet freely. By understanding that emotions and attachments are part of human nature, you can experience them without becoming enslaved.

To live according to the Gita is to find joy in the process, love without possession, and act without expectations. It’s about being in the world, but not of the world—a balance that liberates the soul while embracing life’s beauty.

As Lord Krishna says:
"यो न हृष्यति न द्वेष्टि न शोचति न काङ्क्षति।
शुभाशुभपरित्यागी भक्तिमान्यः स मे प्रियः॥"
(He who neither rejoices, nor grieves, nor laments, nor desires, and who renounces both good and evil actions, is very dear to me.) (Bhagavad Gita 12.17)

Let the Gita’s wisdom guide us in navigating the intricate dance of living meaningfully amidst the illusions of moh and maya.