Bhagavad Gita: 3 Teachings to Overcome Stress & Anxiety
Bhagavad Gita provides timeless wisdom from Lord Krishna to navigate modern life's stresses. Learn about the impermanence of emotions to become equanimous. Understand the importance of authenticity in pursuing your duty. Realise eternal nature of the Self to attain freedom from attchments. These lessons offer solace and a path to inner peace.
Bhagavad Gita is the sacred text that carries the profound wisdom that Lord Krishna gifted to humanity. Each and every word contained in Gita has the power to pierce deep into our soul, transforming how we see and experience the world. In fact, if you are facing stress and anxieties, Lord Krishna’s words can become your best place of solace. For thousands of years, people have been referring to Bhagavad Gita to find solutions to the problems that they are facing in their daily lives. In this article, we will explore 3 powerful lessons from Lord Krishna for dealing with stress and other negative emotions that persistently pester us in today’s world.
1. Lord Krishna on Impermanence of Emotions
In Chapter 2, Bhagwan tells Arjuna: “O son of Kunti, contact with the senses produces cold and heat, pleasure and pain. They come and go; they are impermanent. Endure them patiently, O descendant of Bharata.”
Here, the Lord has gifted us a profound and fundamental truth of life. Whatever emotions or thoughts that are arising in our minds are not going to stay forever. Like rain or sunlight, things change. The universal law of impermanence in applicable for everything in this universe.
Hence, reacting to these sensual distractions is meaningless. The more we run after them, the stronger and bigger they will become. So, as recommended by Lord Krishna, our entire focus should be directed towards fulfilling our duty in life without expecting anything in return. Meditation and yoga are two powerful techniques that we can use in order to calm a raising mind. During meditation, you will understand through your own experience, how each and every thought and emotion are rising and passing away.
2. Bhagavad Gita on Authenticity
In Chapter 3, Lord Krishna guides Arjuna:
“It is far better to perform one’s natural prescribed duty, though tinged with faults, than to perform another’s prescribed duty, though perfectly. In fact, it is preferable to die in the discharge of one’s duty, than to follow the path of another, which is fraught with danger.”
Today, a lot of people decide their paths in life based on what other people are saying or doing. However, this misalignment from our own purpose in itself can bring tremendous amounts of stress to our internal worlds. On the other hand, we become extremely courageous and even unstoppable, when we are following our passion in life. Sit with yourself for two to three days and think deeply. Write everything down about your calling in life. Then, dedicate certain amount of time everyday to move towards its fulfilment.
Always remember, performing Karma Yoga while engaging in our naturally prescribed duty is the path towards Moksha; not the other way round.
3. Lord Krishna on the Eternal Self
A fundamental perspective-shift can happen within us when we read these words of Lord Krishna: “The Atma cannot be cut, cannot be burnt, cannot be wetted, and also cannot be dried up. It is eternal, all-pervading, firm, immovable and ancient.”
This powerful verse teaches us that the same Supreme energy is present within every living and non-living thing. Each and every individual may seem different when we observe the world through our senses. However, irrespective of caste, creed, religion or race, we are all the same fundamentally.
This realisation can fill our hearts with deep compassion for everyone. If the same eternal, spiritual essence is the foundational reality of existence, why should we fight and maintain hatred against each other. Negative emotions become meaningless in front of this profound realisation. Attachments will burn away. A serene sense of unity and balance will become your natural state.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- What are the three gunas of Bhagavad Gita?
The three gunas described in the Bhagavad Gita are Sattva pr goodness, Rajas or passion and Tamas or ignorance. - What is the main message of the Gita?
The main message of the Bhagavad Gita is to perform one's prescribed duty selflessly, along with maintaining devotion to God. - What is Lord Krishna's most famous line?
One of the most famous line said by Lord Krishna is, “You have the right to perform your prescribed duties, but you are not entitled to the fruits of your actions.”