The Gita Isn’t Religious,It’s a Manual for Making Hard Decisions
Ushnish Samadder | Jul 10, 2025, 15:00 IST
( Image credit : Times Life Bureau )
Highlight of the story: The Bhagavad Gita, often seen as a sacred Hindu scripture, is far more than a religious text. It captures a universal struggle: making difficult decisions under pressure. Through Arjuna's moral conflict and Krishna’s wise counsel, the Gita teaches how to act with clarity, purpose, and detachment. Its timeless guidance empowers anyone facing fear, duty, or inner turmoil—regardless of belief.
When individuals hear the term "Bhagavad Gita," they often think it's a religious text. And it is part of the Mahabharata - a holy Hindu text. But to confine it to just religious is to overlook its higher purpose
The Field of Kurukshetra - Or Your Mind?
Arjuna finds himself on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, with his own family arrayed against him. His cousins, his mentors, his elders-all on the other side of conflict. And he is paralyzed. He asks what any of us would ask in a crisis of morality:
"What's the point of all this? What good is victory if it comes at the cost of people I love?"
He lets go of his bow. He won't fight. This is when Krishna speaks. Not to shame. Not to command. But to ask Arjuna to think more clearly and act more wisely. And that's the Gita's secret: It's not telling you what to do. It's teaching you how to choose.
It's About Responsibility, Not Religion
Understanding the Gita does not require belief in any deity.
You simply must have encountered a time in your life when, You were forced to decide between bravery and comfort.
You weren’t sure whether staying mute was prudence or cowardice.To do something right, you have to turn down something good.You didn't want to do what you knew was rightfully yours because you were exhausted, stuck, and afraid.Anyone who has ever found himself at a crossroads should read the Gita. Chants and temples are not the point. It's about being human and knowing how to keep going when your inner self wants to run away.
Krishna Doesn't Suggest "Do This." "Know Yourself" is the motto.
Krishna does not give Arjuna a five-step plan. He provides him with something more beneficial: a conceptual foundation. The following are some of the values that Krishna promotes:
"Perform your duties without regard for the outcome."Our fear of results is the main source of our anxiety. According to the Gita, concentrate on your work. Watch the outcome.
"The body is not you. The mind is not you. The Self is you.
Paralysis results from identity confusion. Krishna serves as a reminder that you are more than the parts you play.
“Act. However, act with purpose rather than ego.
Don't pretend to be praised. Avoid taking the responsibility by acting. Even if no one applauds, take action because it is the proper thing to do.
"Everything passes."
Everything passes, including the highs and lows, the confusion, and the mayhem. Remembering this will help you remain composed during the storm.
These concepts aren't "religious." They are classic instruments for leadership, decision-making, and mental calm. “Act. However, act with purpose rather than ego."
Don't pretend to be praised. Avoid taking the responsibility by acting. Even if no one applauds, take action because it is the proper thing to do.
It is a book to work with, not a book to worship.
Scriptures are frequently treated as though they are too sacred to be questioned. However, the Gita raises inquiries. One is the first.
"I don't know what to do," Arjuna says.
Krishna responds with insight rather than commands.
The Gita is therefore uncommon. It meets you where you are—it doesn't shame your doubt. It necessitates careful thought rather than naive trust.Therefore, contrary to popular belief, the Gita is not religious. It is philosophical. psychological. Realistic. Individual. It is a book to work with, not a book to worship.Scriptures are frequently treated as though they are too sacred to be questioned. However, the Gita raises inquiries. One is the first."I don't know what to do," Arjuna says.
Krishna responds with insight rather than commands.
Perhaps you're not in combat. However, you might be:
Selecting between two positionsBreaking off a relationship that isn't compatibleTaking on someone you once looked up toLeaving comfort behind to pursue your callingIn that silence, when dread is most audible and clarity seems far, the Gita murmurs:
"You're aware of what to do already". You simply can't trust it. Act now, not out of ego, but out of love. Not with attachment, but with bravery. And you will be free regardless of the result.
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The Gita is not about ritual. It's not about how to worship.
It's a question of how to live, particularly when life compels you to do something hard, painful, or morally complicated. Fundamentally, the Bhagavad Gita is a dialogue between perplexity and wisdom - between the warrior Arjuna, frozen by a stomach-churning dilemma, and Lord Krishna, who counsels him not through dictates, but questions, insights, and precepts. And in that way, the Gita is much less concerned with God - and much more concerned with you.The Field of Kurukshetra - Or Your Mind?
"What's the point of all this? What good is victory if it comes at the cost of people I love?"
He lets go of his bow. He won't fight. This is when Krishna speaks. Not to shame. Not to command. But to ask Arjuna to think more clearly and act more wisely. And that's the Gita's secret: It's not telling you what to do. It's teaching you how to choose.
It's About Responsibility, Not Religion
You simply must have encountered a time in your life when, You were forced to decide between bravery and comfort.
You weren’t sure whether staying mute was prudence or cowardice.To do something right, you have to turn down something good.You didn't want to do what you knew was rightfully yours because you were exhausted, stuck, and afraid.Anyone who has ever found himself at a crossroads should read the Gita. Chants and temples are not the point. It's about being human and knowing how to keep going when your inner self wants to run away.
Krishna Doesn't Suggest "Do This." "Know Yourself" is the motto.
"Perform your duties without regard for the outcome."Our fear of results is the main source of our anxiety. According to the Gita, concentrate on your work. Watch the outcome.
"The body is not you. The mind is not you. The Self is you.
Paralysis results from identity confusion. Krishna serves as a reminder that you are more than the parts you play.
“Act. However, act with purpose rather than ego.
Don't pretend to be praised. Avoid taking the responsibility by acting. Even if no one applauds, take action because it is the proper thing to do.
"Everything passes."
Everything passes, including the highs and lows, the confusion, and the mayhem. Remembering this will help you remain composed during the storm.
These concepts aren't "religious." They are classic instruments for leadership, decision-making, and mental calm. “Act. However, act with purpose rather than ego."
Don't pretend to be praised. Avoid taking the responsibility by acting. Even if no one applauds, take action because it is the proper thing to do.
It is a book to work with, not a book to worship.
"I don't know what to do," Arjuna says.
Krishna responds with insight rather than commands.
The Gita is therefore uncommon. It meets you where you are—it doesn't shame your doubt. It necessitates careful thought rather than naive trust.Therefore, contrary to popular belief, the Gita is not religious. It is philosophical. psychological. Realistic. Individual. It is a book to work with, not a book to worship.Scriptures are frequently treated as though they are too sacred to be questioned. However, the Gita raises inquiries. One is the first."I don't know what to do," Arjuna says.
Krishna responds with insight rather than commands.
How Would Krishna Address You?
Selecting between two positionsBreaking off a relationship that isn't compatibleTaking on someone you once looked up toLeaving comfort behind to pursue your callingIn that silence, when dread is most audible and clarity seems far, the Gita murmurs:
"You're aware of what to do already". You simply can't trust it. Act now, not out of ego, but out of love. Not with attachment, but with bravery. And you will be free regardless of the result.
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