The Bhagavad Gita is a well-known Hindu scripture that synthesizes and accepts multiple ways of life, harmonizing spiritual pursuits through action (karma), knowledge (jnana), devotion (bhakti). The Gita incorporates the essence of Sanatana Dharma and is based on the premise that people are born with different temperaments and tendencies (guna). Millions of people around the world have benefited from the lessons provided in the Gita. In this blog, my good friend Dr. Raj Rajaram shares his thoughts on how Gita helped him to lead a happy life since his childhood. I am sure his article will serve as an inspiration to others.

You may also like to review on YouTube my online lessons (twenty in all-each of approximately one hour duration) titled ‘SanGita’ combining the beauty of Sanskrit and Gita. Please contact me for the SanGita E-Book that provides all the twenty online lessons in text form.

How Bhagavad Gita has helped me

by Raj Rajaram, Oak Brook , Illinois, USA

I have been reading the Bhagavad Gita from the age of 13, first as part of a Sanskrit class and then to improve my attitude to life.  Many verses in the Gita have become the guiding light of my life and I read 6 verses from the Gita every day as part of my daily prayers.  They have helped me navigate through many problems, and kept me balanced and happy always.  This eternal book of wisdom is a must for everyone, and I will tell you briefly why it is required to live a happy and contented life.  I will do this by quoting specific verses and how they have guided me in my life.    

The first verse that has always guided me is

Karmany eva adikaaraste ma phaleshu kadaachana I

Maa karma phalahetur bhurma, te sangestva karmani  II  Ch. 2, verse 47.

This verse tells you that your right is to work only, but never for the fruit thereof.  Let not the fruit of action be your goal, nor let your attachment be to inaction.   

I worked very hard to get in my first year of college, and sacrificed everything a young boy wants to do so that I get the best marks I can and get into engineering college.  When I got my result, I was very disappointed since it was short of the marks needed to get into engineering college.  After a period of unhappiness, I joined B.Sc. and studied well.  I also participated in the National Cadet Corps (army training for college students) and did very well, obtaining the highest certificate possible.  After two years of B.Sc. I decided to try my luck with engineering college.  Lo and behold, I got a letter saying I have been admitted to my local engineering college due to my NCC Certificate and my marks in Math, Physics and Chemistry.  I was very happy, and told God:  “I did not practice the teaching above and made myself unhappy.  I will never do this again, but accept whatever you give me”.  This affirmed my faith in Gita and since then, I decided to diligently to practice the teachings in the Gita.  I realized that we get what we deserve and it is not up to us to select the time when we get it.  If we are patient and continue to do our duty, the result is bound to happen sometime. 

The Second verse that has guided me is:

Yogasthah kuru karmaani sangam tyaktva dhananjaya I

Siddhayasiddhyah samo bhootva samatvam yoga uchyate II  Ch. 2, verse 48

Established in Yoga, perform your duty O Dhananjaya (Arjuna), abandoning attachment, even minded in success and failure.   Even mindedness is called Yoga.   

This attitude to work (at home or workplace) has always kept me from getting angry and keeping calm.  All our problems in life originate from our attitude, and with this beautiful attitude that Lord Krishna asks us to have, we are assured of a happy and stress-free life.  In my 44-year career, I have had only a few weeks where I lost my peace of mind due to things that happened in my business or when working for someone else.  I forget the undesirable things fast, and hold on to the beautiful memories of the people I have interacted with and the successes that have resulted from them.    

The Third verse that has guided me is:

Adveshta sarvabhootanaam maitra karuna eva cha I

Nirmamo Nirahamkaarah sama dukha sukha kshami II  Ch. 12, verse 13

He who has no ill will to any being, who is friendly and compassionate, free from egoism and attachment, even minded in pain and pleasure and is forgiving. 

With the help of God’s blessing and self-effort, I have been able to practice this teaching for most of my life.  It has taught me to be humble, and always lend a helping hand to fellow human beings.  It has helped me manage pleasure and pain with equipoise, and forgive the faults of my co-workers, spouse, and daughter.  It has taught me to be always happy, and not let external circumstances dictate my life.  I see the presence of God in everyone, and do my best for them.  Of all the characteristics mentioned in the above verse, conquering Egoism is the most difficult but with practice, you reduce it and remain humble, irrespective of your accomplishments in life.  Even when the most undesirable things happen to me, I bounce back soon and resume my happy life.   The intensity and duration of your unhappiness reduces dramatically if you practice this verse daily.    

The Fourth verse that has guided me is:

Samtushtah satatam yogi yataatma drdanischayah I

Mayyarpitah mano buddhir yo madbhaktah sa me priyah II  Ch. 12, verse 14

The Yogi who is ever content, steady in meditation, self-controlled, is of firm resolve, with mind surrendered to Me, that devotee is dear to Me. 

Lord Krishna is telling us that of all his devotees, the devotee who is always content within himself, self-controlled and surrenders to Him, he is dear to Him.  I have always sought happiness within myself instead of looking for it in material things or in the company of people.  This has helped me achieve all the things in my life and be stress-free.  It has helped me spread happiness to others.  I practice meditation daily and surrender all my problems to God.  I just evaluate if I have done my best every day, and if I have not, I decide to do so the next day.  This approach to life keeps you balanced and happy.     

The Fifth verse that has encouraged me to give to society over the last two decades is:

Yagna dana tapa karma na tyaajyam kaaryam eva tat I

Yagno daanam tapas chaiva paavanaani manishi naam II  Ch. 18, verse 5

Acts of sacrifice, charity and penance should not be given up.  They must be performed, for sacrifice, charity and penance are purifiers of the learned. 

We all sacrifice something for something higher that we want to achieve.  Giving up instant gratification for achieving something higher in life such as good health and good education makes us successful.  The importance of charity and penance are mentioned here, and I have found that when you give to others unselfishly, you get a lot of lasting happiness and it makes you think of others who are not as fortunate as you.  Having the discipline to pray and meditate daily is the best penance anyone can do.  I have documented the joy of giving in a book entitled Golden Giving, available on www.amazon.com. 

The Sixth verse that has guided me is:

Chetasa sarva karmaani mayi samnyasya matparah I

Buddhiyogam upasritya macchitah satatam bhava II  Ch. 18, verse 57

Mentally resign all actions to Me, with myself as the ultimate goal, and resort to the Yoga of equanimity, with the mind resting on Me. 

All of us have goals and in pursuit of these goals, we forget that the source of all the success we get is from the Lord who has created this universe.  We stress ourselves to achieve something in a given time frame, and since we feel we are the only one responsible for the result, we blame ourselves when things don’t go as planned.  I have found that when I rely on my team at work and share the credit with them, things get done well and I have no stress at all.  I have run two companies, one in the US and one in India, and I have never felt stressed since I had a good team working with me.  I always resigned all actions and their results to God, and maintained equanimity under all circumstances.        

When your mind rests on God, who has given you this beautiful life, it does not wander after worldly pleasures which are fleeting.  We resign all actions to Him, while doing our best effort.  We always know that God is guiding us, and never feel alone.  We see the presence of God in every sunrise, every sunset, everything beautiful on this earth, and in all people who were created by Him.  This takes away anxiety, fear, greed, and egoism, and you are free to do your best without worrying about the result.   

I hope these six verses that have guided me throughout my life will be of help in your life, as you navigate the ups and downs of life.  Practicing equanimity is difficult at first, but with practice, it becomes easier every day.  You live a stress-free life and learn how to be happy under all circumstances.  You are always willing to help others to the extent possible, with your talent, time or treasure.  This is the ultimate purpose of life, and you can be excited to get up  every day and do your best.  It will also keep you healthy and happy.