My Interpretation of the Gita

In my quest for our purpose in life, or call it my  pursuit of happiness, I picked up a version of Gita my father recommended, as there are so many versions and one must draw one’s own. This is mine.

“You are the author of your action , but not the author of the result of your action.” Makes sense, and would help in accepting failures as much as successes.

Talks about karma yoga”, that is different from gyaan yog in that it is for the common people, those who have never read the scriptures. In fact even for the learned and the mahapurush, karma yog always came before gyaan yog. Karma yog talks about being absorbed by your work, doing every action with a consciousness and singleness of mind with the end goal always being nirvaan.  It is infact the preparation to enter into gyaan yog.

If you cannot learn to live in the material world and live successfully, then you have no hope to attain gyaan yog cz ur mind will never be at peace.

The Gita dismisses the concept of “sanyaas” in terms of renouncing life without having completed ones duties as this person’s mind is turbulent and is not prepared for gyaan.

Karma yog helps us come to peace with our raag dvesh – likes and dislikes , and though we can never stop having likes and dislikes, we no longer attach our state of well being nor get perturbed by them.

We still encounter negative emotions, and the Gita advises to feel them completely and acknowledge them and then release them, never to be felt again.

It helps us build composure and not exhibit temperamental swings in response to material / non material bonds.

Our success and comforts in this life are a consequence of our deeds in the past life, according to the Gita, and in this life, we decide our next life through our actions. a clever philosophy,isnt it.. a motivation to be good and honest, a kind of term deposit of good deeds to be released next life !well why not?

But the Gita is quick to point out that we change our destinies through our choices in this life, and where kismet ends and free will starts is difficult to say.

We are born human so we have a chance to free ourselves from the chakra of karma, perhaps that is why humans are the highest form of the living. Yet, we stay enchained unless we see the truth.

The Gita does not speak about any particular God or religion.. it is a secular book and of as much relevance to a Muslim or Christian as to a Hindu.I would venture to say even  for atheists, because it just gives you a way of life, and does not impress about the existence of God.

I know my views will change as I hear or read different versions, but this is my initial impression, probably a naïve one, and I need to delve deeper. But I am putting this in writing as this will help my cluttered mind remember if I forget.