Self-realization is the key to conquering misery

“Sankhya Yoga,” is a form of Yoga that lays out the central themes of the Gita’s teachings. It is a dialogue between the warrior Arjuna and his charioteer and spiritual guide, the god Krishna, on the eve of a great battle. Arjuna expresses his doubts about the morality of fighting against his own relatives, and Krishna responds with a teaching that transcends the immediate context of the battle and offers guidance on how to live a spiritual life.

The chapter is organized around several key themes, including the nature of the self, the nature of action, the nature of duty, and the ultimate goal of spiritual liberation. Throughout the chapter, Krishna emphasizes the importance of detachment, action, and devotion as paths to spiritual realization.

Nature of the Self

What is the self, or atman, according to Vedanta (also known as Super-consciousness in today’s language), and how does it relate to the body and the material world? The consciousness is eternal and indestructible, while the body is temporary and decays over time. The actions of the body do not affect consciousness, so it is not subject to the cycle of birth and death.

Krishna advises Arjuna to realize that he is not his body or emotions, but the pure consciousness beyond all material changes. Recognizing this true self is the basis of spiritual realization and crucial for understanding the true nature of action and duty.

There are three types of Gunas or nature, that makes up the material world. They are sattva (purity), rajas (activity), and tamas (inertia). All things in the material world are made up of varying combinations of these gunas, and they play an important role in determining a person’s character and behavior. Spontaneity is the key.

Nature of Action

Krishna argues that action is an essential part of life, but that it must be performed without attachment to the results. This approach to action is known as karma yoga, or the yoga of action, and is one of the main paths to spiritual liberation in the Gita.

Krishna points out that it is not possible to live without performing some kind of action, but that it is possible to perform action without being attached to the results. He encourages Arjuna to perform his duty as a warrior without concern for the outcome and to focus instead on the purity of his intention and the quality of his action.

Krishna also emphasizes the importance of detachment in action, arguing that attachment to the results of action leads to suffering and bondage. He urges Arjuna to let go of his attachment to the outcome of the battle and to perform his duty with equanimity and detachment.

Nature of Duty

According to the Gita, each person has a unique set of duties or responsibilities that are determined by their nature, social position, and stage of life. These duties are seen as an essential part of one’s spiritual practice, as they help to cultivate discipline, focus, and detachment.

However, it is not enough to simply perform one’s duties mechanically or out of a sense of obligation. To truly fulfill our dharma, we must do so with a sense of devotion and surrender to the divine. We must recognize that our actions and their results are ultimately in the hands of a higher power, and offer them up in service to that power.

We are not limited to external actions or rituals in our duty, but we include the cultivation of inner qualities such as purity, compassion, and detachment. By working to develop these qualities, we can purify our hearts and minds, and ultimately achieve the realization of our true spiritual nature.

Ultimate goal of Spiritual Liberation

The root cause of human suffering is our attachment to the material world and our identification with the body and mind. Through spiritual practice, we can gradually overcome this attachment and realize our true nature as eternal spiritual beings.

The Gita teaches that there are multiple paths to spiritual liberation, including the path of knowledge or “jnana”, the path of action or “karma yoga”, and the path of devotion or “bhakti yoga”. However, regardless of the path we choose, the ultimate goal is the same: to realize our oneness with the divine and to break free from the cycle of birth and death.