"Oh this is too much”
“I Can’t take it anymore”
“How long this will go on like this”
Some day or other we all go through this. We all feel stressed or tensed. But some time it lasts for longer than ever before. Here are the words of God, Lord Sri Krishna, we must remember and ponder over:
1. Perform Your Duty Without Attachment
If you focus on result than you can’t focus on efforts. And results are never fully dependent on effort. Therefore, Sri Krishna says:
कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन ।
मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि ॥ ४७ ॥ (BG 2.47)
“You have a right to perform your prescribed duty, but you are not entitled to the fruits of action. Never consider yourself the cause of the results of your activities, and never be attached to not doing your duty.”
Action: Do not focus on result. Focus on putting efforts and remember Krishna.
2. Maintain Equilibrium in Success and Failure
Do not become overly joyous in success and distressed in failure. Success and failures are like seasons, they are sure to come and go. We must remember that not a blade of grass moves without sanction of Lord. Success or failure, either is given by Lord Sri Krishna, based on what I deserve and What is best for me.
दुःखेष्वनुद्विग्नमनाः सुखेषु विगतस्पृहः ।
वीतरागभयक्रोधः स्थिधीर्मुनिरुच्यते ॥ ५६ ॥ (BG 2.56)
“One who is not disturbed in mind even amidst the threefold miseries or elated when there is happiness, and who is free from attachment, fear and anger, is called a sage of steady mind.”
Action: Every time you succeed, thank to Krishna. Every time you fail, pray to Krishna for strength to accept & move on.
3. Discipline & Detachment
“Tomorrow onwards, I’ll wake up at 5:00 AM”
“Today onwards, I’ll read book for 30 minutes”
“Tomorrow onwards I’ll workout for 45 minutes”
We all take resolutions to do things. Research shows that 23% of people quit their resolution by the end of the first week, and 43% quit by the end of month. This is due to uncontrolled mind. Mind giving reasons to not do it. Lord Sri Krishna gives practical solution:
असंशयं महाबाहो मनो दुर्निग्रहं चलम् ।
अभ्यासेन तु कौन्तेय वैराग्येण च गृह्यते ॥ ३५ ॥ (BG 6.35)
“Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa said: O mighty-armed son of Kuntī, it is undoubtedly very difficult to curb the restless mind, but it is possible by suitable practice and by detachment.”
Action: Suitable practice means practice of controlling mind. The best way to do it is to spend 10 minutes to chant Hare Krishna Mantra. For detachment, we must get rid of things which are not absolutely necessary for us and we must give some portion of our income in charity.
4. Moderation in Lifestyle
We have to set regulation in our life. We have set rules on time we spend on working, time we spend on resting, time we spend on recreation or enjoying & most importantly timing of our eating.
युक्ताहारविहारस्य युक्तचेष्टस्य कर्मसु ।
युक्तस्वप्नावबोधस्य योगो भवति दु:खहा ॥ १७ ॥
“He who is regulated in his habits of eating, sleeping, recreation and work can mitigate all material pains by practicing the yoga system.”
Action: Write down on paper how many hours your will sleep, how many hours you will work, how many hours you will spend on chanting Hare Krishna & what times of day you will eat. Stick that piece of paper in a place where you see it repeatedly.
For more lessons on Bhagavad Gita click here