Bhagavad Gita or the Gita, is one of the most profound, comprehensive and globally revered philosophical masterpieces that interprets human existence, morals, duties and everything related to our existence in the most precise manner. No wonder the Bhagavad Gita resonates with a large global population. Such are its teachings that they have not just transcended geographical boundaries but the boundaries of time as well. The principles that the Gita offers guide us in living a more fulfilling and purposeful life.
Amongst all its teachings, mindfulness and meditation are two important pillars that encourage everyone to reduce mental distractions and focus towards developing a deeper connection with the self, increase self-awareness and instill in oneself a sense of peace and unity between the mind, body and soul. These tenets reverberate closely with what the yoga principles and philosophy also teach. Thus, it is important that all yogis read and understand the Gita. It is by immersing themselves in the teaching of the Gita that yogis will be able to find the connection between yoga and the spiritual wisdom that often evades those who don’t completely immerse themselves in this art form.
Understanding the Bhagavad Gita
The Bhagavad Gita is part of the Indian epic Mahabharata, in which Lord Krishna converses with Arjun just before the beginning of the war between the Kauravas and the Pandavas. In this discourse, Krishna highlights the importance of performing one’s duty (dharma) without attaching oneself to the result. This dialogue emphasizes the importance of selflessness, being at peace with the self and the soul and achieving moksha by praying to the Almighty.
The Gita also highlights the purpose of life, which is to attain spiritual realization, awareness of the self and becoming one with the Lord. All this leads to moksha, the ultimate destination of every being.
The teachings of the Gita are relevant to everyone, more so for modern yogis. The Gita’s teachings are a roadmap to attaining spiritual awareness at a higher level that transcends the basic levels. It prescribes a way of living that goes beyond the physical and evokes the metaphysical – something that most modern yogis would strive for. Through its teachings of Karma yoga, Dhyana yoga, Jnana yoga and those of detachment, resilience, devotion and surrender, Gita’s teachings offer everything a modern yogi would need to perfect their practice.
Importance of Bhagavad Gita for Yoga
The Bhagavad Gita is not just a philosophical masterpiece with wisdom that transcends all factors, it also is the go-to text for understanding the true meaning of yoga. It, very clearly and quite in detail, explains the philosophical and spiritual sides of yoga, emphasizing that yoga is not just about asanas and physical fitness but also the way to attain self-realization – one of the key teachings of Gita.
The Gita explains various ways of doing so, including Karma Yoga (action), Bhakti Yoga (devotion), and Jnana Yoga (knowledge). These prescribed ways guide yoga enthusiasts and practitioners towards being self-aware, mindful, at peace with the self, and living a more harmonious life. Let’s look at the three ways in more detail:
Karma Yoga:
This form prescribes you to do your duties without being attached to the result. This selflessness purifies the mind and helps you to reach spiritual enlightenment.
Bhakti Yoga:
This form is all about devoting yourself to a deity or the divine power by the way of prayers, rituals or chanting. The idea is to connect emotionally and spiritually with the divine being.
Jnana Yoga:
This form emphasizes the importance of intellectual understanding and self-inquiry as a means of achieving liberation. This form also highlights the importance of scripture reading and meditation, which help you to be one with nature.
Strength and Resilience: Overcoming Challenges with Gita’s Teachings
When life gets tough, turn to the Gita to look for solutions. And this revered scripture offers plenty of them. The Gita, which is a dialogue between Krishna and Arjuna about what the righteous way forward, teaches you to follow your duties without attaching yourself to the result, making you more detached from the perils of expectations and reward. It also teaches you to maintain an inner calm, be open to change and devote yourself to the higher power. These tenets prepare individuals to develop resilience to face adversities, have a purpose in life sans worldly attachments and maintain a positive mindset even when things turn tough.
And it does so by:
Showing the Path of Dharma
In the Gita, Krishna resolves Arjuna’s self-doubt and conflict by introducing him to the concept of Dharma (righteous duty) and going to war against his relatives as it is the right thing to do. Krishna also encourages him to be detached from the outcome of the war, thus teaching him an important lesson. This symbolizes that following the path of Dharma helps you to overcome challenges, as by doing so, you are doing the right thing.
Increasing Mental Strength
Apart from following the path of Dharma, the Gita also advocates mindfulness and self-awareness, practices that increase mental strength, control, quality of life, etc. By recommending introspection, maintaining a balanced state of mind, accepting and acknowledging the nature of self, and entrusting a higher power, the Gita paves the way to increase mental stability and strength.
Developing Resilience
Lessons in Gita help people identify the cause of stress, which is the attachment to results. When you overcome that attachment, you overcome the anxiety that comes with it. The Gita also prescribes maintaining a composed state of mind, bringing peace of mind. Lastly, one of the main teachings is that of self-realization, which amounts to spiritual growth.
Finding Inner Harmony: Applying the Bhagavad Gita to Daily Yoga Practice
The teachings of Gita can enhance your yoga practice, making it an even more enriching experience for you. Here’s how you can integrate Gita’s teachings into your yoga practice:
Keep Gita Principles in Mind: While doing yoga, select any one of the principles that Gita teaches and concentrate on working towards it.
Meditate on Main Verses: When you meditate, incorporate verses from Gita that resonate with you. This will help you connect more deeply with the main ideas of Gita.
Practice Detachment and Self-awareness: Practice yoga without longing for results and concentrate on increasing self-awareness. This will help you integrate these concepts in your daily life.
Incorporating Gita lessons in your yoga practice will help you better your psychological stability, strike a deeper spiritual connection, and power your mindfulness.
Bhagavad Gita Quotes that Every Yogi Should Know
“He who has no attachments can really love others, for his love is pure and divine”
“For one who has conquered his mind, a mind is best of friends, but for one who has failed to do so, a mind is the greatest enemy.”
“He who is content with whatever comes, without attachment, not disappointed when he gets nothing, is wise.”
“Calmness, gentleness, silence, self-restraint, and purity: these are the disciplines of the mind.”
“When meditation is mastered, the mind is unwavering like the flame of a lamp in a windless place.”
“Perform your obligatory duty because action is indeed better than inaction.”
“You have a right to perform your prescribed duties, but you are not entitled to the fruits of your actions.”
“Actions do not cling to me because I am not attached to their results. Those who understand this and practice it live in freedom.”
“There is nothing in the world as purifying as knowledge; one who has attained purity of heart through prolonged practice of karma yoga automatically sees the light of truth in the self in course of time.”
“A person is said to be established in self-realization and is called a yogi when he is fully satisfied by virtue of acquired knowledge and realization.”
Conclusion
Bhagavad Gita is not just a religious scripture, it teaches the philosophy of life that, if and when understood and implemented, can take you to the path of salvation. Every yogi must not just read the Gita but also practice its teaching, as this is the way to self-realization, attaining a higher consciousness and becoming one with your mind and body.
Join our upcoming yoga teacher training in Bali to deepen your practice and teaching skills. Experience personal growth through Eastern Wisdom + Western Science, integrating insights from the Bhagavad Gita’s psychology to cultivate inner balance, self-awareness, and a deeper understanding of the mind.
