THE BHAGAVAD GITA - Eknath Easwaran
By: Eknath Easwaran
“You have the right to work, but never the right to the fruits” Eknath Easwaren
“When meditation is mastered the mind is unwavering like the flame of a lamp in a windless place” Eknath Easwaren
THEMES
Dharma ~ Karma Yoga ~ Devotion ~ Self Mastery ~ Purpose ~ Liberation ~ Spiritual Growth
OVERVIEW:
The Bhagavad Gita is again, one of the most beloved and influential texts of the yogic tradition (and my personal favourite) - it is an early insight into human evolution and absolutely steeped in compassion. It is part of the Mahabharata, and set on the battlefield of Kurukshetra. The story unfolds as a dialogue between Arjuna (warrior) and his charioteer, Krishna. Faced with uncertainty, grief and moral conflict, Arjuna turns to Krisha for guidance - he receives wisdom and teachings that illuminate his path of action, devotion and self-mastery. The gita is more than a story about an ancient war, it is a metaphor and exploration of the inner battles all human beings face - fear, courage, attachment, surrender, ego and higher purpose. Eknath’s translation of the epic Gita explains these ancient timeless teachings in a clear, accessible way while preserving their depth and spiritual rigor.
WHY IT’S APART OF THE SADHANA ACADEMY’S LIBRARY:
The Bhagavad Gita offers a practical guide for living a meaningful life that is full of purpose. It teaches us how to live with purpose, and how to live a spiritually grounded life. It reminds us that yoga is not confined to the yoga mat, rather yoga is expressed through how we act, serve, relate and meet life’s challenges.
KEY TEACHINGS:
Your duty is to act, not control the outcome. Karma yoga is of pinnacle importance in the Bhagavad Gita, this means to act wholeheartedly while releasing attachment to results. We are responsible for our efforts, not for controlling what unfolds.
Equanimity is the heart of yoga (SATTVA). True yoga is maintaining balance amid success or failure, praise or critisism, pleasure and pain. Liberation arises when we are no longer at the mercy of life’s fluctuations.
The ego is not the true self!!! Through action, devotion, meditation, knowledge, and selfless action we can move toward self realizsation and connect with the sacred divine.
REFLECTION PROMPTS:
Where am I resisting a responsibility or calling in my life? How can I soften this resistance?
What outcomes am I deeply attached to? How do those attachments affect my peace?
What would it look like to act wholeheartedly without needing to control the result?
PRACTICE INTEGRATION:
Karma Yoga:
Choose one task each day - whether teaching, working, cooking, cleaning, caring for others etc - perform it with FULL presence. Let go of any need for recognition. Let go of the thought of the end result.
Meditation:
Reflect on this: “What is mine to do, and what is mine to let go of?” Notice what arises without forcing answers.
Yoga Practice:
Move through your practice today with curiosity instead of achievement. Notice where striving/forcing appears and experiment with replacing those qualities with a steady attentive effort that is earnest.