As we discover the Bhagavad Gita through Acharya Shunya’s teachings, there are some core concepts that emerge whose meaning can unlock the wisdom of these profound and sacred texts in a way that will heal us, set us free and bring forth the joy that is hidden inside us.
Dharma
I like to think of Dharma as Purpose or the cosmic order of everything. Acharya Shunya says, “Dharma is what upholds you and by you upholding you, the whole society is anchored through you”. Arjuna’s dilemma on the battlefield of Kurukshetra which is the setting for the Bhagavad Gita is all about Dharma vs Adharma. Dharma is right action. It is really the battle we all fight within us on a daily basis.
Swadharma
Acharya Shunya asks, “What is your swan song?” Swa-Dharma means Dharma of my Self. Edward Viljoen
writes, “It has something to do with the integrity of your being, that when you depart from it, or neglect
it, disharmony follows.” Acharya Shunya tells us to give expression to “that” which drives you.
Swadharma is a contract to be you. It takes time to discover your Swadharma but you will have hints of
it.
There have been moments in my life where I have behaved or done things that are just not in alignment
with my own Self and when I did them, I knew at a cellular level that there was a disconnect between
who I was and what I was manifesting. It was those times in my life when I was in misalignment with my
Swadharma that I truly suffered. I was torn inside and I would cry and ask for help from God. If I had had
the integrity of being and would have shown up as genuinely me, I could have spared myself a lot of
tears and angst. When we are not us, we not authentic and when we are not authentic, then we suffer
and create our own sorrow.
Acharya Shunya also echoes something that the Gita talks about – “Don’t wear another Swadharma and
miss that bus. All teachings will happen when you live that life.” (of your unique Swadharma)
श्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विगुण: परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात् |
स्वभावनियतं कर्म कुर्वन्नाप्नोति किल्बिषम् || 47||
śhreyān swa-dharmo viguṇaḥ para-dharmāt sv-anuṣhṭhitāt
svabhāva-niyataṁ karma kurvan nāpnoti kilbiṣham
It is better to do one’s own dharma imperfectly, than to do another’s dharma perfectly. By
doing one’s innate duties, a person does not incur sin.
Seva
Acharya Shunya asks us, “What is your instrument being used for by God?” Recently, I attended a church
service where the pastor asked the same question - How is God’s will being done through you? Seva is
service to this world, to others without any expectation of personal gain or reward. The Gita says,
कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन |
मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि || 47 ||
karmaṇy-evādhikāras te mā phaleṣhu kadāchana
mā karma-phala-hetur bhūr mā te saṅgo ’stvakarmaṇi
You have a right to perform your prescribed duties, but you are not entitled to the fruits
of your actions. Never consider yourself to be the cause of the results of your activities,
nor be attached to inaction.
Why else are we here on this planet if not to offer our unique gifts to the world and other beings?
Sharing our unique gift is the greatest achievement or legacy we could leave behind.
We are not here to live our selfish purpose as much as we think we are. We are here to live God’s
purpose through our instrument. Imagine a car that thinks its purpose is to drive to the nearest parking
lot. But the driver intends for the car to drive it all the way to Italy or even make it fly to the moon. We
are very much stuck in the role of the car. We believe in the smallness of our being and what we can
achieve and yet, what God can achieve through us is Infinite. The sooner we can come to this truth, the
sooner we will be free from our prisons. The sooner we realize that God works through us and that we
are simply an instrument of his will, the sooner we can stop the daily grind of getting to the parking lot
and all the drama along the way and focus on being the most responsive, open to guidance instrument
of God.
Here are some practical ways to adopt this expansive, yet freeing vision
● Let go of control. Know that the divine is the driver and you are the one who needs to listen to
cues and take directions (Very much like Lord Krishna was the charioteer of Arjuna’s chariot
where the Bhagavad Gita was born)
● Reduce and remove expectations which are the root cause of disappointment, anger and
resentment
● When something or someone does not go our way, or behave the way we would like, let it go!
Accept that it is that person’s path. What you can do is walk your path and let others walk on
theirs
● Let go of the constant stream of judgement - of self or of others
● Focus your attention inward
● Share your unique gifts with others, offer selfless service to all beings
As you journey on your path to Self-Realization, may these core concepts and ideas help you and remind
you of your true nature.
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