Lessons from Bhagavad Gita to tide over tough times

Hyderabad: The last two years have been very difficult for most people due to the Covid pandemic. With Omicron, the new variant around, people are anxious about what is to come in the future. Satya Gaura Chandra Das, President, Hare Krishna Movement, Hyderabad, draws the contemporary scenario to that of Arjun right before the epic […]

Hyderabad: The last two years have been very difficult for most people due to the Covid pandemic. With Omicron, the new variant around, people are anxious about what is to come in the future. Satya Gaura Chandra Das, President, Hare Krishna Movement, Hyderabad, draws the contemporary scenario to that of Arjun right before the epic Kurukshetra war between Kauravas and Pandavas. He says, “We all have gone through a lot in the last two years, and even now the danger is not over. With the new variant around, people are anxious about what is yet to come — much like Arjuna. He too was anxious about the fate of his loved ones in the battle.”

However, Lord Krishna through Bhagavad Gita explained to him that one must perform their duties irrespective of what the outcome might be. He points out, “The Lord explained that Arjun – and all of us – are not the body. We are made of soul spirits and will move on to the other body once our present body perishes. We all have lost our loved ones in the last two years. As Krishna explains, we have a higher purpose to fulfill and thus we all must work towards that.” An incredible journey Interestingly, the personal journey of Satya Gaura Chandra Dasa is an inspirational one.

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An alumnus of IIT Chennai, he worked with a leading MNC before turning towards the spiritual world. “I was just like any other IITian,” he shares, adding, “I was introduced to Bhagavad Gita during my college days and was instantly attracted to its teachings. After I finished my education, I took up a job as a Senior Software Engineer in Novell Software, in Bengaluru. Initially, like everyone else, I too worked late hours, chasing my goals, meeting deadlines. I would leave the office around 1 am, and then be back at 7 am the following morning.”

He says, “I took one of the most famous quotes from the Gita – Karmanye Vadhikaraste, Ma Phaleshou Kada Chana – and implemented it in my life. I continued to work towards my targets, but only during office hours. After coming back home, I would chant the Hare Krishna mantra. I ate and rested nicely before returning to the office the next day. Slowly, I started seeing several transformations. I was performing better at work, and had a healthy body and mind.”

He later joined ISKCON Bangalore in 1997. Looking forward As the year comes to an end, many of us are looking to set goals for our future. Satya Gaura Chandra Dasa explains that while it is necessary to work hard to meet your goals, it is also equally important to finding your Spiritual Quotient.

“Life, today, has become a race. In a quest to meet our deadlines at work and then fulfill our duties towards our family, we hardly find time for ourselves. However, it is necessary to be connected to God and realize that He protects and loves you. I suggest you chant the Hare Krishna mantra whenever you find the time for it. It is also important in today’s day and age to incorporate the teachings of Bhagavad Gita among kids, and thus it should be taught in the schools. Among the various programmes run by the Hare Krishna Movement, we teach Gita to kids, teenagers and also families,” he adds.

Hare Krishna Movement also provides free food to those in need through various food distribution programmes such as Akshaya Patra, Bhojanamrita and Annapurna meals.

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