Bhagavad Gita-2.1 Saankya yoga

There are 72 verses in the second chapter and this is called Saankya Yogam. This chapter is an essence of whole Bhagavad Gita.

Salient points to be learned from this chapter:

What is self?

What are the Characters of self?

What is Swadharma and why this needs to be practiced?

What is Sakaama karma and Nishkaama Karma?

What is Samatwa Buddhi (Balanced state)?

Who is Stitha Pragna?

How to control our senses?

How can we attain ultimate peace?

All these questions are answered in some way in this chapter.

The real teaching begins from the 11^th verse. We all feel dejectedsometimes in our lives. The life is complicated and feels worthless at times. We might have to face so many difficult problems. This is where we need guidance in the form of a teacher. We will find answers through this teacher. In a similar way Arjuna found a Guru in the form of Lord Sri Krishna. Arjuna did not want to participate in the war for the reasons he explained in the first chapter. We have to correlate this to our daily life. Our struggle is life itself. We are bombarded with so many complex challenges throughout the day. We get tired handling these so called problems. But we get some kind of help from our well wishers in some way or other. We still cannot avoid these challenges. We are unhappy in these so called tough situations. So we have to find a permanent solution to this universal problem.

We should not and cannot wish for complete elimination of these problems. This is not practical. But we have to understand the origin of these issues. We have to understand the way we react in these so called problems. We cannot run away from the problems. Problems come in different forms but our reaction to these challenges is similar majority of times. If we tend to run away, the problem can become complicated and our mind gets disturbed a lot.

What is the main problem that we all face in all these circumstances?

The feelings of “Me& Mine” are the main source of all these difficulties. Nothing should happen to my body and people related me. This is the silent wish we all have. But this is not practical. Once we are in this body and world, we have to face this dance. Death is certain. One day or the other we all have to leave this body and our loved ones behind. If there is mind, there will be thoughts and conflicts. Lord Sri Krishna reminds Arjuna that Bhisma already lived for 400 years. Everyone has to die one day or the other. The second chapter teaches us the techniques so that we can tackle the battles of life without losing the sanity. 

Sai Nath Maharajki Jai!