Facing Challenges - Part 2

In the previous blog we saw that Dhritarashtra acted out of tamas. He did not perform his duty and this made him helpless, regretful and he was guilty.  Duryodhana acted out of rajas. He had fear but did not want to show. He put on a false-mask of bravery and behaved arrogantly.  This caused stress, anxiety and fear to him.  Now let us see how Arjuna faced the same challenge.

Arujna

a.     Arjuna was confident at the beginning of the war and with authority he said to Sri Krishna – “Place the chariot between the two armies. I want to see who have assembled to fight against me.”  His faith in his own strength was evident.  He had been preparing himself thoroughly for this day to avenge the insult. 

b.     Yet, when Sri Krishna placed the chariot between the two armies, Arjuna’s Vision was clouded by his emotions and attachment to the relatives.  He forgot that the war was not personal.  It was a war to protect Dharma.  He was a kshatriya and it was his duty to protect Dharma.  Instead of performing duties his focus shifted to external factors like –the result of the war, enjoyment after the war,  what will society think etc.  Very often when we face situations we lose objectivity and take it personally.  Our ego gets hurt or we feel insecure and our mind starts assuming and imagining negatively. 

c.     Ego(i) and Ego-centric desires(my) made a mighty invincible soldier into a helpless & weak victim of circumstances.  As a result he did not want to fight and he thought it is better to withdraw.    We find that influenced by Tamoguna and rajoguna Arjuna felt helplessness and stress. 

d.     Arjuna gives many reasons for not fighting the war. Justifies it from all standpoints – external, physical, emotional, social and spiritual.  Finally he throws away the bow and arrows and is at the feet of Sri Krishna completely dejected and depressed with tears in his eyes.  Rajoguna always makes us justify our behavior and tamoguna wants us to escape from the situation. 

e.     The Intellect gets clouded by attachments of the mind and this incapacitates him physically. 

f.      Thus, Arjuna also was influenced by Rajo-guna but finally due to Sattva guna he could surrender to Sri Krishna and ask for guidance.  Sattva is true strength.  Hence we must cultivate as much Sattva as we can.  Sattva alone can take us higher in our evolution.  Sri Krishna says – Nityasattvasthah bhava arjuna.  

g.     Etymologically Arjuna means – Straightforward.  Unlike Duryodhana, Arjuna did not hide his feelings and confusion.  He was straightforward.  When he was overwhelmed and he felt like crying, he did.  A seeker can progress only when there is straightforwardness.  Hiding, putting up a false mask, resistance etc. are obstacles. 

To summarise, if we have the following qualities then we can face life as situations and not allow them to become problems and crisis: 

a.     Face the Challenge. Don’t try to avoid or escape.

b.     Be focused on duties and swadharma.

c.     Cultivate Inner Strength – Clarity in Thinking & Purity in Feeling

d.     Be Straightforward

e.     Invoke more and more of Sattva-Guna

f.      Surrender to the Higher

All the three – Dhritarashtra, Duryodhana and Arjuna are facing the same situation.  All of them are deluded by attachment.  Each one seeks a refuge.  Dhritarashtra goes to Sanjaya. Duryodhana to Dronacharya and Arjuna to Sri Krishna.  Yet Arjuna alone could get over the attachment and delusion because he had the above qualities. 

Let us invoke the Arjuna in us, be straightforward and surrender.  Sri Krishna shall surely guide us all out of delusion.  Jai Sri Krishna!  Jai Gurudev!