Dear friends,
I imagine most readers have at least heard of the Bhagavad Gita. It is part of a huge epic—The Mahabharata—in which cousins fight over a kingdom. (Boy, talk about a common theme throughout history!)
The chief warrior for the noble king and his brothers (the Pandavas) is named Arjuna, and he is the greatest archer in the world. His chariot driver is The Lord Krishna. At the last minute, as the first battle is about to commence, Arjuna says to Krishna, “I cannot do this. I cannot kill my own family members. My strength and will are sapped. My bow falls from my hands.” Krishna says, “You are deeply confused. Let me explain how the world works and the nature of reality.” This discussion/explanation by Krishna is what is now called the Bhagavad Gita.
Krishna explains that our actions are seen through the filter of our own desires and fears. Doing the will of Spirit is our one and only obligation. Sometimes it looks harsh, but doing one’s dharma (Right Duty) is always paramount. At the end Arjuna, having seen the Truth of life, says, “My will is strengthened. I am resolved to do what is necessary and right.” And he picks up his bow and leads the war. The Pandavas are of later victorious.
In fact, the Bhagavad Gita is about Arjuna’s—and by extension each of our own—inner battle between light and dark. The opposing forces are our good qualities and our dark qualities that pull us downward. We are afraid to kill our lesser qualities because they are “our own cousins.” Death of the ego is always hard. “What will I have left if I give up xxx?” (Fill in your favorite blank.)
Picture standing on a cliff with a vine hanging down. On the opposite cliff is another hanging vine. Unfortunately, they are not quite long enough to reach each other, so you have to swing from one to the other. This means you have to let go of the first before grasping the second. A scary proposition! But that is how growth happens. Trust, faith, guidance… and then a bit of a leap.
We are very rarely fortunate to have the likes of Krishna to directly advise us. But if we are open there are often teachers, mentors, books, or elders who are perfectly willing to guide us, if only we’d show genuine interest, and willingness to recognize and slay our own “cousins.” It is said in India, “When the disciple is ready the guru appears.” This of course applies much more broadly than only to a guru. May we each draw what we need to go forward with faith and courage and to make our next steps in growth towards Spirit immediate and powerful.
Blessings,
David G., manager
for the Gang at East West