My theme this month is “Doing your best”. Twice in the Bhagavad Gita, the subject of “doing your best” comes up. My last post cited the comment in Chapter 18 at the end of the Gita. In this post I will use the quote at the beginning in Chapter 3 as well I offer the discussion in Chapter 2. Dharma has been popularly translated as “one’s life’s purpose”. However, in the Gita, it is translated as person’s prescribed duties. Arjuna was a warrior and his prescribed duties was to fight as a warrior even though he had reservations. He did not want to fight a battle against his relatives who were rebelling against his father, the ruler. Krishna, who was a Hindu god manifested in human form. He reassured Arjuna that it was he or “Fate” who decided who lived or who died. Arjuna just needed to perform his prescribed duties and fight the battle to the best of his abilities.
“It is better to perform one’s own dharma (prescribed duties) imperfectly rather than perform another’s dharma (duties) perfectly. It is better to die while performing one’s own duties, for executing the duties of others is fraught with uncertainty. Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3 verse 35.
He had earlier counseled Arjuna:
You have a right to perform your prescribed duties, but you are not entitled to the fruits of your actions. Act for the action’s sake. Never consider yourself to be the cause of the results of your activities, nor be attached to inaction.
Self-possessed, resolute, act without any thought of results, open to success or failure.
This equanimity is yoga.
.(actual Sanskrit is Yogasta Karu Karmani…yoga is Sanskrit for union and an another translation “Established in the present take action”)
“Action is far inferior to the yoga of insight, Arjuna. Pitiful are those who, acting, are attached to their action’s fruits. The wise man lets go of all results, whether good or bad, and is focused on the action alone”. Chapter 2 verse 47 through 49
…
“Grasping too tightly to the things of this world, attachments arise.
Holding only to how we want it to be, anger is born.
Not understanding the inevitability of change, confusion clouds the mind.
Meet this transient world with neither grasping nor fear, trust the unfolding of life, and you will attain true serenity.”
Bhaghavad Gita Chapter 2 verse 62-66
“Always do your best” is a good monthly theme. I tend to be perfectionist and tend to overachieve. Early on, I got sucked into the mentality that doing my best meant giving I10 percent at all times. I was raised on my father’s mantra which was “Winners never lose and losers never win”. Because of this, I was exhausted and often resentful. I ran from task to task, afraid that I was not doing enough. Now I give my best, no more and no less. The advice from the Gita that “Meet this transient world with neither grasping nor fear, trust the unfolding of life, and you will attain true serenity.” has allowed me to slow down. I take the time to savor my work and my relationships. Life is so much more enjoyable!
