Bhagavad Gita for the modern life -1. Swami Udit Chaithanya

17/03/2018

Today, we will see the most formidable Pandava or the biggest enemy in the mental warfare of our Karma Kshetram. Bhishma, the Kuru Grandfather as you all know felt Hastinapur was “his kingdom” and it was his duty to maintain and protect it by any means. Whenever, he felt the pride of Hastinapur was threatened he used all his might and force. A simple example is his abducting the three princesses Amba, Ambika, Ambalika, against their will. We all know the story of Amba who was rejected by her Fiancé because of his reckless action, and in turn became Shikhandi causing his death.

Let us see what Bhishma represents in our life. The word Bhishma comes from the root “bhi” meaning to scare or frighten. Bhishma represents our ego which becomes the grandfather of our individual existence, and generates all other vices in us. It attacks forcefully when threatened and has no remorse of any bad deeds because our ego always feels it is doing the right thing to protect our kingdom of existence.

Today’s lesson : -

 Though we often use the word “ego” in negative light, it is just a strong sense of individuality or self. The determining factor, is what your ego identifies with. If your ego identifies with your material world like your name, fame, family background, position, job, title, etc. you will do any “scary(as the syllable “bhi” represents) act” to protect it. You have no remorse of the cruelties you do to others to maintain “your Hastinapur”. And just like Bhishmacharya thought he was right when he hurt Amba, we think we are right in our actions because we are supposed to protect our name, fame and position. But the same ego will be killed and hurt by these reckless actions, either later in this life itself or future lives, like Amba comes back as Shikhandi to kill Bhishma. Our ego can be killed or saved only when it lays on Sarasayya for days, hurt and bled, and it surrenders to Bhagavan as Bhishma did, when he chanted Vishnusahasranamam and Krishna stood by, for him to die.

We will continue with Bhishma and how to change our ego into a positive and productive one tomorrow…….later

***