Bhagavad Gita for the modern life-8. Swami Udit Chaithanya

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19/08/2018

Today we will look at MADA(pride), a very subtle but powerful vice. It is not wrong to say we all live in some amount of pride…..at it is necessary in a transactional world. MADA is only an identification with “what you have”, instead of “what you are”. If someone asks you who you are, you define yourself using your family name, degree, job, titles,spouses, children, property or a skill you have. Because you are proud to have it all. And it is fine to a limited extend. The problem happens when you think of these possessions as your absolute existence. We all know the story of Sankaracharya’s pride smashed by Shiva who came as Chandala and asked “am I the body or soul to move out of your way” or Bhattathiri’s pride smashed by Guruvayoorappan to defend Poothanam.

Today’s lesson:

 There is nothing wrong in acquiring wealth, fame and skills or being happy about your achievements. But it is important to live with the realization that “I have all these things……. but that is not me”. Those possessions define you in a relative sense. You should always count them as blessings, remain content and be thankful for having it all. At the same time…...if it were all taken away from you one day, you should still be able to remain content and thankful. That is the ultimate life skill to develop. Then you rise from level of Pravritti to level of Nivritti.

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