Teaching and Learning from Bhagavad-Gita

Bhagavad-Gita is the message `of Lord Krishna to Arjuna on the battle field just
before the Kurukshetra war began. This forms part of the Mahabharata Epic and occurs
there in Bhishma Parva. Arjuna came ready to fight, but seeing his guru, elders, and
relatives ready to fight against the Pandavas felt disheartened, weak. And confused and
refused to fight. Krishna delivers this message, made him strong and bold and ready to do
his duty. A study of the Gita will develop depth plus breadth, broad attitude and deep
conviction.

The Gita advises us to work to ensure the stability of human society. Now I want to inform
that once Gandhi said, "I am here to wipe the tears from the last person who weeps in the
society I work for the good of others." This is one of the inspiring truths. It must permeate
our society. In our educational institutions we must highlight this concept of "Parasparam
bhavayantha". All our problems we can solve when we become calm, silent, steady, strong,
efficient workers. It is the silent man that does the best work. When we work efficiently
everything is under our control.  We should work without emotion, particularly without
anger or fear. If anger takes control of us then something goes wrong with us. This is our
important teaching in the Gita.

Bhagavad Gita emphasizes that the capacity to forebear is a tremendous capacity, someone
does harm. There are some, who will remember it for 20 0r 30 years,. But when somebody
grows spiritually he will realize that the mind is meant for something higher, matter, not for
storing resentments. "Blessed is the heart that does not store resentments." But our body
mind complex should become a refinery of experiences. Every one of us must resolve,
according to Gita, to live a truthful but not showy life. We shall work every day with our
mind fixed on God, fixed on Atman. We will became great workers, great lovers of
humanity, making for harmony. There will be no troubles when the mind is united with
Divine.

One of the precious advice given by Krishna to Arjun is "Listen to Me". Listening is a great
art. There are people, who always talk, never care to listen. They will only advise others or
dictate to others. It is the ego that stands between us and other people, between us and
even God. Ego must be transcended. Each one has to do it himself or herself. In the Gita
Krishna repeatedly proclaims that knowledge is supreme. Gita helps to develop our
character. Our personality, our spirit of service and also our love for knowledge. So we have
a great philosophy in the Gita to guide us in our day to day life. "Throw away your
weakness. Stand up. Face up to the situation around you. Face the problems in your life.
Face the brute". We should follow the teachings in the Gita in our life.

To conclude in the Gita the highest spiritual philosophy has been presented in the midst of
total war. Krishna, a great hero gives the message to Arjuna another great hero Arjuna is
the representative of the entire humanity. So our education must be inspired by the Gita
ideas. This is a new and urgent task in the words of swami Vivekananda that we must
address ourselves to this great task. This is a great blessing Arise, Awake and Stop not till
the goal is reached.