The Hindu : Truth eternal in nature

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Feb 24, 2003

Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous - Religion

Truth eternal in nature

CHENNAI FEB.24 . The most common human reaction to difficulties in life is fear. Fear leads to mental block and hence the mind will be unable to think about the problem calmly and consider the next course of action. As the person is afraid of the situation he tries all possible ways to avoid tackling it. It is only when there is no way out that he tries to confront it by coming to terms with the problem. Mental catharsis must be familiar to the majority of people because it is a rare person who has the courage to face difficulties.

Avoiding to face the reality of the situation or postponing the whole issue out of fear will not help to tackle a crisis. Some tend to find a way out of such a dilemma by shifting the responsibility on God. One cannot shy away from discharging one's duties and must learn how to manage the circumstances of life. Only when every individual acts in conformity with Dharma will there be order and peace in society. The teachings of the Bhagavad Gita take off on this theme by describing Arjuna's state of mind when the prospect of a war with his kith and kin became a reality.

As a warrior it was his duty to punish those who transgressed Dharma even if they were his elders and relatives. All his bravery vanished before the emotional crisis in which he found himself and the palpable fear he felt imagining the outcome of the war made him adduce several reasons to avert the battle when he submitted to Lord Krishna. Escapism becomes the norm in the life of a person who is unable to come to terms with reality. But such an attitude will not solve the problem. Everyone has to learn how to act in such situations with presence of mind. The Gita showed man how to act rightly, said Sri Suki Sivam in his discourse.

As to the relevance of the teachings of the Gita today Lord Krishna Himself draws attention to its perennial validity. It is underscored that the Lord and the truth are eternal though the situation in which it is taught in the different ages differs. The Bhagavad Gita was taught to Arjuna when he faced a dilemma in his life; though the modern situation may be different human predicament remains the same. The Sun is cited as a metaphor by the Lord to bring home the concept of eternity with reference to His teachings. The Sun, which is the basis of life on the Earth, is ancient but with reference to the world it is also new because it sets and rises everyday.

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