The Bhagavad Gita is a comprehensive practical manual providing vital guidelines for the various aspects of human existence.
(a) its dealing with day-today existential issues, (b) It is a scripture for all age groups, for all temperaments, and (c) it appeals irrespective of caste, creed and religion.
The Bhagavad Gita contains eternal spiritual and ethical truths (Sanathana Dharma). these are not beliefs. these truths are as real as newton and Einstein laws.
Truth no.1: Man‟ (jiva) as a combination of (a) the physical body (b) the mind and (c) the Self/Soul (atman).
While the physical body and the mind are matter/material that are mortal and perishes, the Self/Soul is individual consciousness/energy that is immortal and eternal. The essential/real nature of man is the eternal Self and not the body-mind complex (Chapter I1, Verses 18 & 24).
అంతవంత ఇమే దేహా నిత్యస్యోక్తాః శరీరిణః ।
అనాశినోఽప్రమేయస్య తస్మాద్యుధ్యస్వ భారత ।। 2-18 ।।-Only the material body is perishable; the embodied soul within is indestructible, immeasurable, and eternal. Therefore, fight,
అచ్ఛేద్యోఽయమదాహ్యోఽయమ్ అక్లేద్యోఽశోష్య ఏవ చ ।
నిత్యః సర్వగతః స్థాణురచలోఽయం సనాతనః ।। 24 ।।-The soul is unbreakable and incombustible; it can neither be dampened nor dried. It is everlasting, in all places, unalterable, immutable, and primordial.
Truth no.2: Liberation from birth&death cycle and karmic cycle' lies in the union (yoga) of individual consciousness/energy (Self) with the Universal/Cosmic consciousness/energy (God). This union is made possible by the purification of the mind (Citta Suddhi/Sattva Suddhi).
The Bhagavad Gita,that is the essence of upanishats' identifies three important paths towards the purification of the mind that enables the union of individual consciousness with the Universal consciousness. The three paths are: (a) The path of Action (Karma-yoga), (b) The path of Devotion (Bhakti-yoga) and (c) The path of Knowledge (Jnana-yoga).
Before we discuss about how one could achieve emotional stability, first we should grasp the meaning and gist of emotional stability and how such emotionally stable person behaves?
The concept of Emotional Stability in the Bhagavad Gita: Recognizing the importance of managing emotions, the Bhagavad Gita presents the characteristic features of an individual possessing emotionally-stable wisdom (or) individuals attaining a state of emotional stability (Sthitaprajna).
Further, it analyses the impediments and provides appropriate solutions to achieve the state of emotional stability. Let us now proceed to discuss the state of emotional stability, as perceived in the Bhagavad Gita.
Characteristic features of a person possessing Emotional Stability: According to the Bhagavad Gita, a person of emotional stability is one who has casts off all the desires of the mind (Chapter II, Verse 55), not shaken by adversity & duality, free from attachment , fear & anger (Chapter II, Verse 56) and has complete control over attachment or detachment (Chapter II, Verse 57).
ప్రజహాతి యదా కామాన్ సర్వాన్ పార్థ మనోగతాన్ ।
ఆత్మన్యేవాత్మనా తుష్టః స్థితప్రజ్ఞస్తదోచ్యతే ।। 55 ।।-a person of emotional stability is one who has casts off all the desires .
దుఃఖేష్వనుద్విగ్నమనాః సుఖేషు విగతస్పృహః ।
వీతరాగభయక్రోధః స్థితధీర్మునిరుచ్యతే ।। 56 ।।-not shaken by adversity & duality, free from attachment , fear & anger.
యః సర్వత్రానభిస్నేహః తత్తత్ ప్రాప్య శుభాశుభమ్ ।
నాభినందతి న ద్వేష్టి తస్య ప్రజ్ఞా ప్రతిష్ఠితా ।। 57 ।।-complete control over attachment or detachment.
In short, a person of stable wisdom has complete control of his/her emotions in all situations. The Bhagavad Gita proclaims that the state of emotional stability leads to experiencing immortality (Chapter II, Verse 15), peace (Chapter II,Verse 71), free from fear (Chapter 11, Verse 56) and tranquility (Chapter II, Verse 52).
యం హి న వ్యథయంత్యేతే పురుషం పురుషర్షభ ।
సమదుఃఖసుఖం ధీరం సోఽమృతత్వాయ కల్పతే ।। 15 ।।-emotional stability leads to experiencing immortality.that person who is not affected by happiness and distress, and remains steady in both, becomes eligible for liberation.
విహాయ కామాన్యః సర్వాన్పుమాంశ్చరతి నిఃస్పృహః ।
నిర్మమో నిరహంకారః స శాంతిమధిగచ్ఛతి ।। 71 ।।-That person, who gives up all material desires and lives free from a sense of greed, proprietorship, and egoism, attains perfect peace.
దుఃఖేష్వనుద్విగ్నమనాః సుఖేషు విగతస్పృహః ।
వీతరాగభయక్రోధః స్థితధీర్మునిరుచ్యతే ।। 56 ।।- One whose mind remains undisturbed amidst misery, who does not crave for pleasure, and who is free from attachment, fear, and anger, is called a sage of steady wisdom.
In the next concluding chapter we will discuss the ways to attain the emotional stability&Peace.
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