Discovering Intentional Living Through the Bhagavad Gita
Explore how the Bhagavad Gita provides practical insights for intentional, spiritually conscious living, guiding us to navigate daily life's inner battles.
Kriya Yoga is intentional living—spiritually conscious living. But how do we live with that awareness in the midst of daily responsibilities? How do we fully awaken and live with purpose?
The Bhagavad Gita offers practical guidance on how to live in the world with spiritual awareness. In the tradition of Kriya Yoga, the great masters have deeply explored the esoteric meaning of this sacred text. Lahiri Mahasaya, Swami Sri Yukteswar, Paramahansa Yogananda, and Roy Eugene Davis have all pointed to the deeper significance of the Gita, revealing it as a manual for the spiritual seeker.
The Inner Battle: The Gita’s Relevance to Our Lives
At the very beginning of the Bhagavad Gita, we encounter a battlefield—the great war of the Mahabharata. But rather than a historical event, the Gita speaks to an inner battle, the ongoing tension between lower desires and higher consciousness.
This conflict plays out in every spiritual aspirant’s life. The forces at work within our own minds are reflected in the characters of the Gita: the lower tendencies that keep us bound and the higher call of the soul leading us toward enlightenment.
Mahatma Gandhi considered the Bhagavad Gita his personal guide for righteous living. He approached it as one would a loving mother—turning to it for nourishment, guidance, and wisdom in times of uncertainty. This same approach can serve us well. The Gita, when studied with openness, offers us daily inspiration and insight.
"The Bhagavad Gita is a very practical manual for telling us exactly how to be active in the world, how to live our lives fully, and how to be awake and then live skillfully."
—Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian
The Opening Question: What Is Happening Here?
The first chapter of the Gita, often referred to as The Yoga of Arjuna’s Despondency, begins with a question: What is going on here?
This question, asked by the blind king Dhritarashtra, is deeply symbolic. The blind king represents the unawakened mind—unable to see clearly. His question reminds us to ask ourselves daily:
- What is happening in my life?
- What are the forces at play within me?
- Who is winning the inner battle—my higher Self or my lower tendencies?
As Paramahansa Yogananda pointed out, this is a question we should ask ourselves every day. Will clarity or confusion win today? Will love or fear prevail? Will I choose compassion over resentment?
Arjuna’s Moment of Doubt: A Turning Point on the Path
Arjuna, the great warrior, stands at the center of the battlefield, asking Lord Krishna to drive his chariot forward so he can see clearly. In the allegorical sense, Arjuna represents the seeking soul, and Krishna represents the higher Self—the divine presence within.
Arjuna’s request—Let me see clearly—is a profound moment. It is a prayer that every spiritual seeker can adopt:
"Where am I on my path? What am I called to do? Am I truly living my dharma?"
Despite his skill and strength, Arjuna experiences deep doubt. He sees the challenges before him and feels overwhelmed. This is why this chapter is called The Yoga of Despair—because doubt, fear, and uncertainty often arise when we stand at the threshold of transformation.
Spiritual Awakening Requires Change
In the Kriya Yoga tradition, the masters teach that we are here to awaken fully—not in some distant lifetime, but now. To do so, we must be willing to change.
• We must overcome habits that no longer serve us.
• We must realign our lives with our highest purpose.
• We must face inner resistance, doubts, and fears.
This is the challenge of spiritual life. Often, we fear that making these changes will be too difficult—that others won’t understand, or that we will disappoint those around us. Yet, the Gita reassures us: the presence of the Divine is with us always. Krishna, the higher Self, is there from the very beginning, guiding us.
The Turning Point: Seeking Guidance from Within
Arjuna’s moment of doubt is not a failure—it is an opening. His uncertainty leads him to turn fully toward Krishna, saying, I do not know what to do. Help me.
This is the moment where the teachings of the Gita truly begin. From here, Krishna reveals the path of skillful action—how to live in alignment with dharma.
This is where we, too, begin. When we recognize the need for change but don’t know how to move forward, we turn inward. We ask for guidance. And, as the Gita shows us, the path unfolds step by step.
Moving Forward: Living Skillfully, Living Dharma
As we continue exploring the Bhagavad Gita, we will uncover the teachings of skillful living—how to act with wisdom, purpose, and grace.
For now, we can begin with a simple reflection:
• What is my dharma—my highest calling?
• What are the doubts and fears that hold me back?
• How can I, like Arjuna, ask for divine guidance?
The journey of the Gita is not just Arjuna’s journey—it is ours. And as we step forward with an open heart, the teachings will illuminate the path before us.
Listen to the full podcast episode below.
Bhagavad Gita, pt1: What is Going On Here?
The first chapter of the Bhagavad Gita, per teachings of Kriya Yoga masters, is that what is happening in this battle is really a battle for the soul life. The forces that are at play are the various viewpoints of the mind, the various tensions that go on between the lower drives in the mental field and our desires, and the pull of the soul or of higher consciousness to fulfill its divine destiny.
Dive Deeper into Dharma Teachings and Practices
Drawing from the reservoir of Vedic wisdom and the principles of yoga, the Dharma 365! Live Your Higher Purpose online course outlines the path to a life of higher purpose. The course provide a comprehensive immersion in dharma studies and practices for discovering your higher purpose and living it every day with heart and meaning.
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