The battlefield within us

*Even a go-getter needs to know Where to Go and What to Get!* Some people refuse to study spiritual books such as the Bhagavad-gita, arguing, “I am a go-getter. I have many things to do in life – I don’t have time for this spirituality stuff.” This argument overlooks the reality that the Gita was spoken to an extraordinary go-getter: Arjuna. In an age where warriors were celebrated for their archery skills, Arjuna, by his peerless talent and tireless practice, had become the foremost archer. In a culture where people practiced lifelong virtue to attain heaven in the afterlife, Arjuna was so virtuous as to enter heaven in this very life. And yet such a go-getter took time out to understand the Gita – and took time out when he was about to fight his life’s most important war. On the Kurukshetra battlefield, Arjuna had raised his bow, ready to fight (01.20). But on seeing his relatives arrayed on the opposite side, he had to ask himself: “What am I doing? What am I meant to do? What is truly important for me?” Such existential questions impelled him to seek guidance from Krishna, God descended in human form. Krishna responded by speaking the Gita for illuminating life’s path for all of humanity. The Gita highlights what is really important. We are eternal spiritual beings who have the potential to achieve everlasting fulfillment. We just need to infuse our go-getting with a mood of devotional service towards the all-attractive Supreme, whose eternal parts we are. Unfortunately, we busy ourselves in getting without asking what is ultimately worth getting. Dissipating our life in getting temporary things, we end up empty-handed. By investing time in studying the Gita, we are guided to go where the getting is lasting; we become enriched, both in this life and the next, with eternal love for Krishna.