Celebrating the Song Celestial

Relaxing on the beach near Madgaon in Goa some years ago, I was gazing at the serene vastness of cerulean blue. The elevating tranquillity of the sea was therapeutic.

Sitting in the waters, I realised that this endless ocean was very poised. All across, even as turbulent rivers, streams and storms empty themselves into it, the sea retains its inherent fullness, steadfastness and calmness.

Around then, I was re-reading the Song Celestial. The 70th verse of the Gita exactly paraphrased my experience.

"Just as the full, steady ocean retains its equipoise even as rivers enter it, the Sage, into whom myriad rivers of the sense-world enters, remains unaffected and is an ocean of equipoise."

Every time one revisits the Gita, one gets newer insights for the life journey. Over the years, this invaluable book has come to be my endearing confidant, friend and mentor.

Over five thousand years ago, at the most unexpected of places, in the middle of a war, as Arjuna was blinded by confusion and delusion, the Lord of love and courage acts the coach and mentor to Arjuna. Between then and now, so much has changed, following the advances of technology, science and knowledge. Yet, the basic struggles and scuffles that pepper, mar and sometimes colour human interactions possibly remain the same. Just a few days ago, a very well educated, affluent friend, with just about everything that one may need was sharing about a depression that she is battling with. She bared about the politics and conflicts at work that led to this.

I realised one particular competence or ability that each one of us must have or acquire. We must learn to maintain our composure and equipoise, no matter what life throws or pours on us, just like the serene, blue ocean at Madgaon. That is when we realise that the key to living is to be compassionate towards all, and perform our dharma, seeing the divine in everyone and everything.

As Vinoba says, "Let us place all the flaws and falsehoods of our heart before Him and say, "Oh Lord, I take refuge in you. ... show me the right way. I shall tread only the path you show."

If we do so, He who drove Arjuna's chariot will drive ours too, we ourselves shall hear the Gita in His own voice, and He will lead us to victory."

Just as the great teacher, Krishna coached his favourite tutee, at Kurukshetra, we need a host of tutors or coaches for disseminating this most valuable lesson to every child and every person on the planet. An effort in this direction is the 'houseful' course, curated by Tusharbhai Vyas, started three years ago at the MS University, Baroda called Gita 1821.

This course transposes the essence of the 18 Chapters in a practical way for the 21st century. Practitioners of Gita living lives filled with the usual share of strife, conflicts and challenges deliver the talks.

Earlier this year, I shared my insights on the Akshar Brahma Yoga, or attaining the supreme as we fly, cruise or wade through the many-hued experiences of life, holding on to our innate composure and equipoise. Many life-changing instances, after attending and getting insights, have also been shared by the students of the course.

This Wednesday is being celebrated as the birthday of Gita — the song celestial. It was on this day, five thousand years ago, that the ever compassionate and considerate Lord Krishna coached his protege, Arjuna.

Taking a cue from this, can each one of us take a step forward to carry this message of being always devoted and united with the supreme, in all that we think, say, and do? Carrying the breathtaking serenity of the sea of poise, inspired by the invaluable song celestial, can each one of us assimilate this into our lives?

The author is a Harvard-educated civil servant & writer, and has worked in the education sector 
jayanti.ravi.dna@gmail.com