In 2020, a senior person nudged me towards reading the Gita, and it's been a guiding light ever since. After the incident, I always wanted to create a series on The Bhagavad Gita, not just as a scripture but a life management manual too (which I try to apply in my life). Initially, I felt quite hesitant, but after taking the first step, the positive feedback motivated me.

This isn't just another self-help or religious talk; it's the guide you've been seeking for life and work. Every principle in self-help books traces its roots back to the GITA. This blog will help you delve into the diverse interpretations and practical applications of these teachings in your daily life.

Breaking Down the Verse: Gita 4.22

"Content with whatsoever he gets, without efforts, free from pains of opposites, free from malice, balanced in success and failure, though acting, he is not bound."
– Bhagavad Gita 4.22

It's a beautiful lesson in finding balance and peace.

1. Embracing Contentment: The Power of Simplicity

The verse starts by highlighting the importance of being content. Being happy with whatever happens naturally does not mean being lazy. Instead, it encourages us to get rid of unnecessary wants.

In daily experience, we live in a world that presses us toward desire for more, that is, more material goods, more notice, more achievement. The Gita whispers gently in our ear that freedom is not from desiring more but from being capable of appreciating what is sufficient. It teaches us the value of contentment and how to gracefully accept what life offers, highlighting the peace found in simplicity.

"If we embrace that which is natural and cease desires for the unnecessary, then we liberate ourselves from constant disappointment. Simplicity then becomes our forte."

2. Navigating Chance: Accepting Uncertainty

One can only control their inputs and not their outputs. We should take our thoughts away from the results and focus on what is in our control like acing an interview but losing out to 'who you know' or being exam-ready then down with a fever. Life's like that, full of wild cards we can't control.

What is in our control is our discipline, honesty, and sincerity. Results may or may not be what we desire. If we keep focusing on the results, we might lose on the input side and that should never be the case.

As the saying goes, "control the controllables, and surrender the rest."

3. Efforts Without Attachment

Work hard, put efforts but let go of that ego that keep telling 'I must see results for pushing myself,' and just dive into the tasks with passion. Let go of the 'I must succeed' pressure.

Each step itself shows a story of success. It's about finding balance, using our energy wisely and finding joy in the doing, not just the outcome.

"It is the art of working with sincerity, yet with an inner detachment that keeps the mind steady."

4. From Envy into Inspiration

Start turning that green-eyed monster into a source of inspiration. Instead of being envious of other people's victories, why can't we be motivated? Instead of thinking, "Why them?", can we not think, "How did they do it?", "How to improve ourselves?"

This verse of Gita, shows us the pathway of freedom through removing the envious thoughts, teaching us to change our thought process and put efforts to be positive. It should never be about dimming other's light but about finding ways to brighten your own's

So, we may say, "Admire. Aspire. But never envy."

5. Balancing success and failure

Finding the inner balance in happiness and sadness is the equilibrium that keeps relationships solid, decisions smart, and us moving forward.

If you Win - stay humble. If you lose - stay hopeful. It's not just about avoiding the pitfalls of arrogance in success or despair in failure; it's about keeping that inner calm, no matter the storm outside. Both losing and gaining are just brief seconds. Neither defines who you are.

"True strength lies in being grounded, steady, and unwavering amidst both triumph and defeat."

6. Action Over Outcome

We're more than our achievements!

Freedom is not detaching yourself from the society but growing with it to a positive direction. It's about the journey, not just the destination. The ultimate teaching of the Gita is to act with integrity and dedication but without attachment to results. It's time to start focusing on the 'doing' with all heart, and not the pressure of 'what if'. Because in the end, it's the passion, the process, that defines us, not just the outcome.

"Real freedom is to act wholeheartedly while remaining detached from what follows."

Final Thoughts: Why This Verse, Why Now

We live in a world with much stimulation and comparison. We are constantly pushed toward the chase and away from inner peace. Which is why this verse of Gita is more relevant at present. It puts us in pathway of humility, resilience, and clarity. It also teaches us about true freedom without detaching us from the world; to focus on only controllables. I'm up to reading Gita more with you, word for word, and exploring its ancient wisdom relating to modern times.

If you would like to dive deeper, I recommend watching the full video that inspired this reflection: Watch here.

Reflect with us

– How would you explain this verse in your own words?

– Have you ever felt free when you are quite busy?

– Which topic or verse would you like next to be discussed?

Share your views in the comments. Let's kick off the discussion that translates the wisdom of the Gita into the realm of day-to-day lives.