Aayushi International Interdisciplinary Research Journal (AIIRJ)

Vol - I Issue - I June 2014

Stress Management in the Context of Bhagavad-gita

Dr. Kallave Maheshwar Gangadharrao

Assistant Professor
Department of Education
Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University,
Sub- Campus, Osmanabad
Email: maheshkallawe@gmail.com

Introduction:
Today, the concept of 'knowledge explosion' is taking roots in the educated
society, which has put on the garb of Information Technology and technology. But in
the current situation, instead of a conducive atmosphere, adverse atmosphere is
being created. This is exemplified by the increasing number of suicides committed by
students and increasing tendency of students towards addiction. If we probe deeply
into this aspect, we observe that the aspects which have become prominent today
are competition, spread of media, change in day-to-day lifestyle, bad habits, fear etc.
What lies at the root of all these happenings is nothing but stress. Today mental
stress is becoming an integral part of each individual's life and its outcomes are seen
in the form of suicides in a tender age, physical ailments and addiction. Even though
today's education system is modernized and is gaining momentum, yet we have
moved a little farther from the basic purpose of education and hence each student is
exposed to the problem of stress. The students are finding it difficult to cope with it
and this has led to a number of problems. In order that students overcome this
problem and become an able member of empowered India, the concept of life skill
education is introduced in education system. The govt. is making attempts so that
these life skills are not only covered in syllabus but are also found in a number of
treatises.
Through the present paper, we are going to explore how one of the life skills,
i.e. stress management gets reflected in the Bhagvad-gita.

Student hood and Effects of Stress:

1. Goal Setting Difficulties in setting goals, objectives, purposes and

action
2. Determination To get depressed at minor happenings.
3. Self Learning Divergence from real life experiences

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4. Self Confidence Unaware about one’s own capabilities

5. Creativity Emphasis on mechanical actions
6. Discipline Arrogance at a subtle level
7. Making Efforts Escapism taking place of the attitude of making efforts
8. Optimism Action from the perspective ‘I don’t have an impact at
my individual level’.

On considering the above aspects, we come to know that stress impacts the
internal character / personality of a student rather than his external persona. This
introduces problems in the learning abilities of students. Now-a-days, a number of
solutions for managing stress are being discussed. Through such measures as
yogasanas, pranayamas, camps etc., the role of stress management is being made
clear. Through the present research, I have delved deeply as to how we find the
references / solutions for stress management in the Bhagavad-gita.

Chief Reasons of Stress:

1) Mere day-dreaming (excessive indulgence in day dreaming rather than
acting)
2) Holding situation to be responsible for one’s failure etc.
3) Pessimism (lack of confidence in one’s own capabilities)
4) Excessive dependence on instruments (according to this outlook,
instruments are not for our service, in fact, we have become their slaves)
5) Dominance (to find oneself in domineering position by finding faults in
others/ belittling others)

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Prevalent Situation of Stress and what Corrective Measures are Suggested in the
Bhagavad-gita:

Sr. Prevalent Situation Role of the Bhagavad-gita in Stress

No. Management
1 Mere day Dreaming: This -ism makes Making Efforts: Instead of indulging in
life stagnant. In this situation, only day-dreaming, the Bhagavad-gita has
success of a successful person is seen elaborated the importance of making
and not the effects of success. Hence, efforts. A thing gained after making
student keeps day-dreaming. efforts brings satisfaction. Moreover, the
Bhagavad-gita explains that one should
have trust in the efforts one is taking to
be successful.
2 Blaming a Situation: Not only students The Role of your Own Self: The
but all of us blame situation for what Bhagavad-gita advocates that it is me
we are or simply when we face failure, who is responsible for my own actions,
we place the blame on situation. Even success and my failure. In the Gita, ample
Marx and Freud showed inclination examples are given where man has
towards this tendency. overcome situation. The Gita elaborates
as how to keep aside failure in the past
and to dwell in the present only.
3 Pessimism – The tendency that on my Optimism: In the Bhagavad-gita,
own, I am helpless and won’t be able to optimism is taught. It has advocated that
achieve something. I’ll even put up with if we combine idealism with realism, we
slavery, but I need security. can keep hope alive in our lives.
4 Over-dependence on Instruments: This Emotionalism: Instruments should be as
aspect leads us nowhere. Today, there means and not as ends in themselves.
is over- abundance of instruments. The Gita explains that as these
Rather than getting service from them, instruments are necessary, so also is the
we have to look after them and thus we attachment (emotionalism) to these is
become their slaves. needed.
5 Dominance: An individual loses his Superiority of the Absolute Power: The
balance due to dominance. Dominance Gita explains that as I have my own
gives birth to the strong feeling that as dignity, so others also have dignity.
others have access to material Self Respect + Respect for others =
pleasures, so I should also possess these Dignity for Mankind
pleasures. Thus, the Gita underlines the superiority
of the absolute (divine) power.

The Role of the Bhagavad-gita in Stress Management:

We have heard about references, abstracts, and examples etc. from the
Bhagavad-gita a number of times. Then we come across questions such as what is
the theme of the Gita? For whom is it relevant? Whether the Gita should be looked

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at as a treatise or a religious book? When we begin to delve deep into our own
selves, the Gita presents before us the answers to questions and we come to know
that it is a treatise explaining the mysteries of life (‘guhayatam shastram’).

1. Goal setting and the Gita: The Gita has explained 4 ways of goal setting;
1) Broadness of the Goal 2) Focus on the Goal
3) Fineness of the Goal 4) its purity.
If we don’t have a definite goal before us, our efforts go wasted and
knowledge proves to be useless. Hence, guiding principles have been elaborated on
in the Bhagavad-gita.

2. Firmness and the Gita: The Gita gives the message ‘Nothing is gained without
making efforts. Efforts made are not wasted. Do your karma and ask for blessings/
help and you will get the help’. This guidance helps one to remain firm in life. When
one becomes concerned about the outcome of one’s actions, it then merely
becomes a desire. By giving the cardinal principle ‘karmanye vadhikaraste ma
phaleshu kadachan’, the Gita explains the concept of eternal truth in this world.

3. Today, escapism amongst people is on rise and as a result, desperation is equally

on rise. But the Gita lays emphasis on making efforts/ performing one’s karmas as
told in the principle ‘uddhare datmanamanam natmanamwasayadet’.

4. When one takes birth in this world, it is but natural that somebody will be superior
to you and somebody will also be inferior to you in some or the other way, e.g. age,
knowledge etc. This leads to the tendency of considering oneself to be dominant /
superior to others and this tendency leads to conflicts in one’s personality. In the
Gita, this faulty thinking pattern is corrected by elaborating on maintaining self-
respect and at the same time, respect for others. The Gita explains that if an
individual knows that it is only He (the God) who is great, then there would arise no
conflict.

5. If an individual lacks in self-esteem, then one becomes hapless and surrenders to

the passions and desires and this gives rise to a feeling of helplessness and ultimately
this creates tension in the mind of the person. By explaining us the concept of ‘self-
esteem’, the Gita suggests to us to recognize ourselves. Similarly, the Gita advocates
us not to beg and not to get disappointed. The Gita has also explained that ‘I’ve the
ability to work’ and thus has introduced self-esteem to us.

Conclusion:
In today’s age of computers, it is not sufficient to impart only knowledge to
students, but what is more required is how the knowledge is imbibed and how

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students’ personality undergoes development through the knowledge gained. For

this to happen, life needs to be free from stress. This state of carefree attitude helps
students in inculcating other life skills. As a result, students turn to creativity, solve
problems easily and maintain the feelings of sympathy and empathy to others. But
for this to happen, they need to be stress-free in the first place. The Gita has
explained this way of leading stress-free life in an easy and lucid manner. If students
follow this path, them imbibing other life skills becomes very much easy for them.

References:

Dravid, Narayanshashtri (2009) Bharatiya Tatvadyanaatil Pramaanmimaansa.

Nagpur: Ramkrushna Math.

Thakkar, Haribhai (2012) Theory of Karma. Ahamadabad: Kusum Publication

Krushnakrupamurti (2011) Bhagvat-gita As It Is. Mumbai: Bhakat Vedant Book Trust

Tatvadyan Marathi Journal (Issue: Sep, Oct, Nov-2003, Apr-2006, Aug-2009, May-
2011, Apr-2012, Feb -2013) Mumbai: Satvichar Darshan ‘Nirmal Niketan’

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