Lessons from the Mahabharat

CHAPTER-1

Essential Spiritual Objectives and Concepts

The Mahabharat is a life-manual for yogic living. It teaches us how to live with santosha (contentment), atma-bal (soulful strength), dhairya/virya (the attitudes of courage, boldness, and fortitude), and akhanda-ananda (uninterrupted bliss). It guides us on our spiritual quest for enlightened living.

True fulfilment, well-being, inner power, and strength are difficult to achieve without making spiritual or mystic truth the centre of our very existence. The Mahabharat takes us towards well-being on both spheres: the material and the mystical. Wellness in both worldly and inward levels of being is its key objective. It takes us from bhraanti (wrong notions) towards shaanti (inner peace). The eventual aim and objective of the Mahabharat is to take us towards the spiritually awakened (jaagrat) state, and help us achieve union with ultimate reality (Brahman) or Ishvara (the Divine).

The Mahabharat is ultimately a text on spiritual and mystic truth, yet it also talks about myriad aspects of man’s existence. Its lessons are meant to enrich us from within, at the level of the soul. It is rich with sublime spiritual tenets that the great rishis (ancient sages) wanted us to imbibe, internalize, and implement in our lives. The rishis had clear objectives for us, and through understanding these objectives, we attain clarity about what the Mahabharat actually means. Through the following concepts, it becomes evident that this epic abounds with spiritual secrets, which function as master keys to dealing with and overcoming any challenge in life:

Dharma

The first stanza of the great scripture the Bhagvad Gita, within the Mahabharat, contains the words Dharmakshetre Kurukshetre: On the field of dharma, at Kurukshetra . . . The concept of dharma or spiritual duty pervades the very core of the Mahabharat! The epic’s objective is to educate us about our spiritual duty, which is to first of all follow our innermost nature and highest spiritual energy, under all circumstances. If one follows one’s spiritual self-nature and thereby abides by dharma, every problem can be overcome. It is dharma that is our real strength, it is dharma from which all virtues arise. Even at the risk of endangering yourself, it is better to do your dharma than to follow someone else’s nature (which would be adharma or non-dharma).

The prime instruction on dharma in the Mahabharat is Lord Krishna’s advice to Arjun to recognize his self-nature of being a warrior, and to expend his entire energy in utilizing that towards a just cause! That is the essence of the Bhagvad Gita. The very idea of the divine Krishna being Arjun’s charioteer is significant: telling us that our guide or divine driver towards dharma is indeed the Lord who resides deep within our own hearts.

And through the many stories within the Mahabharat, we again keep seeing this emphasis on dharma: for example, in the incident of Yaksha Prashna, where Yudhishthir brings his brothers back to life by successfully answering questions on true dharma posed by a yaksha (who turns out to be Yama/Dharmaraja, the Lord of Death and Dharma, and is Yudhishthir’s divine father). Another incident, that of the Pandavs rescuing their arch-enemy cousin Duryodhan from King Chitrasena and the Gandharvas, demonstrates the true spirit of dharma: selfless, non-egoistic, and unclouded by personal like or dislike.

To attain dharma and dharmic action, first the superficial ego has to be dropped: in the Mahabharat, we see how Lord Hanuman specifically teaches both Arjun and Bheem (on two separate occasions) lessons in humility, thereby taking them towards utilizing their strength/skill as warriors for a dharmic cause and not personal aggrandizement!

The Mahabharat enlightens us about dharma not just at a mystical level, but also at a practical level (dharmic action). For example, it says, "Dharmādarthaśca kāmaśca sa kimarthaṁ na sēvyatē" meaning that from Dharma and from true righteousness comes material wealth, comes pleasure, and so on. In other words, by investing in dharmic or righteous action, one brings about both material and spiritual well-being.

The Mahabharat is a collation of the greatest spiritual teachings to have ever existed. The central idea of dharma or dharmic action echoes throughout this text. In fact, this idea is also at the centre of the other great Indian epic, the Ramayan. Dharma—and the actions generated through following the path of dharma—is considered the most profound phenomenon, taking you towards self-realization. The prime objective of the Mahabharat is to kindle the light of dharma within you. Dharma leads to dhairya (courage and true boldness). This leads us towards enlightenment (achieving bodhi-chitta).

Vidya

The Mahabharat teaches the highest spiritual knowledge (para-vidya) as well as knowledge to function in practical life. It condenses the keys of yoga-darshana (yogic philosophy) and yoga-abhyasa (yogic practice), helping us understand and practise both, no matter what one’s path or work in life!

A key objective of the Mahabharat is for us to become established in vidya or wisdom. It encompasses both the greatest spiritual wisdom as well as intellectual and practical knowledge for dealing with material life. Krishna in fact bridges both aspects of wisdom: how to be completely dynamic in practical action, yet completely detached in our inward spiritual demeanour and wisdom!

From the spiritual angle, true wisdom or knowledge involves seeing the temporary nature of all material circumstances, and therefore not letting the mind get carried away by the thoughts of those. We must understand that neither painful nor pleasurable circumstances are our ultimate reality. They are simply a reflection of the divine cosmic play (or Leela) of the Infinite.

We must become more established in the deeper truth of our spiritual existence. This is comprised of pure consciousness-truth-bliss or Sat-Chit-Ananda, with Ananda or spiritual bliss/joy being our ultimate reality. This is the highest wisdom: the Mahabharat aims at making us realize the value of life and becoming blissful through it.

Becoming conscious of our inherent spiritual wisdom, we become more capable of dealing with difficult situations in life.

Intuitive Wisdom

Your intuition is a shrine where the Divine always dwells. Rest within the boundless power of your intuition and draw on it even more when the going gets tough. That is when it is needed the most. Don’t look at life through the prism of thoughts/intellect and feelings alone.

Your true wisdom is in your infinite storehouse of intuition: tap into it more! The Mahabharat’s life lessons imbue us with the understanding that the energy-field of our intuition carries the energy of the Divine itself, and is our true reality. Don’t get lost in the mental constructs of your own making, nor in fluctuating moods, for those are often a reflection of maya or illusion.

Through the intuitive perspective, we can deal with problems with greater poise, confidence, and inner power. We must awaken our intuitive eye of wisdom (gyaana-chakshu/divya-drishti) within: this is key to the Mahabharat’s objectives for us on our own life journeys.

Non-Anger

Time and again, the Mahabharat reminds us that non-agitation and non-anger (akrodha) are key to dealing with all crises. The