President of the United States. While
Chance remains the naive and innocent
gardener he’s always been, everyone
else in the movie assumes him to be a
highly cultured man of the world––with
great wisdom and insights about human,
political and economic issues.
At one point in the film, the concerned
President asks the supposedly wise
Chance what he thinks the future will
bring. After a moment of quiet reflection,
Chance responds as only a gardener
could. “There will be growth in the
spring.” Not knowing Chance is referring
to the kingdom of flowers and
vegetables, the President misinterprets
the reply to be a positive and
encouraging vision of the nation’s
economy.
The Gita teaches that it is never
appropriate to rely exclusively on others
for our happiness. At best, outside
suggestions represent hearsay, and
therefore, are never completely reliable
without being substantiated by our own
inner wisdom. That is why William
Shakespeare echoes the Gita’s eternal
truth when he writes, “Above all else, to
thine own Self be true.” If we leave all
external supports and instead rely on our
own inner intuitive wisdom, Krishna
promises, we are certain to encounter
endless possibilities for rewarding and
creative growth.
Today humanity is facing many
challenges of historic proportions. Wars,
terrorism, natural disasters,
technological revolution, political
upheaval and the threat of global
economic change are dramatic evidence
that in many cases our previous choices
are taking us, and our children, in
perilous directions. To remedy these ills,
no amount of intellectual discussion can
be of much help. Intellectual knowledge,
however attractive and well intentioned
it may be, has little power to change
character, conduct or consciousness.
Meditation and the timeless, universal
teachings of the Bhagavad Gita are the
mighty instruments that can transform
the power of fear, anger and selfish
desire into previously unimagined
creative solutions. If we take to heart the
loving words of Krishna in the Bhagavad
Gita and practice meditation sincerely,
systematically and with sustained
enthusiasm, our physical and emotional
problems will naturally inspire their
artistic and creative solutions.
As the Gita aptly concludes, our painful
circumstances reflect a deep-seated
struggle for supremacy between the
forces of darkness and light within our
own individual minds. Yes, our mind is
the problem, but our mind is also the
solution. While our past actions are
forcing us to engage in this battle within,
each of us must still decide on which
side we will fight. To help us make this
crucial decision, Krishna leaves Arjuna
with these final instructions: “Make every
act an offering to me; regard Me as your
only protector. Relying on interior
discipline, meditate on me always. And
by remembering Me and serving Me
[through the inner wisdom reflected by
your own conscience], you shall
overcome all difficulties through My
grace. But if you will not heed Me in your
self-will, nothing will benefit you.”
And so for Arjuna, the Gita ends where it
began––with his destiny in his own
hands. For each of us today the message
is clear and compelling: we are the
architects of our lives and we determine
our destiny––by what we trust in, think
about, speak of and act on in every
relationship. When we consistently base
our thoughts, words and deeds on the
inner, intuitive wisdom of our Higher Self,
we will find our troubled times
transformed into a season of infinite,
joyful and rewarding possibilities.
By-Leonard Perlmutter
Founder and director of The American
Meditation Institute, Leonard is the
author of “Transformation,” The
Journal of Meditation as Mind/Body
Medicine and the award-winning book
“The Heart and Science of Yoga® : A
Blueprint for Peace, Happiness and
Freedom from Fear.”
Dec. 2018 www.yogicherald.com
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