114 and �nished it in just 4 days. �is spiritual book answered nearly all of my questions, and beyond. I now know who I am actually( for that matter what all the living beings are); why I am here, and this knowledge certainly infused me with the peace I so badly needed. �e eternity and immutability of the soul was clearly mentioned- " Never was there a time I didn ' t exist, nor you, nor any of these kings; nor in the future shall any one of us cease to be." �is transcendental text explained clearly how this material world works, how actions cause reactions- both immediate and in future; and how these reactions cause sufferings. It was clearly mentioned that lust, anger and fear act as the worst enemies of the living beings by continuously agitating the mind and bewildering the intelligence. It explained the science of performing work, the science which helps you remain in peace without getting affected by the reactions of your multifarious works- by performing, in perfect intelligence, only the duties you ' re supposed to do. It was mentioned that when you do your prescribed duties, as if obligated to, without any attachment or aversion to the results of those works, then and then only you can gain the peace you deserve in life. " You have a right to perform your prescribed duty, but you are not entitled to the fruits of action. Never consider yourself the cause of the results of your activities, and never be attached to not doing your duty."
� i s t e x t b o l d l y declares itself to be the supreme science, and I didn ' t �nd any fault in that statement.
In this age of i m p a t i e n c e, b r u t a l i t y, d e p r e s s i o n and anxiety; this is the science you need to learn, for this gives you inner peace and makes you fearless, peaceful and serene. Many of us may claim to gain momentary happiness after a game of cricket, in a party or after watching a movie; but none can claim to be in peace. I can claim that now.( though only partly, because applying this knowledge consistently can be tough sometimes)
Empowered by this eternal knowledge, one can actually begin to understand every living entity as part and parcel of the supreme- qualitatively the same as the supreme but quantitatively much lower in potency. �is also means that all living entities are the same but with different levels of consciousness. However, our transcendental qualities are at this moment rendered impure being covered by the illusion this material world creates, just as a mirror is rendered nonfunctional being covered by dust. When you actually practise this equanimity, compassion towards every living entity is automatically generated, which obviously is crucial for coexistence of all in perfect harmony and peace.
Shortly after I �nished reading the text for the �rst time, the 3rd midsem exams started. Applying the knowledge I gained, for the �rst time in my life as an AIIMSonian, I wasn ' t feeling the slightest of stress and was able to �nish the syllabus perfectly. It is wonderful that even if you do your duty detached from the results, excellent results can be gained. And that too without envying others, without getting crazy over some part of a chapter and leaving another part altogether, or without getting hurt when you see someone excelling beyond yourself. �is apparent paradox becomes the beginning of your life as a self-realized entity, only to �nd out there ' s much more to it. It is in the nature of the senses to engage in sense grati�cation. �erefore, you need to engage these senses in some activities that will both relieve their urges as well as detach you from material result expectations. Now according to me, this part of the wisdom you have to learn from the scripture itself, for many of you wouldn ' t have found me ' secular ' if I ' d have mentioned it here. Still, even the small bits of the knowledge I ' ve mentioned earlier( called ' karmayoga ') always remain with you and help you get through tough times. �e sooner you realize this, the better you can become.
* �e text or scripture I ' ve referred to here many times is ' S hr īmad- Bhagavadgītā As It Is ' published by Bhaktivedānta Book Trust. �is is an a n c i e n t t e x t i n c l u d e d i n t h e Mahābhārata, and was spoken by Lord Shrī Krishna on the battle�eld of Kurukshetra to resolve all the con�icts his intimate friend and disciple Arjuna was having.
Soham Banerjee 3071, Batch 2013