11.2.22

Notes by: Priyanka Ranganath

• Virtue of prioritization is crucial to reach peace and any goal we have in general
  • Prioritization = being able to know the things that are most important
    • We still find it difficult to do what we know is right ‘
• Arjuna asks: How can I do something which I know will cause me sorrow? (In context of fighting family in battlefield)
  • Translate: How can I engage in an action which I know will bring me sorrow?
    • Proper knowledge is the key to being able to overcome strong likes and dislikes 
• If we are on journey to peace, the things that are robbing us of peace are our likes and dislikes—> rob you of experience of joy 
• Bhagavan Krishna says: those things that you think brings you joy, bring you sorrow; change the association you have with these objects
  • See clearly in your mind all of the ways in which those things are causing you sorrow 
  • In the moment of craving, focus on all the bad things that’ll result from that activity through proper understanding and knowledge 
• Make developing bad habits as hard as you can for you and vice versa for good habits 
• Problem: Arjuna saying he is overwhelmed and too worried about future to make decision—> paralyzed into indecisiveness
  • Asks Lord Krishna: How can I move forward and make this decision?
    • You cannot be stuck in inaction you can’t do NOTHING; you must ACT 
    • Steps for Efficiency
      • Decisive Action – do something without hesitation and regret ; try your best even if you’re wrong
        • Eg: How do I know which college to go to? 
      • Don’t worry about future because we cant control result of actions 
      • Instead of focusing on result of actions, focus on effort 
  • Efficiency= using the least amount of resources to get the most result
    • Prince Arjuna’s mind is racing, so he is able to get no result at all
      • The doubt we can have when making decision ruins our efficiency 
      • After you decide, don’t worry/think about result of tying action ; do your best and leave your rest up to the powers that be
  • Things that rob us of efficiency- anxiety ; no utility in anxiety at all 
• Bhagavan Krishna’s action: Act and just do what you know to be right and leave the results to Bhagavan
  • We cannot control the results of our action
  • For anything to happen, the entire universe came together to make that event happen (not my will, but the universe’s)
  • In infinite chain of cause and effects my effort is just one link in the chain of causes and effects 
• Both free will + destiny are equally wrong —> the right perspective is that we do have free will in how we choose to face our circumstances
  • Focus on effort instead of result 
• We must follow a routine
  • I am engaging in this action because i know it to be right…not because I am pursuing the result 
  • Follows goal rather than tangible results we have 
• How do I learn to accept failure?
  • Key to learn from the journey ; One positive thing in any bad thing