What is the right action as per Lord Krishna in Bhagavad Gita?
The Bhagavad-Gita: as our social studies books tell us — “ The Holy Book of Hindus”. Is it right to just frame it that way? Should one read the Bhagavad-Gita just as a religious book,? That would be a little odd because the Gita pre-dates so-called “Organised Religion”. To add further: it was written before 500 years Jesus Christ was born, a 1000 years before Mohammed The Prophet was born and over 2000 years before Hinduism theme was born.
It’s enduring relevance for over 2000 years among all communities, people across the world is by itself a proof of it being a pure classic: which felicitates the Truth. It isn’t a religious book, it is a poetry of conversation between Lord Krishna & Arjuna which shows how a lead a true, fulfilling life.
There are a lot of philosophies uttered to the seeker by Lord Krishna throughout Gita. But, one particular philosophy stood out for me. And that is: what is the right action?
We ourselves would’ve asked a lot of times this question: what is the right action? This is what makes Gita special. When properly read, it answers the collective question of humanity.
Let’s now dive deep into the philosophy of right action propagated in Gita. One of most things it tells us about action is: that every action has consequences. Those consequences will turn up and bite you & your future generation so devious that you can never ever be expected to prepare for them. Thus, Gita propagates us to choose our actions carefully. To think before we act.
How do we know what the right action is in the first place? The Gita answers this question in the most enlightened way. It says
“No action is intrinsically right or wrong, it is the intent that makes its soul”.
So always question your intent before you act. In other words, why you’re doing what you’re doing. Always ask: Is my intent motivated by my fears, anger, desire, greed, lust, greed or personal glorification? If yes, then don’t do it. No, then just ahead and do it, no matter what. It is as simple as that.
The bedrock of what is right and what is wrong in the society is thus inspired by our book of lessons: Bhagavad Gita. The below dialogue by Krishna to Arjuna sums it all
“The meaning of Karma is in the intention. The intention behind the action is what matters” — Lord Krishna
