Friday 12 July 2013

Relative "Sreyas"- What is Good For Oneself


  • A woman is beaten on the street by a man as, I ( doer) goes and stops the man and instead slaps him 
  • A colleague plays games and back stabs & I ( doer) plays games at a different time & get what I rightfully sort is mine.
  • A girl is forcefully married, I ( doer) retaliates to and doesn't submit & leave the childhood home
  • A child is abandoned by a mother in a garbage bag, I ( doer) grows up and questions the society & take my revenge
  • A country is invaded by foreigners, I ( doer) fights against the invaders.

Here I ( doer) is any person doing the action . I am sure all of us have been through similar situations which have were like conformance to certain ethical code defined by the  society, family, own values. This like a conflict between what is perceived to be good or bad / dharma or adharma in the eyes of others/society at large/Own principles/Own conflicting feelings.

Chapter two of Bhagavad Gita mentions Sreyas- which simply means what is good for oneself which one seeks knowingly or unknowingly, which is generally translated to " Ultimate good for all "
As per Bhagavad Gita- Good is a very relative terms and is not hardcoded per say as it is usually propagated. What is good today is not good tomorrow, what is good for one is not good for another, situation based good or bad. In Indian Culture and as per Bhagavad Gita there is no absolute Do's/Dont's or Good/Bad.
Dharma as it is depicted is not ABSOLUTE, sometimes speaking truth or non injury must be sacrificed for a greater good or considering overall situation. There is no absolute wrong or absolute right. India's Independence- Bhagat Singh is one such legend, World Wars are all examples of nothing being absolute and only relative.

As per Bhagavad Gita- A Sense of Dharma has to grow within oneself. A person who understands dharma is the one who can decide upon an action appropriate to the situation. Seeing the limitations of alternatives, Arjuna realize he wants only Sreyas.
It is common for all the "WANT"of  outcome of Sreyas is "Puran Atama ( realization of full self & happiness), Nirvana, Liberation.

Interestingly the focus on crown chakra is all about the pleased being " Shreyas" being content with oneself and doing what one must do.

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