J.S. Mishra - Art of Life : Timeless Wisdom from the Gita

A civil engineer from IIT Roorkee and an Indian Administrative Service officer, J.S. Mishra has published five collections of Hindi poemsYeh Dhoop Chhanv, Yeh Aakarshan; Ho Himalaya Naya, Ab Ho Ganga Nayi; Chand Sirhane Rakh; Banh Kholo, Udo Mukta Aakash Mein and Bas Yehi Swapna, Bas Yehi Lagan, and four widely acclaimed booksA Quest for Dream Cities; Mahakumbh: The Greatest Show on Earth; Happiness is a Choice: Choose to Be Happy and 24x7 Anand Hi Anand.

He has received numerous state honours, citations and certificates for his meritorious and scholarly achievements.

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Dedicated with devotion to

the lotus feet of

Lord Shri Krishna.

Of all the earthly creatures, man is endowed with the faculty of thought, introspection and analysis. It is the specific nature of a human being that whatever he sees, hears or experiences, he is able to think, ponder, research, analyse and find further truth about the same. This inquisitiveness has led to a great wealth of knowledge in the realms of science, literature, philosophy, religion, art and culture. Every action in creation seems to belong to an organized continuum, following a definite momentum of its own. The process of creation, evolution, growth and destruction continues unabated in the universe.

As per science, nature has its own rules which contribute to the ongoing process and order of the universe. But, the obvious question that comes to our mind is, What is the force that drives the universe? Western thinkers pondered over these issues, based on experiments, logic and analysis, to derive conclusions. But Vedic sages, going much beyond the levels of body and senses, considered these issues at the minutest levels of consciousness, and tried to understand the source of creation based on their realization. Vedic hymns and the Upanishads are the most valuable treasures given to mankind, based on the above perceptions and realizations.

Vedic sages realized that the creation and existence of the universe is an expression and extension of the same ultimate entity. They also concluded that all creation in the universe is transitory, mortal and given to destruction. The ultimate force within every creation is eternal, imperishable, everlasting and allpervading. Vedic sages called this force the Universal Soul or the Supreme Spirit or the Absolute. This Supreme Spirit is manifest in all forms of creation.

Vedic sages, based on their realization, propounded that the driving force behind the universe also pervades all the entities of the universe. The divine force within all living entities in creation is part of the same Supreme Spirit. With appropriate and adequate effort, one can identify with the Supreme Spirit and experience divine bliss. The aim of every human being should be to unite with the Supreme. This union with the Supreme Spirit has been termed as the realization of God. Many ways have been discussed in detail in the Vedas and Upanishads to achieve the union with God. The Gita, in its shlokas, contains the very essence of the philosophy propounded in the Vedas and Upanishads.

The Gita is the divine voice of Lord Shri Krishna. It is His song. That is why it is called the Gita. It is a marvellous and supremely unique scripture that reflects the practical aspects of the divine knowledge of Vedanta. It is the best scripture for the guidance of human beings. It has all the solutions to the varied and complex problems faced by man.

The most important aspect of the Gita is that, despite being an extremely important philosophy of life, it is a poetic recitation, divine song and dialogue between two friends. Though it is presented as a dialogue, the Gita does not present arguments in a linear way or contain a conflict of views. It has a natural flow of questions and answers, leading to the understanding of the eternal truths and wisdom contained in various scriptures. The essence of all the scriptures and divine knowledge is found in the Gita. In fact, it is a guide with a practical approach.

The main attraction of the Gita has been its ability to present a practical and divine road map for lifes journey. Its primary aim is to elevate the human being from mere worldly existence to the realization of God. It prescribes means by which one can realize God, even while performing ones worldly duties. It also discusses the ways and means to attain peace, balance and bliss.

The Gita is a dialogue between two friends which starts with difference of perceptions, takes the form of questions and answers, and ultimately moves on to present a unique philosophy of life for the human race.

The evolution of discussion between Arjuna, the great archer, and Lord Shri Krishna, his charioteer in the battlefield, culminates in Arjuna becoming a disciple from being a friend.

The Gita is a song of the human soul. Arjuna is the representative of the human soul in its search for the ultimate goal of human life. The doubts and dilemma of Arjuna represent the predicament of an inquisitive mind seriously seeking the path to realization of God. The Gita presents a symbolic amalgamation of eternal truths and real life situations.

The main attraction of the Gita is that it provides a clear road map to a meaningful life. By controlling ones body, senses and mind, one can successfully surmount the difficulties in achieving worldly objectives. It deals with a situation where Arjuna, seeing warriors arrayed on both sides in Kurukshetra, gets perplexed due to delusion, dilemma and inner conflict. He tells Lord Shri Krishna that he will not fight his near and dear ones. Such situations arise in every individuals life, and therefore, the Gita is the most effective lighthouse to provide guidance to resolve inner conflicts.

The Gita has been the most important influence in my life, as it offers a direct, distinct and credible philosophy for a successful, enriched and accomplished life. It inspires and motivates and gives strength to sustain the ups and downs of day-to-day life. It aims at creating a divine human being. It contains the most potent and meaningful message to assist a human being in his her journey from remorse to joy, mundaneness to divinity, and dilemma to clarity. The Gita, based on eternal principles, is timeless wisdom for the overall elevation and enlightenment of an individual as well as the society. It is a wonderful bouquet of the basic principles of ethics, psychology, sociology, philosophy and spirituality.