Lessons from Lord Krishna’s Teachings

“Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare” 

Our life has become a complex maze of decisions, choices and dilemmas. Our minds are constantly clouded by questions like “what will people say” or “what if things don’t work out the way I want it to”, often leading us to a phase of indecisiveness and anxiety.  

In the Mahabharata, Lord Krishna serves as a powerful example of effective leadership and emotional intelligence. Truly, his life’s journey provides us with valuable insights that are extremely relevant in today’s time.  

Hundreds of years ago, a valiant warrior named Arjuna, went through a very similar situation, and his issues were much more serious- he was at war with his own cousins, the Kauravas. As a result, he was filled with endless doubt and despair. This was the time when Lord Krishna, his dearest friend and mentor, offered him the greatest life lessons that go far beyond time, culture and geography. His teachings, covered in 700+ verses, were later compiled into Bhagavad Gita, a book that is still considered by humankind as the “manual of life”.  

This Janmashtami, on the birth anniversary of Lord Krishna, it’s time for us to reflect on the learnings and embrace their teachings encapsulated in the sacred text of Bhagavad Gita.  

Arjuna was reluctant to fight against his own family on the battlefield. It was here that his dear friend, Lord Krishna, emphasized the importance of “doing the right thing”. His words were “You have the right to perform your prescribed duties, but you are not entitled to the fruits of your actions”.  

In today’s time, we humans are faced with ethical and moral dilemmas, whether they are about work, family, or our personal goals and we find ourselves stuck in a loop of the need to make the right decision without external influences like personal gains or losses.  

If you are a student reading this, and are anxious about your upcoming exams, remember to focus on what is in your control, and continue preparing diligently. If you are a professional reading this and are working on an important project or seeking promotion and growth, you should try diverting your attention and working hard towards your purpose or goal, and not focus on the outcomes.  

In the Mahabharata, Lord Krishna exemplifies several facets of emotional intelligence; most of them being self-awareness, self-regulation, social awareness, relationship building, and empathy. He places significant importance upon emotional self-control, adaptability, gratitude, humility, resilience, trustworthiness, patience, forgiveness, creativity, persistence and sense of humor. His leadership skills in the epic are marked by his commendable ability to communicate effectively, resolve conflicts easily, lead with humility, listen actively, and display strong traits of leadership that seek to inspire others.  

All these characteristics serve as effective lessons in today’s time where skills like effective leadership, emotional intelligence and successful living are extremely essential and in high demand. By examining his character and style of leadership, we stand to gain valuable insights into how emotional intelligence can be applied in our professional and personal lives to work through these challenges, cultivate strong relationships, inspire others and achieve success.   

Lord Krishna teaches us Divine Knowledge in the Bhagavad Gita: 

yogasthaḥ kuru karmāṇi saṅgaṃ tyaktvā dhanañjaya

siddhyasiddhyoḥ samo bhūtvā samatvaṃ yoga ucyate

Lesson: In this shloka, Lord Krishna asks Arjuna to perform his duties with an even mind, without getting attached to the outcomes. He places importance on the idea of detachment and encourages him to focus on whatever is happening now; rather than worrying about the future or regretting what has happened in the past. This is how a person can achieve balance: the goal of yoga. This shloka teaches us to remain focused and be present in our actions, and not succumb to the fear of failure or the desire for success.  

taṃ vidyād duḥkhasaṃyogaviyogaṃ yogasaṃjñitam

sa niścayena yoktavyo yogo’nirviṇṇacetasā

Lesson: This shloka helps us realize the importance of equanimity in life and how it can help us build a peaceful mind. We must learn to achieve a steady and focused mind through constant practice and dedication. It teaches us the importance of inner balance and how it can be attained through the practice of meditation and yoga.  

mātrā-sparśhās tu kaunteya śhītoṣhṇa-sukha-duḥkha-dāḥ

āgamāpāyino ’nityās tans-titikṣhasva bhārata

Lesson: This shloka teaches us a very important fact of life: happiness and distress are like the changing seasons of winter and summer. Just how winter and summer come and go, happiness and distress also arise and disappear with time. Thus, we must learn to accept both with equanimity and not let them disturb our sense of inner peace.  

The prime lesson here is to cultivate the ability to tolerate the challenges of life without letting them overwhelm us. This requires a strong sense of detachment and an in-depth understanding that everything in life is nothing but fleeting and temporary. By building this attitude amongst us, we become more peaceful and steadier in the face of life’s toughest challenges.  

The most important teaching of Lord Krishna is about the soul and Karma. He says that our bodies are not real; they shall live as long as we do. A soul can never be created or destroyed. It is stuck in the cycle of rebirth.  

2. Fulfill your duties without any attachment to the fruits 

Krishna says that a person’s duties are his dharma. If a person's duty is to fight, he does so without accruing any sin as he is simply following his dharma.  

3. Never give in to your desires: they destroy you 

When it comes to the realization of one’s soul and God, desires are not good. Desire creates anger and delusion. Delusions cause confusion, leading you to destroy your intellect, and eventually you destroy your purpose of existence. According to Lord Krishna, a person with enough control over his senses is a real Karma Yogi, as he is the most capable of staying calm during instances of both pleasure and pain.  

4. God is everything and everywhere 

Lord Krishna says God is everything. He calls himself the yajna, the fire, the offering, and the receiver of these offerings. What we must understand here is that, if we are perceived as God, we must also learn the art of true compassion. It refers to the idea of super consciousness, a prominent aspect of Vedanta philosophy.  

5. Between Karma Yoga and renunciation, Karma Yoga is always superior 

A Karma Yogi fulfills the need of many, while keeping his constant focus on God, and thus, he is always superior when compared to renunciation. A person who can go about doing his work with the mind focused on the Almighty, and without any desires, is the one who is a true Sanyasi.  

The sacred text of Bhagavad Gita, through the profound wisdom imparted by Lord Krishna, provides us with an enormous wealth of guidance for overcoming life’s challenges with clarity and depth. By embracing Krishna’s teachings and incorporating them into our daily lives, we can build greater emotional intelligence, strengthen our leadership abilities, and approach life’s complexities with grace and balance. As we celebrate Janmashtami, let us take this opportunity to reflect on Krishna’s timeless lessons and commit to living by them, paving the way for our personal and spiritual growth.