The spiritual teachings of Bhagavad Gita can help you build a happy marital relationship. Surprised? Here is a humble attempt at delving into one of the greatest scriptures of the world to discover the essence of a happy relationship.
Whenever the discourse comes to how to lead a happy and satisfied life, we can’t overlook The Bhagavad Gita or popularly the “Gita”. Comprising of 700 verses, The Bhagvad Gita is the ancient Hindu scripture written in Sanskrit as part of the epic The Mahabharata.
Perform your duty without expecting the fruits of action
“Karmanye Vadhikaraste Ma Phaleshu Kada Chana”
This most quoted verse expresses Lord Krishna’s guidance to the valiant third Pandava prince Arjuna to place his duty of fulfilling his karma above any expectations of results. It holds its relevance in the context of marital relationship as well. The Gita says dedicate your actions to the Supreme Power, focus on your act and have no expectations for results. In a marital relationship, gaps appear when expectations override duties and actions. Perform your prescribed duties towards your spouse with all your heart without attaching yourself to the fruits of the actions. You will find your heart satisfied and filled with peace and love.
Move to Divine love
‘Chakravat parivartante sukhaani cha duhkhaani cha’ – Like a wheel, happiness and sorrows revolve. What are the takeaways? Inner purity means keeping your heart clean. Make your relationship harmonious and nurse no grudge against your partner. Face the sorrows and the tough times together, with patience and tolerance. Love emerging from a strongly bonded mature and mutually supportive relationship can overcome the biggest problems and challenges that arise in life and relationships today.
Change is the only constant
The world is spinning and changing all the time. This constant change has existed from time immemorial and will continue to exist. Realize this change and accept it. Understand your own place here. Know thyself. Understand your own purpose and mission in life and you can perform your duties better. It helps you stay away from cynicism, ego and selfishness that are detrimental to any martial relationship. It also helps you avoid spending your energies and efforts on fighting change. In a nutshell, adopt a positive attitude towards life and try to do away with negativity.
Maintain the sanctity of married life
- C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, founder of ISKCON, the religious organization focused on spreading Krishna consciousness has prescribed four principles to live a life in accordance to Dharma.
- No meat-eating, including fish or eggs
- No illicit sex (including that which, even within marriage, is not for the procreation of children)
- No gambling
- No intoxicants
The recommendations are rational. Gambling, alcohol and drugs ruin many relationships. Illicit sex shakes the very foundation of marriage. The benefits of being a vegetarian are well-known. Simply put, the Sattvic way of life is a more balanced approach, where we harmonize ourselves with nature to stay healthy, energized and peaceful. Aiming for Sattva gives us mental clarity and makes us pure in thoughts, words, and actions as against a Rajasic (highly energized, stressful, and easily burnt out) lifestyle or a Tamasic (lethargic, depressed, ostentatious, even immoral) lifestyle.
Live a modest life
Daya (Mercy), Tapas (Self-Control or Austerity), Satyam (Truthfulness) and Śaucam (Cleanliness of body and mind) – the four pillars of Dharma according to The Bhagavad Gita – are worth getting an attention.
Being courteous towards your partner and maintaining truthfulness in conduct, you can lay down the foundation of a healthy relationship. Self-control is essential to rein in unexpected desires that come into play and tend to impact our decision making – choosing between the right and wrong.
We have the teachings of the sacred book to derive the essence of real happiness. However, Bhagavad Gita is an ocean of knowledge, and what we have revealed are just a few drops. Stay tuned to more enlightening wisdom on wedding and relationship in upcoming blogs.
Stay tuned to happiness!
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