runstrails wrote:Pb wrote in the Freight Train thread:
Pb wrote: 'm not looking for employment. In fact, the demand in my field is through the roof and worldwide. But, I decided a long time ago that I couldn't do the corporate madness anymore (or any kind of money-making madness).
Hi Pb,
You remind me of Arjuna in the Bhagvad Gita

. He was a noble prince caught up in a civil war that he could not imagine fighting. He was very brave but he did not want to fight a battle where he would have to face endless moral decisions--incuding killing his own kin. He wanted to run away from it all.
It is one of my favorite spiritual texts because it is set in a battlefield which symbolizes the battles that we all face with samsara (everyday conflicts, egos, corporate madness, relationships, what have you).
Arjuna had the good fortune to have Krishna as his charioteer (more symbolism there) who reveals to him his true nature . Arjuna is a typical seeker and at first does not understand what his true nature is or how knowing his true nature actually solves his problems in the material world. Krishna then gives him the weapons he needs to fight the battle field of samsara. These are karma yoga, upasana yoga, jnana yoga and bhakti.
It's a beautiful book because it provides not only a clear and precise revelation of our true self but it also provides a framework for how to live our 'little me' lives so that we can actually fulfill our role in the world while enjoying ourselves as we truly are.
It's important to get the right advaitic translation (since its used also heavily by dualistic schools). I love the translation by Swami Dayananda.
Anyway, like Arjuna, I hope you come out fighting the good fight and win (in the truest sense of the word). You have so much to contribute

.
rt
Wow, they don't have a word in the English language to describe my feeling after reading this, but thank you so much for your kind and thoughtful post ! You made my (otherwise tumultuous) day

I don't know if I'm akin to Arjuna, but I'd describe myself as a mixture of jaded, beaten down, damaged, indifferent, and lost ... on the outside. On the inside, I know that this is the only path possible. Not to blow my own horn, but I'm curious what you see in me that makes you think I have a lot to contribute.
Growing up in India, I was somewhat exposed to the Bhagavad Gita, but not nearly as much as you, and only because a piece of scripture was hung on our front door. It was in Hindi (Indian national language, and a derivative of Sanskrit). I think you might like it. I'm writing it here in a phonetic form, because I haven't written in Hindi since my school days, and trying to type it on an English keyboard is ...
"Jo hua accha hua, Jo ho raha hai, woh accha ho raha hai, Jo hoga, woh bhi accha hi hoga".
Translation: Whatever happened, happened for the best. Whatever is happening, is happening for the best. Whatever will happen, will happen for the best.
You've reached out to me and touched me, and now, I'm curious about your path. Anything you can share, I would like to read. What brought you to this point ?
Hugs from afar,
Kartik