Janmashtami, Saturday 16 August 2025
8 Teachings from the Bhagavad Gita: An Academic Perspective
Today, we celebrate Janmashtami, the birth anniversary of Lord Krishna. On this sacred day, let us take some time to revisit the timeless teachings of the Bhagavad Gita. On an everyday basis, we encounter scenarios that leave imprints on our consciousness. Some of us take the time to process them, while others suppress these experiences beneath the surface and move on with life. Yet, these repressed thoughts and emotions often resurface in our most vulnerable moments, gradually shaping our personality.
This reflection raises profound questions: Are we truly meant to be the way we are? Were we made this way, or do we continually shape ourselves through our experiences and reactions to life’s circumstances?
The Bhagavad Gita offers illuminating insights into such questions, guiding us in understanding not only our spiritual essence but also our psychological patterns. In this article, we explore eight core teachings from the Gita, accompanied by their original Sanskrit shlokas, transliteration, and interpretative insights.
1. Duty without Attachment (Nishkama Karma Yoga)
Shloka (2.47):
कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन।
मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते संगोऽस्त्वकर्मणि॥
This foundational principle emphasises karma (duty) without phalāsakti (attachment to results). Modern scholars see this as a precursor to the concept of intrinsic motivation, where action itself is meaningful regardless of outcome. It holds relevance in professional ethics, leadership, and medicine, where duty is often performed without guaranteed results.
Imagine an oncologist treating a patient with advanced cancer. Despite using the best evidence-based therapies—chemotherapy, targeted drugs, and supportive care—the outcome may still not be cure, because disease biology and patient response are not fully controllable.
Here, karma (duty) is the oncologist’s obligation:
To provide optimal care.
To maintain compassion and dignity of life.
To reduce suffering, even if cure is not possible.
If the oncologist remains attached only to the result (survival, cure), failure can lead to burnout, moral injury, and compassion fatigue. But by internalising the Gita’s teaching—“Your right is to the action, not to the fruits”—the physician finds meaning in the act of care itself, regardless of unpredictable outcomes.
Takeaway
In medicine, leadership, and life, this shloka reminds us:
- Do your work with integrity.
- Detach from the uncontrollable outcome.
- Find purpose in the act itself.
2. The Eternity of the Soul (Ātman is Immortal)
Shloka (2.20):
न जायते म्रियते वा कदाचिन् … न हन्यते हन्यमाने शरीरे॥
The Gita asserts the immortality of the soul, distinguishing it from the perishable body. Philosophically, this is a metaphysical proposition, but psychologically, it instils resilience against the fear of death—a teaching also reflected in existential and spiritual psychology.
The assertion “the soul is neither born nor dies” shifts our perspective on mortality and identity. If we accept that our essence (ātman) is immortal, then:
Fear of Death Reduces → We live with less anxiety, allowing us to act with courage rather than hesitation.
Example: A philosopher, soldier, or activist who believes their essence transcends death can face danger or sacrifice with greater fearlessness.
Grief is Reframed → Loss of loved ones becomes less about annihilation and more about transition.
Example: In many traditions, death rituals (shraddha, remembrance ceremonies) are rooted in the belief that the departed soul continues its journey.
Purposeful Living → If the body is temporary but the soul eternal, value shifts from material accumulation to cultivating virtues, wisdom, and ethical action.
Example: A thinker who internalises this teaching may invest more in inner growth than external status.
Resilience Against Existential Angst → Existential philosophers like Heidegger and Yalom describe “being-toward-death” as central to human anxiety. The Gita offers an antidote—seeing death not as an end, but a natural passage—thus lessening existential dread.
Takeaway
This shloka reframes death not as an end, but as a transition. In modern healthcare and psychology, such a perspective builds existential resilience—helping both patients and healers to face mortality with dignity, acceptance, and peace.
3. Equanimity in Success and Failure (Samatva Yoga)
Shloka (2.38):
सुखदुःखे समे कृत्वा … नैवं पापमवाप्स्यसि॥
Equanimity (samatva) is a central theme of yoga. It is the balanced state of mind in gain and loss, joy and sorrow. In modern cognitive science, this resembles emotional regulation and resilience, qualities highly valued in healthcare practice and leadership.
A young surgeon performs two consecutive operations:
The first is a success, and the patient recovers well.
The second, despite equal skill and effort, ends in complications due to factors beyond control.
If the surgeon becomes overjoyed in success and devastated in failure, their judgment, emotional health, and ability to continue practicing are compromised.
By practicing samatva (equanimity), the surgeon recognises that both outcomes are part of the profession. This balanced mindset fosters resilience, prevents burnout, and sustains compassion for patients regardless of outcome.
In cognitive-behavioural psychology, this mirrors emotional regulation—responding to stress without extreme highs or lows.
Leadership research (Harvard Business Review, 2019) shows that leaders who maintain equanimity under pressure make better long-term decisions and inspire greater trust.
Takeaway
Equanimity is not indifference—it is stability of mind in the face of dualities (success/failure, joy/sorrow). In healthcare, leadership, and life, samatva transforms challenges into opportunities for growth, enabling us to serve with clarity and compassion without being destabilised by external outcomes.
4. The Power of Devotion (Bhakti Yoga)
Shloka (9.22):
अनन्याश्चिन्तयन्तो मां … योगक्षेमं वहाम्यहम्॥
Bhakti (devotion) is presented not as passive worship, but as a dynamic alignment of the self with the divine. Krishna’s assurance of protection resonates with the human need for security and faith. In comparative religion, this is analogous to the role of grace in Christianity and surrender in Sufism.
A patient with a chronic illness, despite years of treatment, feels overwhelmed by uncertainty. While medicine addresses the physical dimension, the emotional and spiritual burden often persists. Many such individuals draw strength from devotion—whether through prayer, meditation, or surrender to a higher power.
This devotional attitude doesn’t replace medical care but complements it by:
Reducing anxiety through trust in a larger order.
Creating resilience, as the patient no longer feels solely responsible for controlling every outcome.
Inspiring hope, which itself improves psychological and even physiological healing (placebo and psychoneuroimmunology research support this).
Evidence:
Studies in the Journal of Behavioural Medicine (2018) show that religious/spiritual devotion is correlated with reduced stress, lower depression, and improved coping in chronic illness.
Similar concepts exist in Christian grace (trust in divine providence) and Sufi surrender (tawakkul), showing cross-cultural resonance.
Takeaway
Bhakti Yoga highlights the power of devotion as inner alignment, not passive resignation. In real life, devotion fosters trust, resilience, and hope, especially during uncertain times. It teaches that while we act to the best of our ability, we can find peace in surrendering the uncontrollable to a higher order.
5. Desire and Anger as Pathways to Ruin
Shlokas (2.62–63):
ध्यायतो विषयान्पुंसः … बुद्धिनाशात्प्रणश्यति॥
These verses provide a psychological chain reaction: contemplation → attachment → desire → anger → delusion → memory loss → loss of reason → destruction. This early cognitive model parallels modern understandings of addiction and impulse control disorders, making it highly relevant in psychiatry.
A young medical student, under academic pressure, turns to alcohol “just to relax.” Initially, it’s casual. But constant contemplation (thinking about it) becomes attachment. Soon, desire turns into craving, and when access is blocked, it triggers anger and irritability. This escalates into impaired judgment, loss of control, and academic/health decline.
This perfectly mirrors the Gita’s psychological chain reaction—what starts as a fleeting thought can spiral into self-destruction if unchecked. Modern psychiatry describes this as the cycle of addiction and impulse control disorders.
Evidence:
Neurocognitive studies (e.g., American Journal of Psychiatry, 2021) show that cue exposure → craving → impaired prefrontal control is central in addiction.
Anger dysregulation and impulsivity are also implicated in relapse cycles for substance use disorders.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) often targets the earliest stage—controlling thoughts—echoing the Gita’s warning at the “contemplation” stage.
Takeaway
The Gita offers a timeless psychological model: unchecked thoughts can escalate into destructive behavior. Recognising and intervening early in the chain (at the stage of contemplation/attachment) is key to maintaining self-mastery. In psychiatry, philosophy, and daily life, this teaching underscores the importance of mindfulness, emotional regulation, and disciplined thought as safeguards against self-ruin.
6. Divine Presence in All Beings
Shloka (10.20):
अहमात्मा गुडाकेश … अन्त एव च॥
Krishna identifies Himself as the Ātman in all creatures. This teaching promotes universalism and compassion, concepts central to global ethics and modern bioethics. It challenges practitioners to treat all beings with equal respect and dignity.
A physician in an overcrowded public hospital faces patients from vastly different social, economic, and cultural backgrounds—some wealthy, others destitute. Without an ethical anchor, unconscious bias can creep in: treating the “important” patient with more care than the marginalized one.
The Gita’s teaching—“I am the Self seated in the hearts of all beings”—reminds us that every person carries the same divine essence. In practice, this fosters equity, compassion, and dignity in care, irrespective of status.
Evidence:
Modern bioethics (principles of justice and respect for autonomy) aligns with this universalism.
Studies in Medical Humanities (2020) show that when healthcare providers consciously cultivate compassion and equality, patient trust, adherence, and satisfaction improve.
Philosophically, this teaching parallels Kant’s moral law (“treat every human as an end, never as a means”) and human rights discourse in global ethics.
Takeaway
Seeing the divine presence in all beings is not abstract mysticism—it is a practical ethic of universal respect. For healthcare, leadership, and society, it means dismantling bias, promoting compassion, and ensuring dignity for every life we touch.
7. The Importance of Balance and Moderation
Shlokas (6.16–17):
नात्यश्नतस्तु योगोऽस्ति … योगो भवति दुःखहा॥
The Gita advocates moderation in food, sleep, and recreation as essential to yoga. In contemporary terms, this is equivalent to lifestyle medicine—balanced nutrition, physical activity, and rest as prerequisites for physical and mental health.
A corporate professional working long hours skips meals, eats fast food late at night, and sleeps irregularly. Over time, this lifestyle leads to obesity, hypertension, and anxiety. Despite access to healthcare, their lack of balance in eating, sleeping, and recreation causes disease.
The Gita’s teaching—“Yoga is not for one who eats too much or too little, sleeps too much or too little”—anticipates what modern lifestyle medicine emphasizes: moderation as the foundation of wellbeing. Just as yoga fails without balance, health deteriorates without it.
Evidence:
WHO (2021) reports that poor lifestyle habits (unhealthy diet, inadequate sleep, inactivity) are leading risk factors for non-communicable diseases.
Sleep research (Nature, 2019) shows both insufficient and excessive sleep are linked to cognitive decline and cardiovascular risk.
Lifestyle medicine today prescribes balanced nutrition, regular exercise, adequate rest, and mindful recreation—exactly what the Gita outlined millennia ago.
Takeaway
Moderation is not restriction but harmony in living. By balancing food, rest, and activity, we align body and mind, prevent disease, and promote resilience. In healthcare and daily life, this verse reminds us that true wellbeing lies not in extremes, but in sustainable balance.
8. Surrender to the Divine Will
Shloka (18.66):
सर्वधर्मान्परित्यज्य … मा शुचः॥
This ultimate verse condenses the Gita’s philosophy into unconditional surrender (śaraṇāgati). In clinical psychology, such surrender can be understood as acceptance, reducing existential anxiety and opening the path to peace.
The Gita’s teaching—“Abandon all duties and take refuge in Me; I shall liberate you, do not grieve”—offers a pathway of surrender. Psychologically, surrender here is not passivity but acceptance: acknowledging what cannot be controlled while placing trust in a higher order. This mindset reduces existential anxiety, allows families to focus on love and presence rather than guilt and blame, and often brings peace in crisis.
Evidence:
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in psychology parallels this principle, showing that acceptance of uncontrollable realities leads to reduced anxiety and improved coping (Journal of Contextual Behavioural Science, 2020).
Palliative care frameworks highlight that spiritual surrender improves emotional resilience for both patients and families facing end-of-life decisions.
In comparative religion, Christian “Thy will be done” and Sufi tawakkul echo the same wisdom of surrender.
Takeaway
Surrender to the divine will is not resignation but liberation from the illusion of total control. In medicine, psychology, and life, it helps us face uncertainty with courage, compassion, and peace.
Conclusion:
On this Janmashtami, revisiting the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita helps us reflect on life’s deepest questions. Its philosophy moves fluidly between metaphysics, ethics, and psychology. The call for duty without attachment, equanimity, devotion, moderation, and surrender makes it not only a scripture but also a manual for modern living. For scholars of philosophy, psychology, and healthcare, the Gita continues to provide enduring wisdom that bridges ancient insights with contemporary challenges.
- Editorial,Philosophy,Spirituality
- 16 August 2025
- 11:00
