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SPECIAL FEATURE JULY 11, 2025 | The Indian Eye 14

THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM

– Teaching from Shrimad Bhagwat Gita

quote from the Shrimad Bhagwad
very day, many of us wake up Gita. Pramukh Swami Maharaj told
feeling exhausted. We reach for
Ea cup or two of coffee to help us him that throughout life, we must not
renounce the performance of deeds
push through the fatigue and chalk it but renounce the desire for the fruits
up to a busy life. To fight tiredness, we of those actions
might start relying on energy drinks, Pramukh Swami Maharaj coun-
quick naps, or late-night scrolling to seled Dr. Kalam that, in life, we must
“wind down” before bed - anything not abandon our work just because
that offers a short-term boost. But the results are not as expected. In-
rarely do we stop to ask: why are we so stead, we should detach ourselves
tired in the first place? from the desire for the results and fo-
Often, the real problem isn’t
a lack of caffeine. It might be poor cus on the process. Dr. Kalam’s fail-
ure, far from being a setback, became
sleep hygiene, nutritional deficien- a powerful lesson that led him to work
cies, chronic stress, or a lifestyle that even harder, leading to success in his
doesn’t allow time for proper rest. In- later launches. Through this wisdom,
stead of addressing these root causes Pramukh Swami Maharaj helped Dr.
- getting consistent sleep, improving Kalam understand that true success
diet, reducing screen time before bed lies in our commitment to the task it-
- we treat only the symptoms. And self, not the temporary outcome.
while the temporary fixes help us func- This lesson is critical for all of us.
tion in the moment, they don’t actually We often avoid facing the root cause
solve the deeper problem which leads of our problems because it is difficult,
to this never-ending cycle of tiredness.
uncomfortable, or requires more ef-
fort than seeking a quick fix. But like a
This lesson about addressing perpetually tired person, or like Arjun
the root cause of our struggles in his viṣāda, we must recognize that
temporary solutions will never bring
resonates deeply in our every- lasting relief. It is only by addressing
day lives. Often, instead of con- the underlying issues and focusing on
the deeper purpose of our actions that
fronting the underlying issue, we can find true peace and fulfillment.
And
hard-
the
perhaps
we choose to distract ourselves scribed duties, but you are not entitled temporary results. In the same way, er question to ask, and one that
and find temporary happiness to the fruits of your actions. Never solving our problems requires focus- we often avoid asking, is this:
consider yourself to be the cause of ing on the real issues, not getting dis-
through quick fixes - whether the results of your activities, nor be tracted by the temporary symptoms. What are the real causes we’ve
been too afraid to confront?
His Holiness Pramukh Swa-
it’s overindulging in comforts, attached to inaction. mi Maharaj used this same quote to What truths are buried beneath the
This timeless wisdom under-
seeking distractions, or adopting scores the importance of per- guide Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, distractions we cling to?
It is far easier to soothe the pain
short-term solutions that don’t forming our duties with- the former President of than to ask why it’s there. But true
India and a well-known
out getting attached to
tackle the real problem. the outcomes. Arjun scientist. In his book growth and real transformation comes
was in a state of Transcendence, Dr. when we stop running from the dis-
But these distractions don’t offer viṣāda (a deep de- Kalam details an comfort and instead sit with it, exam-
lasting relief. Treating only the symp- spair) because he instance where ine it, and begin the slow, sometimes
painful work of healing from the root.
toms without solving the root cause was focused on he described to Not just for temporary relief, but for
leads us nowhere in the long run. the consequences Pramukh Swami lasting peace.
This point is also illustrated in the of his actions, the Maharaj how he
The question isn’t whether we’re
second chapter of the Shrimad Bhaga- results of the war. felt after his first busy or productive—but whether
vad Gita. Shri Krishna Bhagwan, after He failed to rec- rocket launched we’re brave enough to look beneath
listening to Arjun’s many arguments ognize that his true failed. At the time, the surface of our lives, and choose
on why he cannot fight and perform responsibility was to ful- Dr. Kalam became very the harder path: the one that leads not
his given duty to serve as a soldier fill his dharma, his duty, re- depressed and disheart- just to comfort, but to clarity because
during this time of war , tells Arjun gardless of the outcome. Shri Krish- ened. He thought of completely that’s where real change begins.
Karmanye vādhikāraste mā phaleshu na Bhagwan aims to teach him that we giving up and becoming a sanyasi.
kadāchana. This sholka translating to must focus on performing our duties At that time, Pramukh Swami Ma- BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha
you have a right to perform your pre- correctly, without worrying about the haraj counseled him, pulling the same

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