Unlocking Purpose and Fulfillment: The Bhagavad Gita's Wisdom on Dharma
Richa Sahay
Reiki Master | PCC-ICF | Mind Mastery Mentor | Self-Awareness Trainer & Coach - inspired by Bhagwad Gita & Upanishads | Founder-Kaivalya Foundation | Breakthrough NLP Coach
Sitting in the corner office, Ankita was staring at her laptop screen. As a senior executive, she had just received a lucrative offer from a competitor—higher pay, better title, bigger team. Yet something felt off. The new role would require her to abandon a critical project she and her current team was passionate about, one that could positively impact thousands of lives. Her mind raced between career advancement and team commitment. "What's the right thing to do?" she wondered.
This modern dilemma echoes the ancient battlefield of Kurukshetra, where Arjuna faced his own crisis of duty.
Coincidently, during a weekend retreat, she encountered teachings of the Bhagavad Gita-A scripture that world today acknowledges as having the answers to the most complicated life questions.
Fortunately, despite initial skepticism, she dived a little deeper and discovered its profound answers to life’s questions.
Of all, one concept resonated deeply with her: Dharma.
The Modern Crisis of Purpose
Many of us, like Ankita, are juggling multiple roles and responsibilities. We feel the pressure to succeed, provide for our families, and maintain a semblance of balance. Yet, beneath this external busyness, there’s often an internal struggle — a sense of being lost or unfulfilled.
We are facing constant struggle in:
Often, these struggles lead to:
What is Dharma?
Often described as “duty,” “righteousness,” or “the right way of living”, the term Dharma actually goes beyond mere obligation.
It encompasses your unique purpose in life — the role you are meant to play in the grand scheme of existence. It’s where personal excellence meets universal harmony.
In the Gita, Lord Krishna explains Dharma as the harmonious alignment of one’s actions with their inner nature and universal principles. It’s about doing what you are inherently designed to do, not just for personal gain but for the greater good.
Three Aspects of Dharma
1. Swadharma (Personal Dharma) -
Krishna emphasizes that one’s Dharma is unique to them. He advises Arjuna to embrace his role as a warrior and fulfill his duty without attachment to the results.
“Better to fail in your own Dharma than to succeed in another’s,” Krishna says, highlighting the importance of authenticity in purposeful living.
2. Samaj Dharma (Social Dharma) –
Everything one engages in, contributes to collective welfare.
Krishna says, “whatsoever a superior person does, that is followed by others; simply with the view for guidance of men, thou should perform action,” clarifying the importance of one’s role in contributing to collective welfare and maintaining social harmony.
3. Sanatana Dharma (Universal Dharma) –
Time and again Krishna has declared Himself to be the unborn, eternal, change-less, ever-Itself. Asking Arjuna to surrender to Him, he says, ‘the wise man, ever stead-fast with devotion unto Him, excels.’
Thus, transcending personal limitations, one must perform his duty in alignment with cosmic order.
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Applying Dharma in Everyday Life
Understanding Dharma isn’t just a philosophical exercise; it has practical implications for our daily lives.
Here’s is a 3 step process on how you can start integrating this wisdom:
Reflect on what makes you feel alive and what you naturally excel at. These are often clues to your Dharma
2. Skill in Action: "Yogah Karmasu Kaushalam" - Excellence in action is yoga.
The Gita teaches that true purpose lies not in what you do, but how you do it. Perform it with full attention and without attachment to results, maintaining inner balance.
3. The Higher Purpose: Every role, when performed with awareness, becomes a pathway to higher consciousness, hence transform work into worship and see the divine in daily duties.
As these becomes your tenets to living, you will easily find yourself:
1. Being non-conflicted in making difficult Decision.
The decisions will be holistic considering all stakeholders and aligned with inner values. The Action will come from wisdom rather than fear.
2. Aligned in Career:
You will be able to choose paths that utilize your natural talents, considering contribution over mere advancement and balancing personal growth with collective good.
3. Servant Leadership made Easy:
You will lead by example and adapt to every situation easily which will foster team growth and create value for society.
Why Dharma Matters Today
In a world driven by competition, living your Dharma shifts the focus from “what can I get?” to “what can I give?” This perspective fosters fulfillment and harmony.
As Ankita learned from the Gita, aligning with Dharma doesn’t mean abandoning ambition but channeling energy into meaningful goals that resonate with your core being. This alignment enriches life, bringing calm and purpose.
An Invitation to Explore
The teachings of the Bhagavad Gita are not confined to any religion or culture; they are universal truths that resonate with seekers across time and space. By exploring these teachings, you can uncover a roadmap to a life of clarity, balance, and joy.
So, the next time you feel overwhelmed or directionless, pause and ask yourself: “Am I living my Dharma?” The answer might just change your life.
Richa is a seasoned Spiritual Teacher, Reiki Master and a Healer. She is also a Life Coach (ICF-PCC), Breakthrough NLP Coach, and a Mind Mastery Mentor.
With the beautiful blend of both the worlds, she offers a holistic approach to transformation, fostering clarity, resilience, and purpose. Her mission is to bridge external success with inner harmony so that one can live fully and she feels blessed to be able to touch lives at their core, allowing inner journey to happen.