“What should I do now?” When we face this question, we
usually answer based on practical concerns. But when confronting dilemmas that
have no practical solutions, we are forced to either become frustrated or look
beyond the circumstantial to the existential, asking questions about the very
nature and purpose of our existence. We
realize we can’t answer the question “What should I do?” without confronting
the question “Who am I?”
At the start of the Bhagavad-gita, Arjuna faced a circumstantial
dilemma that had no practical answers. He found himself torn between two
courses of action. “If I am a warrior, then my duty (kshatriya-dharma) is to
fight for a righteous cause, whoever be my opponent. But if I am a member of
the Kuru dynasty, then my duty (kula-dharma) is to avoid shedding the blood of
my family members, whatever the price.” He found neither option acceptable and
felt himself trapped in a lose-lose situation, as the Gita (01.30) depicts.
Krishna didn’t offer Arjuna any pat answers, but changed his
frame of reference by revealing the deepest dimension of his existential
identity – as a soul. And the dharma of every soul is to love and serve
Krishna. As Krishna is the greatest well-wisher of everyone, doing his will
enabled Arjuna to do the best for everyone involved.
When we face intractable circumstantial dilemmas, we too can
turn towards Krishna by prayerfully seeking guidance and submissively opening
our heart to him. With this devotional disposition, the Gita (10.10) assures that
we will get the intelligence about how to best serve amidst life’s
perplexities. Such intelligence will resolve not just our circumstantial
crisis, but also our existential crisis by stimulating deeper realization of
our eternal spiritual identity, which is for all of life’s perplexities the
only ultimate solution.
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