We suffer when we don’t recognise our copilot!

By Vivek Sharma

We need to fully understand one basic fact of living that we aren’t alone. As per Nature’s arrangement, we all are born with a सारथि or a Copilot. That is what Bhagwad Gita has been teaching us for ages, but we either slip into skewed understanding of Vedantic oneness —- I alone am God or ignore the One with us and behave like an Arjuna.
Krishna’s favourite Pandav Arjuna out of the same ignorance says in life’s battlefield:

निरीक्षे अहम् योद्धुकामानवस्थितान् कैः मया सह योद्धव्यम्
योत्स्यमानानवेक्षेऽहं ये एतेऽत्र समागता:

( I observe who all are here to fight me…I see war- wishers gathering to fight .) These two phrases निरीक्षे अहम् अवक्षे अहम् are the mark of how an evolving Arjun or we assess the situation through the agency of ego, completely ignoring the copilot or Krishna or Intelligent Energy, whose observation due to a partner should also be sought. Instead, we impose our half-baked, one-sided observations on Him or care two hoots about what He as a partner and guide has to offer as his vision of things. Our entire reasoning, logic and justifications are based on the two devilish phrases —I see, I observe and not on what our eternal life partner observes and sees. A pilot is meant to drive us to the destination, but we as good as do hind seat driving and try to prevail on the driver often making him run into chaos and getting delayed reaching the destination.

Arjuna in the latter part of the discourse one is seen justifying his reasoning even as the copilot remains calm and without uttering an unsought suggestion . Like this we just don’t accommodate Him. We aren’t conscious of the partner in our day to day life as we are about ourselves. We only seek Him when our reasoning drags us into a nasty situation . Our partner is not our slave, or at our beck and call but a guide equipped with the right vision which opens up the right door out of the a-maze-ing situation that we force ourselves into every now and then.

What do you think was the main cause of the Mahabharata? Was it Duryodhan led by his maternal uncle Shakuni’s revengeful reasoning or the Pandavas themselves who didn’t listen to Krishna’s advice not to accept invitation from the crooked duo. Krishna had specially mentioned that even if they honour Duryodhan’s invitation they should better avoid gambling and return home after a political settlement as had been offered by the Kauravas. But the Pandavas didn’t listen to the advice— as we often avoid the voice of sanity— and ended up losing everything, including Draupadi, the shared divine power of the Pandavas. Remember, Draupadi is also called Krishnaa .

The same way we ignore the voice of sanity and literally go gambling in life and end up losing everything, even the divine power we are gifted with, associated with the co-charioteer and run into a maze of causes and effects then blame God for not helping us and put forward arguments to withdraw from the righteous action to come out of the situation . In fact, what Arjun ( as his brothers) has been facing was the consequence of ignoring the co-charioteer. The situation overpowers him and he reasons right like a loser— I will not fight ! What good is this battle ? It will only end up taking away my own near and dear ones. It is a fact that a situation when not addressed at the right time by allowing the co-charioteer’s idea to prevail then later it demands extreme measures to handle it. Every such situation then demands all that is required to win a war . But, you lose a part of yourself during the battle to victory . It is like losing the teeth to get a chest of nuts !

So learn to let the Sarathi act. But, before that you must believe that Sarathi is there with you, born with you and shall remain with you eternally till you know you and him are in fact one . At the end of the discourse, Arjuna found His Sarathi who assured him with his famous line, "I have already killed all your enemies you just be the instrument to execute it all out in the battle." Krishna even tells Arjuna that He is Arjuna among the Pandavas. The same way our Sarathi is with us, ready to guide . His address is the heart —ईश्वरः हृद्देशेर्जुन तिष्ठति — the Sarathi, the driver of our life sits right in the heart of everything that exists, is seen and unseen. Just take one step towards Him and He will manifest in your life as the supreme guide and friend! Your Sarathi awaits your recognition only. That is it! Do it in one step by believing in Him and seeking His supervention and direction or go the rough and tumble of endless situations till you wake up to His presence all battered and bruised. The choice is yours.