Gita for Anxiety, Stress, and Mental Health

Arjuna asks: “If ātma-jñānam is considered superior to karma, why am I being asked to perform this terrible action of war?” Nourish the devatās through yajña, and may those devatās nourish you; thus, mutually nourishing one another, you shall attain the supreme good. Whatever a great person does, common people follow that. Whatever standard he sets, the world follows. Thus knowing the Self to be superior to the intellect, steadying the mind by the Self, O mighty-armed one, slay this enemy in the form of desire, which is difficult to overcome.

Arjuna asks: among the ever-steadfast devotees who meditate upon Bhagavān as taught before, and those who meditate upon the imperishable unmanifest brahman, who are the best yogis? Bhagavān Kṛṣṇa describes those who dedicate all actions to Him, keep Him as the primary goal, and meditate upon Him with undivided commitment. Bhagavān Kṛṣṇa says: if we are unable to do even this, then, taking refuge in His worship, we should renounce the results of all actions with self-mastery. Bhagavān Kṛṣṇa concludes that those devotees who, with śraddhā and with Bhagavān as the supreme goal, sincerely follow this immortal dharma as taught are exceedingly dear to Him.

Śrī Bhagavān describes samsāra as a beginningless aśvattha tree whose root is Brahman above, whose branches are the visible universe below, and whose leaves are Vedic karmas; the one who understands this tree along with its root truly understands the Veda. That supreme Brahman, Bhagavān’s highest nature, is self-effulgent consciousness, not illumined by the sun, moon, or fire; attaining that, the wise do not return to samsāra. Those yogis who strive with a purified and prepared mind recognize Brahman present in the body-mind as the jīva, while the impure-minded and undiscriminating do not recognize it even though they may make effort. O sinless Bhārata, this most secret teaching has been given by Me; having understood and assimilated it, one becomes truly wise and fulfilled.