In the Bhagavad Gita, feelings of disgust or aversion can be understood and addressed through various teachings. The Gita, as a spiritual and philosophical text, offers guidance on how to manage emotions and achieve inner peace. Here are some ways the Gita suggests overcoming feelings of disgust:
1. Understanding the Nature of the Self
The Gita emphasizes the importance of recognizing the true
self (Atman), which is beyond the physical body and mind. By understanding that
our true identity is the eternal soul, and not the temporary body, one can
transcend negative emotions like disgust.
Reference:
Bhagavad Gita 2:20: "For the soul there is neither
birth nor death at any time. He has not come into being, does not come into
being, and will not come into being. He is unborn, eternal, ever-existing, and
primeval. He is not slain when the body is slain."
2. Detachment and Equanimity
Lord Krishna advises maintaining detachment from the
outcomes of actions and practicing equanimity. This helps in managing emotions
effectively.
Reference:
Bhagavad Gita 2:47: "You have a right to perform your
prescribed duties, but you are not entitled to the fruits of your actions.
Never consider yourself to be the cause of the results of your activities, nor
be attached to inaction."
Bhagavad Gita 2:38: "Fight for the sake of duty,
treating alike happiness and distress, loss and gain, victory and defeat.
Fulfilling your responsibility in this way, you will never incur sin."
3. Sattva - Cultivating Purity
The Gita explains the three gunas (modes of material
nature): sattva (goodness), rajas (passion), and tamas (ignorance). By
cultivating sattva, one can rise above negative emotions such as disgust.
Reference:
Bhagavad Gita 14:6: "O sinless one, the mode of
goodness, being purer than the others, is illuminating and it frees one from
all sinful reactions. Those situated in that mode become conditioned by a sense
of happiness and knowledge."
4. Bhakti Yoga - Devotion
Devotion to God and surrendering one's emotions to a higher
power can transform negative emotions into positive spiritual experiences.
Reference:
Bhagavad Gita 9:22: "But those who always worship Me
with exclusive devotion, meditating on My transcendental form—to them I carry
what they lack, and I preserve what they have."
5. Karma Yoga - Selfless Action
Performing one’s duty selflessly without attachment to the
results helps in purifying the mind and overcoming negative emotions.
Reference:
Bhagavad Gita 3:19: "Therefore, without being attached
to the results of activities, one should act as a matter of duty, for by
working without attachment one attains the Supreme."
6. Jnana Yoga - Knowledge and Wisdom
Gaining knowledge and wisdom helps in seeing the bigger
picture and understanding the temporary nature of emotions and experiences.
Reference:
Bhagavad Gita 4:39: "A faithful man who is absorbed in
transcendental knowledge and who subdues his senses quickly attains the supreme
spiritual peace."
By integrating these teachings into daily life, one can
overcome feelings of disgust and cultivate a balanced, peaceful, and content
state of mind.