The principle of Duality

Decisions that we take everyday make us what we are. It is these decisions that begin to define us and give us the foundation to build on. Making decisions effectively thus forms a very important part of our present & our future.

I remember watching the bollywood flick Deewaar & today when I look back I’m reminded as to how two brothers who faced a similar situation in life made two very different decisions. While one chose to battle it by imposing brutality on the circumstance itself the other decided to battle it by empowering himself with knowledge. There was aggression in both approaches, they stuck to their decisions fiercely and tasted success in their own ways. But only one decision was right & the success that came with it did not fade away with time or people.

The Gita talks about how poorly we are used to making decisions & directs us towards a mechanism, if deployed can help us make wise and correct decisions. Not only will they bring lasting happiness but also they will become a way of living. Patanjali's Gita enlightens us about 'raga' & 'vairagya' i'e., attachment & detachment (strong sense of repulsion). We only do things that we like and that which gives us sense pleasures (raga) while we strongly avoid doing things that do not give us any sense pleasure (vairagya). Most of the decisions we make are on the basis of raga & vairagya. But do you see the grave dangers in making decisions based on these factors?? 

When we fall into a habit of gauging the execution of our options by matching the feasibility of its results with our experience of sense pleasures, we forgo our rational capability - buddhi or intellect. But unfortunately this is how we all have been trained to think & decide in the real world - in schools & MBA colleges. Our decision to execute a project will only be based on the profitability (and now a days brand value) that would reflect on the balance sheet for our next quarter. It will not take into account the righteousness of our actions. Moreover we handsomely reward a man who does this to perfection by praises, merits & comforts. Talk about classical conditioning at work !!

Hence it is of utmost importance to be aware of this fact, this deception, that we make decision intellectually. We must consciously make an effort to leave out the sense of like & dislike and focus on the righteousness of our action. That’s why the lord says to Arjuna, think of only your duty and not the consequences.

I know for working professionals like us, it is indeed very baffling to base our decisions on 'karma'. But we must make a conscious effort in practicing it or must at least be aware of it when we are confronted with options to choose from.