The depth of our positive attitude is very much determined by how much we have knowledge of our spiritual self.” – Radhanath Swami
If we objectively look at the world today – study the newspapers, the magazines, the statistics – there is really a lot be depressed about: the pollution, the way people treat each other with so much rudeness, so much selfishness, and so much egotism. There is lot of evil in this world. There is a lot of darkness and cruelty in this world. There is terrorism. There is crime. There are so many terrible diseases. There is so much poverty. There are earthquakes. There are droughts. There are floods. There are massive forest fires. There is a lot to be depressed about if you really look at the world as it is.
Now, how does an ostrich deal with crises? When the lion comes to eat the ostrich, the ostrich runs, and when he sees the lion coming up behind him, he digs a hole in the ground and puts his head in the ground. He thinks, “Now I am safe.” And the rabbit; when the fox is coming to eat the rabbit, he closes his eyes and he just forgets the fox is there. But the fact is, the lion is about to eat the ostrich and the fox is about to eat the rabbit. Closing your eyes or putting your head in a hole in the ground is not going to change situations. So people in the world today, either they just do not want to hear about the problems of the world, or they just dig their hole in the ground in the form of television or some sports event. ‘Whatever… just forget it all.’ Television is very popular; sporting events are very popular. Usually, people take those things so seriously because they just want to forget the perplexities, the complexities and the frustrations of life. It is a way of sticking your head in the ground or closing your eyes.
Arjuna, when he was faced with a severe perplexity, he could not close his eyes or stick his head in the ground. He had to face the reality as it was, and he became severely depressed. If a clinical psychologist were to read Bhagavad-Gita, and read the symptoms of Arjuna, he would say, “This man really needs some medications.” Arjuna was shaking. His bow fell from his hand and his dark complexion turned white. His mouth was dried up and tears were brimming in his eyes. He was in a hopeless state. He was depressed. Then he decided, “Krishna, I am not going to stay in this battlefield. I am not going to face this crisis. I am going to the mountains. Better I just renounce everything and negate the problems altogether. Then I will be at peace.” But negation of the negative is not the best solution. What does Krishna teach Arjuna in Bhagavad-Gita? He taught him bhakti.
Radhanath Swami defines Bhakti
What is bhakti? Bhakti is the combination of gyan and vairagya. Krishna told Arjuna, “Do not be depressed. Do not just artificially close your eyes and escape the problems of life. Do not run away and negate them. See the positive opportunity that you have in this situation and work accordingly.” That is the teachings of Bhagavad-Gita. Do your work for the welfare of others in a spirit of compassion to others with consciousness of your relationship with God. That is what Bhagavad-Gita is all about: developing a very positive attitude, not on the basis of just physical and emotional, but physical, emotional and spiritual.
Positive attitude – in depth
The depth of our positive attitude is very much determined by how much we have knowledge of our spiritual self.
You could be very positive about various opportunities to make money and very positive to never give up despite so many failures. So in that sense, somebody who just works really hard and does not give up hope in what he or she can do – that’s positive attitude. But what happens when old age starts taking away your facilities, and beyond your control, people you love start turning against you? It could happen. There was a famous lady in America; everyone knew her name, everyone brought her products. But now she is imprisoned. I am not going to judge whether she is right or wrong. But one thing we can see objectively: no matter how good you do, no matter how great you succeed, things could turn against you.A positive attitude based on emotional and biological considerations will not really help you to succeed through such crisis.
Bhagavad-Gita teaches how there is a positive opportunity in every situation, and however bad the world may be, as far as all kinds of corruption and pollution and ego, we can always look for the good. We know about the bad: we do not hide from it, we know about it and we are conscious about it. But we look for the good.” – Radhanath Swami
Very inspiring article on positivity. The Gita teaches us to look for positive opportunity in every situation. the bottom line is to rise above the bad situations and never give up hope in the Divine.
Very nice and inspiring.
i think, It’s easy to feel positive when you let yourself be moved by the beauty around you. Beauty moves me to write poetry and to draw. If you don’t have time for anything else, spend a few minutes communing with nature every day!
Thank you very much.
To grow in life v need to hv positive attitude in all spheres of life..or we choose positive to grow in life hare krishna i like such articles inspiring to grow in life hare krishna
Very good article by Radhanath Swami, must read to learn how spiritually helps to develop positive attitude in life. So much grateful to Radhanath Swami for teaching us wonderful lessons of life.
Really inspiring and motivational article for developing positive attitude. The scriptures always provides timeless wisdom to overcome failures. Thank you very much for sharing trancedental teachings of Bhagvad Gita.
Amazing explanation of positive attitude by HHRNS based on the teachings of BG. As far as one is deeply rooted in spiritual progress, external turmoil never changes his/her positive attitude.
Wonderful explanation of what really is positive attitude. True, in modern times Arjuna would be considered a psychological case requirement treatment. Krishna also treated him – with knowledge of Bhakti. We should use the principles of the Bhagavad Gita in our lives to make it more effective in combating the miseries, strife and depression.
A precise summary of Bhagwad Gita given by HH Radhanath Swami – “Do your work for the welfare of others in a spirit of compassion to others with consciousness of your relationship with God”. Too good and so practical.
Very true.
What motivational speaker these days try to do is to psych-up with mental techniques to inspire people with positive attitute, but our mind is always changes so that inspiritation doesnt last long and loses its glitter…
What HH mentioned here is indeed a very powerful way to B+ not just mentally on on a much deeper level on which we actually exist!!
Very true and as Radhanath swami says, it can be done with Sadhana, Satsang and Sadachar.
very nicely explained about positive attitude. Thank you maharaj.
Positive attitude based on a spiritual consideration can reality help one in depth. As everything in spirituality is eternal. So shelter they provide is eternal. Physical and emotional based positive attitude fades away. I remember Queen Draupadi – wife of the Pandavas who got her shelter from only Lord Krishna during her disrobing. And that shelter helped her unlimitedly beyond the power of time, strength and space.
No matter how good you do, no matter how great you succeed, things could turn against you. A positive attitude based on emotional and biological considerations will not really help you to succeed through such crisis.
What is real positive attitude is nicely explained.
Nice way to deal with the negativities of the World and take shelter of Krishna as Arjuna did.
Thank you guru maharaj for beautifully explaining for the positive attitude.
Spirituality is about having positive attitude in life
So in that sense, somebody who just works really hard and does not give up hope in what he or she can do – that’s positive attitude. thank you Gurumaharaj for explaining about positive attitude.
Without positive attitude basis on the scriptural understanding leads to the mental instability. That is the reason that now a days more and more cases are appeared for mental stresses and mental problems. But we can understand the scripture and with complete faith in the Lord, probably we can learn to see positive parts of the world. Here H H Radhanath Swami has given wonderful explanations for the positive attitude in midst of the hopelessness.
knowledge of our spiritual self-is the real rajvidya
Wonderful article.
there is a positive opportunity in every situation, and
however bad the world may be, as far as all kinds of corruption and
pollution and ego, we can always look for the good.
Thankk you for sharing.
best article to be read,anyone can get inspiration .thanks Radhanath Swami
A wonderful article! Must read! “That is what Bhagavad-Gita is all about: developing a very positive attitude, not on the basis of just physical and emotional, but physical, emotional and spiritual.”
Vow what an amazing statement by HH Radhanath Swami Maharaj “The depth of our positive attitude is very much determined by how much we have knowledge of our spiritual self.”
Thank you very much for sharing such a nice article. Guru Maharaj has shown a proper demarkation in being realistic and being positive.
Thank you very much for explaining about Positive Attitude in such a nice way.
Thank you very much Radhanath Swami maharaj for explaining so beautifully the meaning of Bhakti & real meaning of positive attitude. Such a inspiring article.