Combating Stress through the Bhagavad Gita

Stress among employees is a growing concern for the organisations nowadays. A stressed employee’s work performance and productivity decreases substantially. Therefore, an organization endeavoring to achieve its goals in the competitive business environment cannot afford to have a stressed workforce. The Bhagavad Gita is unutterably invaluable sermon delivered by Lord Krishna to Arjuna midst the battle of Kurukshetra. The Hindu religious text is rife with teachings to combat stress. The Bhagavad Gita is a remedy for all perturbation and stress. Srimad Bhagavad Gita provides a pragmatic approach to individuals to deal with apprehensions and stressors, one face every day. The state of perplexity, over what to do in a difficult situation faced by Arjuna, the mighty warrior, in the battlefield of Kurukshetra is faced by us all at some point in our life. This paper aims to focus on teachings from the revered text to help an individual combat stress and provides invaluable insights that can be absorbed from the holy narrative. Srimad Bhagavad Gita provides with following teachings to combat stress - A duty discharged without any attachment to the material existence and fruits keeps stress at bay. The actions associated with unappeasable desires and attachment brings suffering accompanied by stress and hinders progress. Renunciation leads to joy and peace owing to destruction of ignorance, which causes all pain, hardships and stress. A life not controlled by desires and anger is without stress and full of bliss. A regular practice of Yoga reduces stress. An individual tempted by materialistic desires lives a stressful life and suffers throughout. The path of righteousness brings peace and bliss to life. Lord Krishna explained to Arjuna that those who have divine qualities like the purity of heart, non-violence, truthfulness, peacefulness; modesty and other Godly traits are conducive to elevation and eventually attain spiritual perfection.