On Cowardliness and Righteousness

In Yoga we are often thought to act nonviolent, yet there is this other yoga which teaches us righteousness with violence as a means to an end, so how does one live according to those teachings?

Robin Hood, the western Arjuna
(picture by joe jackman)

It all depends on your mindset. Neither should your mind be clouded by bloodlust nor by the fear of consequences through your actions. Don’t be afraid of loss if it is the right thing to do and don’t be shepherded by gains. Fear no defeat and don’t slobber if you win.

2.38. Taking as equal pleasure and pain, gain and loss, victory and defeat, gird thee for the battle; thus thou shalt not incur sin.

Act selfless, without expectations, surrender all your acts to others and remain in your centre of stillness.
And there is nothing wrong in being 😎

3.30. Surrendering all actions to Me, with thy thoughts resting on the supreme Self, from hope and egoism freed, and of mental fever cured, engage in battle.

That is ahimsa, or nonviolence, in the daily battle against obstacles you face. With such a clear mind, whenever there is wrong doing, you show civil courage instead of mindless violence.

Inspired by Swami Veda Bharati
Excerpts taken from The Bhagavad Gita by Annie Besant