Madhav & Friends : Bhagavad Geetā through everyday stories | Chapter 5 : The Three Guṇās

 Madhav & Friends : Bhagavad Geetā through everyday stories

Chapter 5

The Three Guṇās

Radhika was hustling to kickstart her start up venture. She was building a platform to become a liaison between restaurants and hotels and NGOs, orphanages, etc. Her idea was to make use of the leftover food at restaurants and hotels and provide it to relevant NGOs, orphanages, etc. where the needy and homeless can be fed. It was a very noble idea. 

When she was working as a trainee after her MBA in Chennai, she had seen small kids, and poor, homeless people begging for little food. Looking at other people walking out of hotels, restaurants satisfied while they lived in hunger. The pain, the hunger was reflecting through their eyes. She used to help some kids whenever she could, but this also had ignited a torch inside her to help these kids and homeless people. Hunger after all is natural and not something that one materially craves for.

So she had decided she will try to bridge this gap by creating a platform where restaurants and hotels can donate their leftover food and NGOs and orphanages etc. can share this food with needy and homeless kids and others.

She had asked Varun to help her with some contacts as his father was a well known businessman and knew many politicians and other influential people in Trichy.

Madhav was her constant guide in this, because she knew Madhav can help her stay grounded and provide a perspective for higher purpose.

One day, Radhika called Madhav and started venting out.

“All are just greedy in the world. Nobody cares for others. Where will they go by building all this wealth? If they cannot even take a penny with them from here? Nobody believes in doing any puṇya karma.” blasted off Radhika as soon as Madhav received her call.

Madhav was at work that time. He was initially taken aback at this sudden outburst but realised that maybe Radhika just faced one more rejection from someone. So he heard her patiently as she kept venting out.

Madhav then asked, “You feeling better now?”

Radhika realised, that Madhav had been listening patiently allowing her to release her frustration. So she said, “Ya. Better. Thanks for listening so patiently.”

“You are welcome. That’s what friends are for. Right?” replied Madhav.

Radhika sounded disappointed but replied, “Yeah”

Madhav sensed that Radhika was feeling stuck. So he said, “Hey let’s catch up today evening. I will ask Sudarshan also to join.”

Radhika agreed and they hung up the phone.

In the evening, Radhika, Madhav & Sudarshan met at their regular hangout cafe. Radhika was more composed now but was visibly upset. Sudarshan was unaware of any of this and so he cheerfully entered and greeted Radhika. But Radhika just shrugged off.

In the meanwhile Madhav too reached. Sudarshan looked at Madhav and gestured to him asking what is wrong with Radhika?

Madhav just showed his hand to Sudarshan indicating that she needs company right now. Sudarshan got the message and both of them sat next to Radhika.

Madhav asked, “Shall we order coffee?”

Sudarshan said, “Yes. Let me place the order and come.”

Sudarshan left and Radhika just looked at Madhav as if telling him that she needs some guidance.

Madhav smiled at Radhika and said, “So what happened?”

In the meanwhile, Sudarshan too joined them at the table.

Radhika looked at both of them and said, “Here I am trying to do something noble, but people don’t bother about it. Everyone just wants to make money. Nobody wants to work for the welfare of society. For others. For this world.”

Sudarshan was confused but listening.

Radhika continued, “I approached one of the popular restaurants in our town. The owner was a nice man. He gave me an appointment and heard my entire idea. But in the end he asked “What is in it for us?””

“I was like, this is for charity. You anyways have so much leftover food. If you give it for someone who is needy, it will give you their blessings.” continued Radhika.

“Which restaurant is this?” asked Sudarshan.

Radhika replied irritated, “There is one baba, but that is not important. Because this is not the first restaurant to say this.”

“Every restaurant is looking to make money even from leftover food, which they would otherwise throw away.” said Radhika in a frustrated tone.

In the meanwhile their coffee was delivered to their table.

Madhav said, “Radhika, I understand your pain. But expecting others to behave as per our understanding will only give you disappointment.”

Radhika replied almost angry, “I know that. But this is not about me. This is about doing charity. Being good to others. I am not asking their leftover food for my consumption. It is for the needy and poor. I am not trying to make any money from it.”

Sudarshan tried to pacify Radhika, “I agree. Where has all the kindness gone? People don’t want to do any puṇya these days. Only paap.”

Madhav replied, “It is not about paap or puṇya. It is pure business for them. That is how it is.”

Radhika looked at Madhav with a frown almost as if she is angry at Madhav repeating what she had been experiencing with her pitches to restaurants.

Sudarshan replied, “Yeah but, are we not supposed to help others? Where is humanity?”

Radhika somehow felt some comfort in Sudarshan siding with her.

Madhav just smiled and said, “Humanity is not just in helping others. Humanity is being human first.”

Radhika almost snapped back at Madhav, “And what does that mean?”

Madhav almost backed up a bit at this sudden reply from Radhika.

He replied, “Being human is understanding what our core nature is. And what our role in this universe is.”

Radhika was now looking at Madhav with a confused yet angry expression.

Sudarshan asked innocently , “Core nature? Role in universe? Brother I don’t know what my role is in my team in my company. How will I know what my role is in universe?” 

Radhika and Madhav both laughed at Sudarshan’s innocent yet honest reply.

Madhav replied, “Yes. Role in universe. Only when you understand what your core nature is.”

Radhika was now intrigued. She enquired, “And how do we know our core nature?”

Madhav replied, “By understanding the three Guṇās.”

Radhika and Sudarshan continued to look at Madhav with a confused expression as if asking him to clarify.

Madhav understood the subtle hints. He elaborated, “Bhagawan Krishna says in Bhagavad Geetā, that this entire creation is made up of 3 guṇās - Sato guṇ, Rajo guṇ & Tamo guṇ.”

Radhika & Sudarshan were now listening with interest. They knew they are in for a spiritual insight.

Madhav continued, “Each Guṇa has a specific स्वभाव (nature) and प्रभाव (impact). Sato guṇa is about harmony, purity and it brings balance in life. Rajo guṇa is about passion, it is what drives action and Tamo guṇa is ignorance, it is what brings delusion in our life.”

Radhika & Sudarshan were now engrossed in Madhav’s explanation.

Madhav continued, “So everything and everyone that we see, experience or feel is made up of these 3 guṇās. It is the combination of these guṇās that defines our core nature. That’s why we see some people have a very helping nature, some have very aggressive nature, some are just lazy and lethargic.”

Sudarshan asked, “So are we all defined by these guṇās?”

Madhav nodded confirming what Sudarshan just said.

Sudarshan asked, “But who decides this combination of guṇās? Can we change it?”

Madhav replied, “Of course yes. That’s why Sattvik living is preached in Bhagavad Geetā.”

Radhika interrupted, “But how is that relevant to the world being selfish and not wanting to help?”

Madhav replied, “You see, when we do not have spiritual understanding, we only look at the reality of the world outside. But this reality is temporary. It is ever changing. And so our understanding is also volatile. We react rather than respond. This constant reacting leaves impressions on our subconscious. And that shapes our nature.”

Madhav continued, “When we see others as acting under the influence of the different guṇās, we stop expecting uniform goodness, but instead we can start offering compassion and understanding.”

Radhika was now trying to connect the link, “So you are saying that the restaurant guys have been only dealing transactionally and therefore they can only see everything only through the lens of profit & loss?”

Madhav shrugged his shoulders “Maybe.”

Radhika was getting the point. But she was still stuck in her venture. 

She asked, “But then how do I make them see the nobility in my idea? I cannot change their nature.”

Madhav replied, “Absolutely. You cannot change the nature. But you can plant the seed for change in their heart.”

Radhika was confused. “Seed for change in their heart?”

Madhav said, “Let me put it other way. Bhagawan Krishna in Bhagavad Geetā says, that “You only have the right to perform your duty. Not to the results of your actions”.”

Radhika got the drift. She was now feeling slightly better. Madhav not just helped her distract her mind from the rejections but also gave a different perspective to approach her venture.

Sudarshan interrupted, “Right now our duty is to pay the bill for coffee.”

Radhika smiled and said, “It is on me this time.”

As she was paying the bill, she received a call. It was one of the restaurant owners she had met about one week back. The restaurant owner said that they agreed to participate in her venture for the noble cause.

Radhika was happy that finally she was able to get at least one restaurant on board.

She looked at Madhav and said, “Thank you.”

Madhav just smiled. All 3 of them left from the cafe after the coffee.