Starting A Multi-Year Journey of Understanding The Gita (January 2026)
Have you ever felt unsure about what to do, even when something really mattered? Maybe it was a tough choice, a moment of fear, or a situation where every option felt wrong. That feeling of being pulled in different directions is something all of us experience. If you’ve felt it, you are not alone. Long ago, someone else felt the very same way. From his confusion came a conversation that has guided people for thousands of years. That conversation is called the Bhagavad Gita. It is a book that teaches how to think, choose, and act when life feels confusing, and is the theme of the kids assignment.
Over the next few years, we will explore the Bhagavad Gita slowly, one chapter at a time. Each month, we will pause at one chapter and reflect on its ideas, connecting them to everyday life. This slow pace is intentional. Real understanding doesn’t happen all at once – it grows when you take the knowledge through three steps: Shravan (hearing/reading), Manan (thinking/questioning), and Nididhyasana (practicing/living). Even in the Gita itself, wisdom is shared gradually, as and when the student is ready. There is no rush.
The Bhagavad Gita is a short but powerful book that appears in the middle of a much larger ancient epic, the Mahabharata. But the Gita itself is not really about the epic, and it is not meant to be read like a storybook or a list of rules. It is a dialogue: an honest conversation between a warrior named Arjuna and his guide, Sri Krishna. This conversation happens at a moment when Arjuna feels completely stuck. He knows he must act, but he does not know how or why.
What makes the Gita special is where it begins. It does not begin with advice or instructions. It begins with confusion, emotion, and silence. Arjuna feels fear, sadness, and doubt, and instead of hiding these feelings, he speaks them out loud. The Bhagavad Gita begins the moment someone admits, “I don’t know what to do.” That is why it still feels so real today.
Life today looks very different from life long ago. We have busy schedules, constant noise, screens everywhere, and many expectations pulling us in different directions. But even though the outside world has changed, the inside world has not changed much at all. People still struggle with fear, pressure, confusion, and the desire to do the right thing. The Bhagavad Gita speaks to this inner world. It helps us understand what is happening inside us before telling us how to act in the world.
Sometimes people think the Bhagavad Gita is only about war, or only for adults, or only about religion. But at its heart, the Gita is about life. It is about making choices, understanding yourself, and finding clarity when things feel confusing. It doesn’t tell you what to think. Instead, it helps you learn how to think calmly and wisely, even in difficult moments.
As we move through this journey, the Gita can help you notice your thoughts and emotions more clearly. It can help you stay calm under pressure, make thoughtful choices, and understand what it means to act with courage and kindness. You don’t need to know anything beforehand or memorize anything. Curiosity is enough.
Before we begin studying the chapters themselves, there is something important to remember. It is okay to feel confused. It is okay to have questions. It is okay to pause before acting. In fact, this is exactly where the Bhagavad Gita begins. Next month, we will meet Arjuna at the moment when he feels unsure and afraid – and from that moment, the journey truly starts.
BTW, the Bhagavad Gita is an ancient Indian text written as part of the Mahabharata and traditionally attributed to the sage Vyasa; it is a dialogue between Arjuna and Krishna, has 18 chapters and about 700 verses (shlokas). For over thousands of years it has been read, translated, and interpreted in many different ways by scholars, teachers, and everyday readers, yet it remains fresh and relevant today because it talks about timeless human questions like confusion, duty, choices, fear, and how to live thoughtfully and responsibly.
This Month’s Assignment
Before answering anything, pause for a moment. Take one slow breath in and one slow breath out. This month invites us to think about: “Why questions and confusion matter in learning about life – and how Bhagavad Gita can help.”
Choose one and respond in your own way:
- Why do you think it might be important that the Bhagavad Gita begins with confusion instead of advice?
- When you feel confused or scared, do you usually talk about it, hide it, or rush to act? Why do you think you respond that way?
- The Gita is a conversation between a student and a guide. Who helps you think clearly when you feel stuck?
- The Gita doesn’t tell you what to think; instead, it teaches how to think. Why do you think learning how to think might be more helpful than being told what to do?
- How does it feel to hear that it’s okay to be confused and to pause before acting?
- As we begin this journey with the Gita, what is one question about yourself or life that you hope to understand better?
Looking Ahead
Next month, we will explore: “What happens when a strong person feels completely stuck?”
Remember: Confusion is not a mistake; often, it is the beginning of understanding.
Looking forward to your insights.
Regards,
Harsh Mendiratta