Mid-Year Revision (June 2026)

2026, Monthly Articles

This month’s assignment is a review of the foundational concepts we have covered so far in our multi-year journey through the Bhagavad Gita. We have explored how your life can feel like a battlefield, the five lessons for a strong and steady mind, and the three pillars that help us move from just knowing words to actually living with clarity. Now, it is time to look back and see how these ancient ideas connect to your own daily experiences.

In this month’s hawan, we will assign you one question from the list below and ask you to prepare a quick response that is about 1 to 2 minutes long. You will be give around 10 min to prepare your response. After that you will share your reflections with the group, where your reflections should focus on your own stories and insights.

Bhagavad Gita Review: Deep-Dive Questions

  1. The “Admitting I’m Stuck” Superpower: The Gita begins the moment Arjuna admits he does not know what to do. Think of a time you felt completely overwhelmed. Why do you think it is more courageous to speak those fears out loud rather than pretending to be “strong” and rushing into a decision?
  2. The Weather Reporter Challenge: Krishna teaches that feelings are temporary and change like the weather, but they are not the whole of who you are. If a friend is feeling like a failure because of a “social media storm,” how would you use the weather analogy to help them find their steady center?
  3. The Tug-of-War in Your Head: We all face a “battlefield” where our Duty (what we should do) fights with our Feelings (what we want to do). Describe a recent “tug-of-war” in your own mind and how you eventually decided which side to listen to.
  4. Defeating “Analysis Paralysis”: Arjuna suffered from “analysis paralysis”—thinking so much about how bad things could be that he froze up. Describe a situation where your brain “froze” before a big project. Based on the lesson to “look before you leap,” what is one way you could break that freeze next time?
  5. The “Sincerity” Mindset: Krishna suggests focusing on effort rather than results because the final outcome is not fully in our control. If you gave 100% effort but didn’t get the “win,” how can focusing on your own sincerity and commitment make you feel like a success anyway?
  6. Choosing “Right” Over “Easy”: In a “Group Chat Dilemma,” it is “easy” to go along with a crowd that is being unkind. Why does the Gita call choosing the “right” company a form of “quiet courage”? How does this help you grow into a leader instead of a follower?
  7. The Three Steps of Wisdom: Real understanding grows through Shravan (hearing), Manan (thinking), and Nididhyasana (practicing). In your opinion, which step is the hardest to do in real life, and why is “hearing” the lesson never enough on its own?
  8. Driving into the Middle of the Problem: Arjuna asked Krishna to drive his chariot into the middle of the two armies to understand the full size of the problem. If you had a guide to show you the “middle” of a problem you are facing now, what might you notice that you missed before?
  9. The Steady Mind vs. The Reaction: A steady mind means not letting every feeling take control of your choices. Give an example of a situation where you might feel like reacting in anger and describe what a “Steady Mind” would do differently to stay balanced.
  10. Why Modern Kids Need Ancient Wisdom: While our outside world has changed with screens and busy schedules, our “inside world” of fear and pressure is the same as Arjuna’s. Pick one modern problem and explain how a lesson from Chapter 2 could help a kid today feel more peaceful.
  11. The “Superheroes Get Scared” Lesson: Why is it important for us to see Arjuna—a legendary warrior—dropping his bow and wanting to quit? How does knowing that even “superheroes” get scared change the way you look at your own moments of doubt?
  12. The Slow Build of a Foundation: Wisdom is shared gradually because building a steady mind is a slow process. Why is a steady mind compared to building a foundation? What is one “brick” you can add to your foundation this week through your actions?

Remember that we are in no rush in this journey because real understanding grows when you take the time to reflect. We are excited to hear your insights and are looking forward to your responses!

Yours,

Harsh Mendiratta

www.hawan.net