{"id":1269,"date":"2026-05-01T14:38:37","date_gmt":"2026-05-01T18:38:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hawan.net\/?p=1269"},"modified":"2026-05-24T23:17:48","modified_gmt":"2026-05-25T03:17:48","slug":"our-foundation-three-pillars-of-chapter-2-of-bhagwat-gita-may-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hawan.net\/?p=1269","title":{"rendered":"Our Foundation: Three Pillars of Chapter 2 of Bhagwat Gita (May 2026)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Last month, we explored the five foundational lessons of Chapter 2, learning that real strength is about staying steady and thinking clearly even when life feels like a battlefield. We compared these ideas to building a foundation. This month, we are going to “double click” on three specific concepts<\/strong> that act as the pillars of that foundation: understanding our identity beyond our feelings, choosing what is right over what is easy, and prioritizing effort over results. By looking closer at these three, we can move from simply knowing the words to actually living with more clarity and resilience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Three Pillars in Detail<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Identity Beyond Feelings<\/strong> It is easy to believe that we are<\/em> whatever we are currently feeling. However, the G\u012bt\u0101 teaches that feelings like fear, sadness, or excitement are temporary and change like the weather<\/strong>. While these emotions are real, they are not the whole of who you are. Deep inside, there is something steadier and more constant<\/strong> than the rising and falling of your moods. Recognizing this helps you avoid being “completely carried away” by every passing emotional storm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Choosing Right Over Easy<\/strong> Arjuna\u2019s struggle on the battlefield was between his duty and the urge to walk away because the situation was painful. This is a choice we face daily: do we act based on our values, or do we react based on fear or pressure? Real growth happens through these hard choices<\/strong>. Choosing the right path, even when it feels uncomfortable, builds a quiet but powerful inner courage that stays with you long after the moment has passed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

3. Effort Over Results<\/strong> One of the most life-changing lessons Krishna gives is to focus on action, not winning<\/strong>. Because the final outcome of any situation is not fully in our control, letting our peace depend entirely on a specific result\u2014like a “win”\u2014creates constant stress. When you shift your focus to your own sincerity and commitment<\/strong>, you build a sense of resilience and peace that cannot be taken away by a loss or a disappointment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Connecting to Your Life<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These ancient lessons show up in the halls of your school and the choices you make every day:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Identity Beyond Feelings: The “Social Media Storm”<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Imagine you check your phone and realize you were “left on read” or “unfollowed” by someone you thought was a friend. You might feel a sudden surge of rejection or embarrassment. It is easy to think that you are unlikable or that something is wrong with you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Shift: Remind yourself that this feeling is just a passing storm in your internal weather. Your true self, which includes your kindness, your talents, and your character, has not changed at all just because of a notification on a screen. You are steadier than a digital status.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Choosing Right Over Easy: The “Group Chat” Dilemma<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are in a group chat with the popular kids, and they start making fun of a classmate who is a bit different. It feels “easy” to send a laughing emoji just to stay on their good side and keep your “cool” status.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Shift: Your internal self usually knows that this criteria is superficial and fleeting. Real strength is choosing the right company, meaning friends who share a value system of respect, even if it means leaving that chat or standing up for what is right. Opting for values over social pressure is where you actually grow into a leader rather than a follower.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Effort Over Results: The “Big Audition” or Tryout<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You might spend weeks practicing for a lead role in the school play or training for the varsity team. You give it your absolute best effort, but when the list is posted, your name is not on it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Shift: It is natural to feel disappointed, but the sources teach that the outcome is not fully in your control. If you focus only on “winning” the spot, you feel like the whole month was a waste. however, if you focus on your sincerity and commitment, such as how much better you got at acting or how much faster you became, you realize that your effort was the true success. That resilience makes you much stronger for the next opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

May Assignment: “Double Clicking” on Your Thoughts<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For this month, please choose one<\/strong> of the three pillars above and write a short reflection based on the following prompts:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Identity:<\/strong> Describe a time you felt a very strong emotion (like anger or sadness). How did you remind yourself that the feeling was just “weather” and not your whole self?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Right vs. Easy:<\/strong> Think of a recent time you had to choose between “the cool crowd” and “the right company.” Why was it a hard choice, and how did your internal values help you decide?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Effort vs. Results:<\/strong> Identify one goal you are working toward. What are two things you can control (your effort) versus one thing you cannot control (the result)?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Remember<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Building a steady mind is a slow process, but every time you choose effort over results or values over popularity, you are strengthening that inner core. I look forward to reading your reflections and seeing how these three pillars are taking shape in your daily lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Regards,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Harsh Mendiratta <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    https:\/\/hawan.net<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Last month, we explored the five foundational lessons of Chapter 2, learning that real strength is about staying steady and thinking clearly even when life feels like a battlefield. We compared these ideas to building a foundation. This month, we are going to “double click” on three specific concepts that act as the pillars of that foundation: understanding our identity […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1275,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[35,2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1269","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-35","category-monthly-articles"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hawan.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1269","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hawan.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hawan.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hawan.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hawan.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1269"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/hawan.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1269\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1279,"href":"https:\/\/hawan.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1269\/revisions\/1279"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hawan.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1275"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hawan.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1269"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hawan.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1269"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hawan.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1269"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}