The Bhagavad Gita presents a unique system of moral teachings that characterized the “…sociopolitical and religious reality of South Asia…” in the early first century AD (Flood, Martin, p. xiii). It involves an interaction between two characters: Arjuna, a powerful warrior, and Krishna, a supreme deity who acts in human form. Arjuna faces a challenging dilemma when he senses that his duty as a warrior will ultimately lead him to kill his relatives who fight for his enemies. Krishna uses this conflict to remind Arjuna of the importance of fulfilling his prescribed duty, also called dharma. The idea of ​​dharma is a fundamental aspect of Krishna's teaching throughout the Bhagavad Gita. A person's dharma determines how they should act and varies depending on their social class. It is not limited to the mere fulfillment of responsibilities, but rather extends to the mindset and intentions of the individual while acting on their tasks. To achieve the highest form of dharma, the individual must focus exclusively on the action without becoming attached to its consequences or results. Krishna emphasizes this teaching by encouraging Arjuna to ignore the impending death of his relatives and concentrate on his work as a warrior. The ultimate goals of fulfilling dharma without attachment include a deep relationship with Krishna and eternal purification. As Krishna states, “He who, in action, consecrates / all his actions to Brahman / frees himself from attachments, is uncontaminated / like a lotus leaf beside water” (5.10). Although dharma is the ideal of human behavior, it cannot be achieved without the consistent exercise of discipline. As a fundamental element of the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita, discipline involves both physical action and mental detachment from the results of action as a means of achieving liberation from the cycle of reincarnation. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The practice of discipline begins with physical action. As demonstrated by Krishna's dilemma, a person's dharma may include tasks that he finds challenging to complete. It is in these situations that discipline is key, pushing the individual to prioritize their duty over their emotions. They must complete their tasks regardless of their feelings. Furthermore, discipline in action is a quality that defines one's daily behavior. Krishna outlines a pattern of disciplined behavior throughout the Bhagavad Gita. According to his teaching, a disciplined person is “…solitary, who eats lightly / controlled in body, speech and mind, / who meditates, who does yoga, / who finds refuge in detachment…” (18.87). As they practice these things, they achieve the highest form of discipline by dissolving all attachment to the effects of their actions. This is defined as “…karma yoga: the practice of detached action rooted in virtue in which the results of that action are surrendered to God” (Flood, Martin, xii). Based on this reasoning, an individual's actions serve as a means to glorify Krishna and realize dharma, rather than to achieve a goal. Acting according to the practice of discipline plays a crucial role in this process. As Krishna says to Arjuna: “He who is disciplined by the superior mind / here repels good and bad deeds; / therefore, be yoked to discipline; / discipline is skill in actions” (2.50). Man learns this skill by consciously practicing action without thinking about attachment and by fighting against his natural tendency to draw motivation fromexternal results. Krishna continues to reiterate the importance of discipline in action throughout the text, stating that “…he whose mind controls his senses, / who undertakes the discipline / of action through the organs of action, without attachment , is renowned" (3.7). In this way discipline acts as the virtue that leads man to a purified form of physical action. Therefore, as man practices it through action, he is able to detach himself more fully from the consequences of his work and legitimately fulfill his dharma. In addition to physical action, discipline extends to the activity of the mind. Krishna recognizes the constant stream of thoughts competing for man's attention. However, it teaches that these distractions must be ignored because they often lead to attachment to action. Throughout the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna explains that the mind is often a wild scene where a person's perceptions of external reality challenge his or her core beliefs. If discipline is employed, these perceptions will be eased and redirected in a positive way. Krishna explains the practice of mental discipline by advising Arjuna that: "When, untroubled by revelation / your higher mind is still / and remains fixed in meditation / then you will obtain discipline" (2.53). Discipline, for the purpose of gaining wisdom, is practiced by keeping the mind in a harmonious state of balance where these perceptions have no effect on mental processes. This discipline is not a natural human predisposition and therefore requires concerted practice. As Krishna states, “…having completely retained / the many senses from the mind, / he gradually finds rest, / his intellect under control, / his mind established in the Self, / thinking of nothing” (6.24-25). He highlights yoga as the best form of mental exercise in which man consciously works to concentrate his thoughts on a single point. By using discipline to train the mind, man becomes closer to Krishna and learns to absolve all attachment to his works. Mental discipline is complementary to physical discipline and both depend on each other so that man can advance in his process towards eternal purification. Discipline of body and mind produces eternal rewards despite obstacles that stand in its way. The first benefit is the ability to know Krishna more deeply and establish a stronger bond with Him. By learning to exist with a mind that is still and detached from action, a person shifts the focus of his desires and decisions towards Krishna. This leads to the second reward of discipline: advancement in the process of eternal purification. This process occurs through the cycle of reincarnation in which man dies and is reborn until he reaches a state of perfection. Discipline is the key to liberation from this cycle because, as Krishna states, "...having liberated oneself from ego, / from strength, pride, anger, lust and greed, / peaceful and without selfishness , / one is fit for the absolute" (18.53). Through perfected practice of the discipline, a person advances towards an unchanging state of existence. This in turn grants them the reward of experiencing Krishna more fully. Throughout the Bhagavad Gita, “Liberation (moksha) from the cycle of reincarnation (samsara)…” defines the ultimate purpose of existence: to assume an absolute, rather than transitory, state of being (Flood, Martin, xviii). This goal can only be achieved through discipline of mind and body. The two main rewards of discipline, union with Krishna and absolute existence, constitute the pinnacle of man's life. Therefore, the value of these rewards is worth the effort required to obtain them..