How does Bhagavad Gita daily reading help improving our lives?

“We all know what is the right things are (like getting up early, exercise, helping other in need, controlling our anger etc..) but, still we are not able to do it. Then how does reading scriptures help us actually to execute our chores diligently at the first place itself?”

This question was asked by a friend. Though I have been reading Srimad Bhagavad-Gita for three years now, and it has helped to transform myself, but I was not clear how? Hence, I thought it would be wise to pen down my thoughts based on the contemplation of my spiritual journey. This question can be answered in many ways, but I would take the intellectual path that might apply to all scriptures not only Gita.

Bhagavad Gita is an Instruction manual of life.  Just as instruction manual helps us to make the maximum from a gadget/instrument, Bhagvad Gita helps us understand the most advance gadget, human body. Our body works at 5 different levels that include senses, mind, intellect, soul and supersoul influenced by the three modes of nature. It is a science of realization, validated by our personal experiences. Once, we know why, we can move on to how, that is stepwise implementation.

What is stepwise implementation? A thousand mile journey starts with a single step. Similarly, the journey of our transformation begins with baby steps. The successive chapters of Srimad Bhagavad Gita helps us to embark on this journey in a following step-wise manner

• Self-awareness:  Chapter 1 unveils the conflict in our mind by sharing the example of confused Arjun. The war of thoughts has become  an integral part of our life that we are not aware the state of “thoughtlessness” is possible.
• Sankhaya Yoga: In chapter 2 itself, Lord Krishna makes Arjuna aware of eternal nature of soul that seems unrealistic to understand for Arjuna like most of us.
• Karam yoga: To make it simple, Krishna shares the stepwise process starting from Karam yoga, which means selfless action. We can launch the journey of Karam Yoga by doing one selfless act a week. Practice and regularity in reading the scriptures will make selfless thoughts part of our routines. Gradually thoughts becomes words, words become actions and actions become habits.
• Gyan Yoga: As we do more selfless actions and taste the nectar of giving, we would understand the real meaning of life is in giving vs. accumulating, this is known as transcendental knowledge (chapter 4).
• Karam Sanyas Yoga: The selfless action with knowledge naturally leads to next step as we dovetail our action to the will of the Lord (Chapter5). 
• Dhyan Yoga: Once we reach this state, meditation (Chapter 6) is possible and we can move to deeper and subtle topics. 
• Bhakti Yoga: The second part of BG from chapter 7 to 12 that shares the power and opulence of Supreme Lord which culminates in Bhakti Yoga(Chapter 12).
• Sanyas Yoga: The last 6 chapters take to the journey of the relationship of our self with the Supreme Lord, which culminates in the perfection of renunciation (chapter 18). This calls for control of our mind. But, how to control our mind? It is a million dollar question, and the biggest impediment to doing all the right things we want implement in our life. As we know we cannot run a marathon without preparation; similarly mind control is like our training to run a full marathon.   In Chapter 17, Krishna explains control of the mind is the last steps in the hierarchy of control for senses. This first step is to start our control by having the right quantity and quality of food (Tapas of taste), then having right amount of physical service(Tapas of body), the moving to have the right control on speech(Tapas of speech). As we get mastery over the lower level of senses, mind control is possible. 

All said and done. I must emphasise that Scriptures are the means, not the end. As our Vedas repeatedly say neti neti, means “not this, not this”. Just as map helps us in avoiding danger and reach our destination faster; similarly, scriptures are realised knowledge passed over many generations to help us accelerate our spiritual growth. Similarly, just as map is a guide but not the terrain, scriptures provide guidance but we have to make efforts to tread this path with determination and faith.

Countless have taken this stepwise implementation of scriptures in past, though spanned over lifetimes. All we need is begin this journey with faith and keep our efforts going.