“Through selfless service, you will always be fruitful and find the fulfillment of your desires” – Bhagavad Gita
I find it fitting to start off this blog on this day of Gita Jayanti, otherwise known as the birthday of the Bhagavad-Gita. About two years ago I stumbled upon an English audiobook translation of this sacred text on YouTube and nothing has been the same since I listened to it. Prior to that I had been someone who had no purpose in life and didn’t believe in anything. My only convictions was that life and the universe had no meaning and that since there was no Higher Power there was not even any objective morality, no right or wrong way to act.
My actions often mirrored those beliefs. I didn’t behave like a complete sociopath, as even a materialistic atheist can still feel compassion and care for others. But I was selective about when I chose to listen to those feelings and I didn’t see anything wrong with that. Feelings were just electrical impulses in the brain, after all. A biological function like the hair growing on your head or the movements of your digestive tracts. Utterly meaningless, just like my life and that of everyone else.
By the time the Bhagavad-Gita came into my life, I was running with a gang of violent anarchists and getting into all sorts of trouble. I had a sense that I was doing something wrong but I didn’t see why I should pay any mind to those base biological impulses telling me my actions were immoral. My view of the world was dark and nihilistic and I figured the best way to live was to distract yourself with a stream of sense gratification until you finally got to the end of this pointless existence.
Discovering Hinduism, and later pagan Neoplatonism, at last gave my life meaning, guidance and purpose. I know now what I’m supposed to do with my life and what principles should guide it. This blog will be about my personal journey working towards fulfilling my dharma, my duty and purpose, which in my case I believe is tied to writing and literature.
I will also post about a variety of topics like spirituality, politics and art. Whatever might feel relevant to my journey at the time.
Son Of Freya 