How is our body -A Battlefield of Kurukshetra

 

   

Body is Battlefield of Kurukshetra

          Correlating the battlefield of Kurukshetra with the battlefield within our              bodies, considering the characters:

The Kurukshetra within

Our bodies are vast battlefields, Kurukshetras of our own, where the eternal war between dharma (righteousness) and adharma (unrighteousness) rages on. Just as the Kauravas and Pandavas clashed on the physical plane, so too do our internal forces wage war.

The Battlefield: The Neural Network (Our Body)

• Indraprastha: Our higher mind, the seat of reason and good judgement, represents Indraprastha, the Pandavas' capital.

• Hastinapura: Our lower mind, driven by desires and impulses, embodies Hastinapura, the Kaurava capital.

• Kurukshetra: The battlefield itself represents our entire being - the physical body, the mind, and the spirit. Every cell, every thought, every emotion is a part of this vast Kurukshetra.

The battlefield itself is the vast network of neurons within our brain. Every thought, every impulse, every decision is a battle fought on this intricate terrain. The Kauravas, as negative thoughts, try to hijack these pathways, leading to unhealthy thought patterns and behaviours.

Dhritarashtra: The Blinded Brain

Dhritarashtra, the king of Hastinapura, represents the physical brain in our Kurukshetra. Just as Dhritarashtra was physically blind, the brain itself cannot perceive the battlefield directly. It relies on sensory inputs (Pandavas) and interpretations (Krishna) to understand the situation. However, the brain can become clouded by negative thoughts (Kauravas), hindering its ability to make wise decisions.

Blind Brain

The Kauravas: A Torrent of negativity (The Negative Forces)

• Duryodhana: Ego as Overlord: Duryodhana, the prideful eldest, embodies ego. He resides in the prefrontal cortex, the seat of reason and decision-making. When ego takes hold, it distorts perceptions and fuels impulsive choices that harm our well-being.

• Dushasana: Impulsivity and Addiction: Dushasana represents our cravings and addictions. He lurks in the limbic system, the emotional centre, driving us towards instant gratification and sabotaging self-control. That weakens our resolve and clouds our judgement.

• Shakuni: Deception and Doubt: Shakuni, the cunning strategist, embodies negativity's manipulative side. He resides in the amygdala, the fear centre, whispering insecurities and doubts that paralyse us from taking positive action. That steers us towards decisions that harm our well-being.

• Karna: Envy and Resentment: Karna, the burning warrior, represents envy and resentment. He festers in the temporal lobe, the centre for processing emotions like jealousy. These burning emotions can consume our thoughts and hinder our ability to see the bigger picture. Waiting to erupt and destroy our inner peace.

The Pandavas: The Positive Forces

The five Pandavas, our protagonists, embody the five senses – sight, smell, taste, touch, and hearing. They are the gateways through which we experience the world

• Yudhisthira: The eldest Pandava, Yudhisthira represents dharma itself. He represents sight, the guiding force that allows us to navigate the external world. He guides our actions towards righteousness and justice

• Bhima: The embodiment of strength and perseverance, he  embodiment of strength, is touch, the sense that grounds us in physical reality.Bhima helps us overcome challenges and fight for what is right.

• Arjuna: Representing discrimination and knowledge, Arjuna is the wise warrior within. He helps us discern between dharma and adharma and guides us on the path of righteousness.  He the wise warrior, is hearing, constantly discerning the sounds that inform our decisions.

• Nakula and Sahadeva: These twins represent our senses and health. When balanced, they grant us the clarity and well-being needed to fight the inner battle. the charming twin Nakula , is taste, the sense that reminds us of the sweetness of life, the other twin Sahadeva, is smell, ever alert to the subtle cues of the environment.

Krishna: The Voice of the Soul

Amidst the chaos, Krishna, the charioteer of Arjuna, emerges as our chetna, the consciousness or soul. Krishna embodies wisdom, guiding Arjuna, our discriminating mind, to choose the path of dharma (righteousness). He represents the intuitive voice that urges us to rise above our limitations and fight for what is right.

Draupadi: The Unwavering Purpose

Draupadi, the fiery wife of the Pandavas, symbolises our life’s purpose, the burning desire that fuels our journey. She is the unwavering flame that keeps us focused on the true goal, even amidst the distractions of the battlefield.

To fulfil purpose of life we have to place all our senses at one place in the centre of mind so that we can concentrate our goal and purpose

The Weapons: Our Choices

The weapons used in this Kurukshetra are the choices we make. When we indulge negative thoughts, we empower the Kauravas. Conversely, by cultivating positive affirmations, mindfulness, and self-compassion, we strengthen our Pandavas (senses) and fight for inner peace.

In the same way , the choices we make in our daily lives. Just as the Pandavas used righteous weapons, we can choose healthy habits, positive thoughts, and self-control to fight our inner demons. Conversely, the Kauravas' unrighteous weapons represent our indulgences, negativity, and harmful choices.

Karna perfectly embodies the concept of ego within our internal Kurukshetra. Here's how his character translates to the battlefield within

Karna: The All-Consuming Ego

• Burning with Unjust Rejection: Karna's tale is one of being denied his rightful place due to his birth. This translates to the ego's tendency to feel unfairly treated, holding onto past hurts and slights. This burning resentment fuels the fires of inner conflict.

• The Mask of Self-Importance: Karna's boastfulness and constant need to prove himself mirror the ego's need for validation and superiority. It masks feelings of insecurity with a loud display of self-importance, creating distance from genuine connection.

• Obscuring Our True Potential: Just as Karna's loyalty to Duryodhana clouded his judgement, the ego can lead us down destructive paths. It can blind us to our true potential by focusing on external validation and competition rather than inner growth.

• The Root of Envy: Karna's envy of Arjuna represents the ego's destructive nature. It fixates on what others have, fostering jealousy and hindering our ability to celebrate our own strengths.

Overcoming the Karna Within

• Self-Awareness: Recognizing the Karna within is the first step. By acknowledging our ego's tendencies, we can detach from its negativity and make conscious choices.

• Focus on Intrinsic Motivation: Shifting focus from external validation to internal purpose helps us move beyond the ego's need for superiority. We find fulfillment in personal growth rather than competition.

• Letting Go of Resentment: Holding onto past hurts empowers the Karna within. Forgiveness and acceptance allow us to heal and move forward with inner peace.

• Cultivating Humility: True strength lies not in boasting but in self-awareness. Recognizing our limitations and learning from others paves the way for genuine growth.

By taming the Karna within, we can transform the battlefield within. We can move from a place of self-centeredness to a place of inner peace and connection, fostering harmony within our Kurukshetra.

The Outcome: Our Well-being

The outcome of this internal Kurukshetra determines our mental well-being. When the negative thoughts (Kauravas) dominate, we experience anxiety, depression, and a sense of being lost. However, when we learn to manage our thoughts and cultivate positive emotions, we achieve mental clarity, emotional balance, and inner peace.

When the Pandavas, representing our positive forces, win, we achieve inner peace, good health, and a sense of fulfilment. However, if the Kauravas triumph, we succumb to negativity, leading to illness, unhappiness, and a life out of balance.

The Ultimate Goal: Moksha (Liberation from the Negative)

Pandavas sought ultimate victory, our ultimate goal is moksha, liberation from the cycle of suffering. By conquering our inner demons and achieving harmony within, we can break free from the limitations of the material world and attain enlightenment.

Just as the Pandavas sought ultimate victory, our ultimate goal is moksha, liberation from the cycle of negative thoughts. By strengthening our awareness (Krishna) and aligning ourselves with positive thinking patterns, we can overcome the Kauravas and achieve a state of mental well-being and inner peace. The Kurukshetra within may be a constant battle, but with awareness and self-discipline, we can emerge victorious.

The Kurukshetra within is a constant battle, but with awareness and effort, we can emerge victorious. By aligning ourselves with the Pandavas within, we can fight for dharma and achieve a life of peace, health, and well-being.