If Certainty Came in a Bottle, We’d all Want Some
A lesson from Mahatma Gandhi’s bible, the Bhagavad Gita.
We all love the comfort of certainty — the feeling of solid ground beneath our feet, the quiet reassurance that everything is under control. There’s a deep psychological safety in believing things will turn out alright. That’s why, if certainty came in a bottle, we’d all want some.
Certainty reduces anxiety and provides a sense of security, like a warm blanket on a cold night. In an unpredictable world where things happen suddenly and unexpectedly, and no matter how much we’d like to believe we’re in control, we can never truly know what the future holds.
The Vedas say that life is like a drop of water on a lotus leaf. The leaf’s slippery surface means the water drop can go in any direction. A mere breath of wind can change its course. Similarly, our circumstances are constantly changing — a choice here, an action there. In fact, the only certainty in life is that it will change.
The challenge is to learn how to accept that we are living in uncertainty. Not uncertain times. Life has always been this way.
Life means change, means uncertainty.
It’s up to us to build resilience, strengthen our intellect — our ability to reason and discern — and learn to navigate the unknown. We can successfully do this by practising one essential secret from Mahatma Gandhi’s Bible, the Bhagavad Gita.1
When doubts haunt me, when disappointments stare me in the face, and when I see not one ray of light on the horizon, I turn to the Bhagavad Gita and find a verse to comfort me, and immediately I begin to smile in the midst of overwhelming sorrow. — Mahatma Gandhi
The Gita Teaches Us About Life
The Bhagavad Gita is a jewel in the pendant of the Vedanta philosophy. The Gita, as it is commonly known, is a spiritual poem that teaches us to remain calm and composed even in the most challenging circumstances.2
The Gita opens with Arjuna, a warrior prince, poised for battle. Arjuna asks Krishna, his charioteer, to drive his chariot between the two armies so that he can view the opposing army, whom he is about to slay.
However, Arjuna’s confidence is soon shattered. Rather than seeing the enemy, he sees family, teachers and friends. Instantly, he loses his nerve and collapses on the battlefield.
Witnessing this pitiful sight, Lord Krishna remains silent. He understands that there is no point in talking when a person is emotionally unstable. Krishna does not utter a word until Arjuna surrenders to Him for advice.
Arjuna’s pathetic condition represents most of humanity when faced with a challenge. Instead of facing life’s difficulties with courage, poise and dignity, we collapse and become emotionally dazed and immobilised.
Arjuna’s Condition is Ours
Dropping his bow and arrows, Arjuna, refusing to fight a righteous war that he had planned with his brothers for thirteen years, represents how many of us handle life’s challenges.
We are all, to some extent, in an Arjuna state. Most of the time, we’re okay, but we can’t handle it when things go wrong — when there’s a loss or a change in circumstances. This is Arjuna’s condition. Instead of seeing the enemy, he takes it personally and crumbles. Instead of being objective and seeing the situation for what it is — a righteous war, he loses his nerve and collapses.
The Gita is a metaphor for what takes place in the heart of every human — the battle between right and wrong, love and hatred, joy and sorrow. It is also a manual on how to handle life’s challenges with grace and ease.
Below is a lesson from the Gita, religiously practised by Mahatma Gandhi, to help us cope with change and uncertainty.
Non-Attachment
Non-attachment is the art of selfless action, which is dedicating everything you do to a purpose greater than your own. When you work for a higher cause, you don’t get mentally attached to what you do. Most people do what they like and avoid what they dislike. Consequently, they get emotionally entangled and suffer.
There is absolutely no point in getting attached or involved in anything because the world and people are constantly changing. Non-attachment gives you the ability to stand back and witness people and the world around you, knowing that what they do and say could change at any minute.
There’s a story about a Chinese philosopher who saw the world as a play. To him, the world was an illusion. Whether he was being criticised or praised, he bowed and replied, “Is that so?” The townsfolk accused him of wrongdoing. He simply said, “Is that so?” They then discovered their mistake and begged him for forgiveness. He simply said, “Is that so?”
Of course, there was nothing to forgive. This is non-attachment. Not getting involved in the affairs of the world. Instead, people get caught up in every little detail and turn their lives upside down.
Final Words
Learn to take a step back. View the world objectively, as an actor on the stage. An actor doesn’t get involved in what’s happening on the stage. He knows he is just an actor playing a role. He plays his role to perfection, but never loses himself in the role.
Similarly, use your power of discernment and look at your life as a play. Understand your various roles, as a partner, a mother or father, a daughter or son, a sportsperson, etc. and play each role to the best of your ability.
Keep moving forward towards the goal you have set, and never lose yourself in your varying roles. Never lose sight of who you are. As Shakespeare says, “All the world’s a stage, and all men and women merely players.”
Thank you for reading. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to leave a comment.
Be Well,
Meredith — The Elder Sage
If this piece spoke to you, would you kindly tap the heart and leave a few words, as a comment? Your gesture helps others find the essay — and it might reach someone who truly needs it today. Thank you.
What is Vedanta? Google it, and you will find all sorts of weird information, so i promise to write about this grounding and most wonderful philosophy soon. However, if you want to take a deep dive now, into the philosophy, then i highly recommend these two books:
Vedanta Treatise and the Bhagavad Gita.
I'm so happy to continue our Gita conversation through your post, Meredith. It's so simple to become absorbed in the joys and sorrows of this world without taking a moment to step back and be present. To our breath, to life itself.
My teacher used to say, 'Change is not a problem to be solved.' Though it can feel otherwise at times.
Beautiful post.
Love your article meredith - to be certain does give one a sense of security, sometimes we get this when we make choices that lead to better outcomes for ourselves, others & the world - but uncertainty is ever present as you have stated, "we can only be certain of change" each moment is different from the last, will be different from the nxt to come - we can only go with it, thankyou:_)