Balance emotion and intellect from "summary" of The Bhagavad Gita by Bibek Debroy,Penguin Books
The Bhagavad Gita emphasizes the importance of balancing emotion and intellect. It suggests that a person should be guided by both wisdom and feelings to achieve true fulfilment and lead a meaningful life. The best way to achieve this is to find the right balance between the two.- Building emotional and intellectual balance is key in leading a meaningful life. Emotion and intellect must work together in harmony, rather than against each other.
- To find the right balance of emotion and intellect, focus on understanding your broader purpose in life. Reflecting on our motivations helps us assess when to act from the heart, and when to be guided by our thought process.
- Working towards emotional and intellectual equilibrium develops resilience in times of suffering. With this inner poise, we can pause, consider both sides of any situation and make clear-minded decisions.
- At any given moment, ask yourself which option will bring you closest to your personal values. Taking action based upon your underlying values helps maintain an equilibrium between emotion and intellect.
- Mindful living helps identify how much significance we place on intellect or emotion. This self awareness creates a deeper sense of appreciation for the importance of each characteristic.
- Practicing tolerance and compassion for others is fundamental for developing emotional and intellectual balance. Allowing room for mistakes and accepting different viewpoints will help keep our mind and spirit in balance.
