We can’t foresee every consequence of our actions but we can foresee their probable consequences

Transcript

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we are not responsible for every foreseeable consequence of our actions, but we have a responsibility to foresee their probable consequences suppose we are driving a huge truck and a drunk person suddenly comes in our way, if an accident occurs, the law won’t hold us responsible because we can’t be expected to foresee that drunkard is suddenly coming in the way, if we started imagining all the things that could go wrong while driving we won’t be able to drive at all but suppose we are driving through a school area we need to slow down foreseeing that children may unpredictably rush across the road if we don’t slow down and an accident occurs, then the law will hold us responsible, life is like a journey and we all have our trucks our set of resources which we operate for doing the various things we need to or want to do while going through our life journey if we start worrying about every unpredictable, everything that may go wrong we will become paralyzed but if we don’t consider probable things that may go wrong, then we will get into trouble, create trouble for ourselves and for others for example, during a pandemic we can’t know all the ways in which a germ might infect us or infect through us others through us if we start imagining all the ways in which that germ might be transmitted we will end up becoming germophobes who dread even getting out of our own beds if however we know certain ways of germ transmission and don’t take due precautions, then we will be held responsible morally and even legally The Bhagavad Gita demonstrates a model of responsible decision making wherein Arjuna carefully contemplates the consequences of fighting the war in the Gita’s first chapter and to help him decide responsibly the Gita provides him various tools one such tool is an understanding of the three modes of material nature. Gita wisdom explains that when we try to over control things we are succumbing to the mode of passion and when we under control things not doing even the things that we can and should be doing then we are reflecting the mode of ignorance between these two extremes is the mode of goodness wherein we carefully consider what is in our control and what is not in our control and act appropriately The Bhagavad Gita states in 1411 that such clarity is characteristic of the mode of goodness We with our senses illumined by knowledge can see what action will lead to what consequence and then act accordingly, appropriately So by studying the Gita and situating ourselves in the mode of goodness we all can plan realistically and act responsibly Thank you