From time immemorial the human mind has pondered over questions such as who am I and what is my purpose and role in society. In the present age, when technology allows for instant virtual connections while at the same time politics, race, nation, and creed have become tremendously divisive, these questions take on greater urgency. As technology marches on, it becomes imperative that individuals and society find inner stability and peace in this ever changing world, while leaving none behind.

The question arises, “Is it possible to pursue a path which will lead to a society that allows individuals to have purpose, peace, joy, and fulfillment in life?” The answer is a most definite ‘yes’. So what is this wonderful path? This is a path of unfoldment which when sincerely pursued culminates in the realization of the deepest level of ones very being. While disciplines such as psychology, psychiatry, and neurology dig deep in our motivations and neural circuits to gain a better understanding of the human mind, to strike at the core of of the human personality is a much more significant undertaking.

Throughout history there have been men and women who have undertaken this journey of introspection. These individuals arrived at a destination which words could not describe easily. However when prodded, they commonly denoted this state as peace, bliss, or unbounded joy. Some of these individuals shared this understanding and became guides to other seekers while others carried out their respective roles with clarity and in harmony with the needs of society.

A similar crisis prevailed in ancient India nearly 5000 years ago which led to a great war The Mahabharata. The Bhagavad Gita is a dialogue where the same fundamental questions of life are asked by a leader dejected at the thought of fighting his kith and kin and his charioteer who is also a mentor and friend. The dialogue takes place at the battlefield with two raging armies arranged for the first battle.

At the end of this dialogue, the king Arjuna lost his despondency, picked up his bow and arose to fight a great war. Although the backdrop in The Bhagavad Gita is a battlefield with imminent bloodshed and destruction, the focus is on the mind of the individual. The war merely provided the dramatic backdrop symbolizing tussle of opposites of good and evil, success and failure, victory and loss.

The Bhagavad Gita addresses any individual who is bewildered by the opposing forces in the world and is paralyzed by inertia. It has inspired and provided answers to countless people from Eastern and Western societies who wanted answers to their pressing questions and sought relief from the afflictions of their mind. In the Bhagavad Gita, they found clarity for their intelligence and succour for the mind.

The goal of this Bhagavad Gita convention is to introduce the teachings of this wonderful text and to deepen the knowledge of those already familiar with it. Regardless of one’s vocation, ethnicity, or religious affiliation, these teachings can greatly benefit one and all. The philosophical foundation provided by the Gita will serve as our springboard and strong inspiration for discussion at the convention.