Acting Upon Shame

Having purpose in life is probably one of the reasons we get up every morning and fight for what we think is right. In a way this makes us have a stable mind and a good balance in our life, a happy face for our community and a joyful heart for the days to come. Krishna shows that a perseverant warrior who has a goal on his mind will fulfill his duty. “Look to your own duty; do not tremble before it; nothing is better for a warrior than a battle of sacred duty.” (3, 31) Being able to accept that there are going to be difficulties and benefits in each person’s journey is critical in order to make sacrifice worth one’s goal.

Krishna makes us appreciate the reflection of one’s image through the eyes of others as a guidance in order to understand how strong our purpose in life must be to endure difficult moments. “People will tell of your undying shame, and for a man of honor shame is worse than death.” (3, 34) Shame is the result of a deep, inner failure with one’s deepest values, losing face with one’s core essence in front of those whom one most values including most oneself. Shame, if not analyzed, understood and purged; can cause people to create self-destructive situations to unconsciously punish themselves for having failed their own moral expectations. We have a vivid example of this with the multiple suicides throughout the world of billionaires who lost theirs and their close friends’ and family’s fortunes by trusting Mr. Madoff, who seems to have no shame at all.

It is critical in Krishna’s eyes to not only have a goal in life but make it your daily struggle, your acting point. One must become a spiritual warrior because there are many internal and external battles to confront with all one’s power before we finally lay to rest. “If you are killed, you win heaven; if you triumph, you enjoy the earth; therefore, Arjuna, stand up and resolve to fight the battle!” (3, 37)