Gita. Bhagavad Gita. God’s song. Divine song. Sixth Book (Bhisma Parva) of Part of Mahabharata, by Vyasa. 18 Chapters, 700 Shlokas, written mainly in Anushtubh chanda. A Dialogue between Arjuna and Krsna. Discusses different pathways/yoga – raja yoga (meditation); jnana yoga (knowledge), karma yoga (action) and bhakti yoga (devotion) to moksha – ultimate liberation – of the soul. Dialogue at the beginning of the Kurukshetra war. In April 2025, Gita manuscript was added to UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register.
Gita informs: Knowledge > practice; Meditation > Knowledge; Renunciation of fruits of action > Meditation. Peace follows renunciation. One must do the right thing because one has determined that it is right, without craving for its fruits, without worrying about the results, loss or gain. Desires, selfishness, and the craving for fruits can distort one from spiritual living. Four ways to go forward based on our temperaments and tendencies – Jnana yoga if we are reflective; Bhakti yoga if we are engaged by emotions; Karma yoga if we are action driven; Raja yoga (meditation) if we are exploring. None of these are intrinsically superior or inferior. They converge in one and lead to the same goal.
These 18 Chapters include: Arjuna Vishaada Yoga; Samkhya, Karma, Jnana Karma Sanyasa, Karma Sanyasa, Atma Samyama, Jnana Vijnana Yogas; Akshara Brahma, Raja Vidya Raja Guhya, Vibhuti, Vishvarupa Darshana Yogas; Bhakti Yoga; Kshetra Kshetrajna Vibhaga, Gunatraya Vibhaga, Purushottama, Daivasura Sampad Vibhaga, Shradda Traya Vibhaga Yogas; Moksha Sanyasa Yoga. War within; deeds without Expectations of the Results; Service, Action; Wisdom, Manifestation; Selfless service; Meditation; Realization, Union; Eternal Krsna; Everywhere, everything, unmanifested; Manifestations; Cosmic, omni form; Love, devotion; Prakrti, Purusha; Three tendencies, temperaments, qualities; akshara, purshottama; divine and undivine; faith; realization, duty, surrender for moksha, beyond saalokya, saameepya, saarupya, Saayujya, Kaivalya.
Dharma, duty, and righteousness reject actionless behaviour. Action without attachment to the fruits of action and results. Doing the right work. Svadharma – coming with one’s life situation, capacity-potential. Every aspect of life leads to liberation, by moving towards form, or the formless. Jnana, bhakti, karma combined portfolio of practices is the way.
Digital Literacy. Mobile, Computer and Information literacy. Ability to use information and communication technologies, digital tools, platforms to use, read, interpret, write, create, evaluate, and share information. The growing digital divide, participation gap needs to be prevented, reduced. Digital access needs to be augmented. Can we have digital rights and digital citizenship ensured for us? Digital competence areas include: Basics – General knowledge and functional skills, use in everyday life, use in work and creative expression; Communication and collaboration; Information management; protecting Privacy and security; Legal and ethical aspects; Informed, open-minded, and balanced attitude towards technology; ICT in society; Digital learning; Informed decisions on appropriate digital technologies; Self-efficacy.
Disabled. Disability. A long-term condition that makes it more difficult for a person to do certain activities or have equitable access within a given society. Cognitive, Developmental, Intellectual. Mental, Physical, Sensory or a combination. From birth, or acquired during their lifetime. Readily visible, or otherwise. Medical model, social model.
India recognizes 21 types of disabilities – physical (locomotor, cerebral palsy, dwarfism, acid attack victims), sensory (blindness, low vision, hearing impairment, speech/language), intellectual (intellectual disability, autism, specific learning disabilities), and mental health conditions (mental illness, chronic neurological conditions), plus blood disorders like Thalassemia, haemophilia and Sickle Cell Disease. Multiple disabilities in combination(s).
Across the globe, 10% are moderately, severely disabled. 80% are in developing countries. 30%+ families would have at least one person with disability each. Poverty is higher with disabled. At least twice. Disabled most likely carry a triple burden: disability, poverty-marginalization, gender. And sometimes caste, as the fourth burden. 70-80% of them still work and earn their living/livelihood. They are eminently organizable, as self-help groups; many a time, these are mixed groups.
Volunteers. Volunteering. Optional and freely chosen act of an individual or group giving their time and labour. Free, or otherwise. Some 25% people volunteer some time or the other, for something or the other. 8-12 hours, or 1-2 days a month on an average. Knowledge, Skills, Tools, and Resources are made available by volunteers. Physical, and/or virtual/online/e-volunteering is offered. Volunteer support is also possible through Voluntary organizations, non-government organizations, civil society organizations; or groups/teams/networks of volunteers; or community collectives, apart from individual volunteers. These can be recurring long-term; or a quick response against an appeal, suffering, or a part of their education, training, etc. It is observed that serious volunteers have longer and more fulfilling lives; experience improved physical and mental health, and highest levels of happiness. Across age groups. Beware: Volunteering can be for those who can ‘afford’; long term volunteering can be a form of exploitation, to avoid minimum wages. However, many sectors seek candidates for jobs to have significant volunteer experience.
Soil. Earth. Soil ecosystem. A mixture of organic matter, minerals, gases, water, and organisms that together support the life of plants and soil organisms. Soil matrix, soil atmosphere, and soil solution. Three-state system of solids, liquids, and gases. A product of several factors – climate, relief (elevation, orientation, and slope of terrain), organisms, original minerals interacting over time; continually undergoes development by way of numerous physical, chemical and biological processes.
Soil is a medium for plant growth; a means of water storage, water supply, and water purification; a modifier of Earth’s atmosphere; a habitat for soil organisms. Soil acts as an important carbon reservoir; a recycling system for nutrients and organic wastes; a regulator of water quality. A gram of soil can contain billions of organisms, belonging to thousands of species, mostly microbial and largely still unexplored. 50% solids (45% mineral and 5% organic matter), and 50% voids (or pores). The pore space allows for the infiltration and movement of air and water, both of which are critical for life existing in soil. 365-day green cover with multi-layered multiple crops without synthetic chemicals maximizes harvesting photosynthesis, while bettering the soil. Using less water. Cooling the soil, and the planet. Making plants resilient – resilient to cyclones, floods, droughts, pests and diseases. Making the produce nutrient rich and diverse. Increasing the taste and shelf life. Improving consumers’ and producers’ health. Can we care to transform into N-living? Even if slowly.
A Stanford study reveals: the human brain has the ability to rewire the body in real time simply through belief. Our thoughts are not just passive reflections of reality but active builders of our physical state. When individuals believe in certain outcomes, the brain activates neural circuits that produce corresponding physical effects. Belief-driven neural changes influence hormone release, immune response, muscle activation, and even genetic expression. The mind does not just witness life happening; it is constantly constructing it through the power of repeated thoughts. Positive affirmations and beliefs can literally strengthen health and resilience. Negative thoughts can harm the body. Can we care to think, talk and act positive? With our time, energy, knowledge, skills, tools, and resources. For us, for life around us, life in this world, and now.
Yes, we can. If we coexist, flowing. Thinking, being positive. In N? suvrddhiyoga for 7L.