Nov 16, 2025 - JCHYK Gr. 10-12 (Sunday PM)

Hari OM!

In the past two classes, we examined how attachment can lead to significant difficulties in life, using the characters Dhṛtarāṣṭra and Arjuna from the Mahābhārata as case studies.

Dhṛtarāṣṭra: Attachment leading to Adharma

Students analyzed Dhṛtarāṣṭra's actions from multiple perspectives:

• as the king of Hastināpura,
• as Pāṇḍu's brother,
• as father to Duryodhana,
• as uncle to the Pāṇḍavas, and
• as father-in-law to Draupadī.

Despite these varied roles, his decisions were consistently adharmic due to his excessive attachment to his son. This principle is effectively summarized by the acronym "ABCD": Attachment Blinds us from Clearly doing our Dharma.

How to cure Arjuna disease: Insights from the Bhagavad Gītā

To further understand the consequences of attachment, we studied selected verses from Chapter 1 of the Bhagavad Gītā. Upon recognizing that he would be fighting his own relatives and revered teachers, Arjuna experienced a profound psychological crisis characterized by:

• Delusion — Viewing the situation solely through emotional and personal attachments instead of duty.
• Pessimism — Losing confidence in achieving victory, despite past successes.
• Inaction — Wishing to withdraw due to overwhelming emotional distress.
• Regret — Feeling that even victory would be devoid of value.
• Distraction - Thinking about becoming a renunciate.

This intense emotional turmoil immobilized Arjuna, a condition that Gurudev refers to as "Arjuna disease."

The THRIVE Approach

We then discussed the THRIVE approach as a structured method for responding to psychological overwhelm or indecision:

• T — Take action, even if the step is small.
• H — Hold onto higher goals, following the guidance of Bhagavān, the Guru, and the scriptures, especially in moments of confusion.
• R — Relinquish perfection, shifting the focus from outcomes to sincere effort.
• I — Inquire and introspect, engaging in reflection or conversation to clarify one's thoughts.
• V — Value the present, directing attention to what can be done immediately.
• E — Everyone experiences such feelings, a reminder that such struggles are common.

Class Activity

Students applied these concepts through a case study involving a high school student who trained in dance but chose not to participate in a competition due to self-doubt. Working in groups, they identified the errors in the student's thinking and proposed solutions using the THRIVE framework.

This exercise highlighted how the THRIVE approach can be applied broadly in situations where one is required to act but feels unable to do so due to emotional or psychological barriers.

Regards

Sankar and Jody