Exploring Emotional Regulation in the Bhagavad Gita: Psychological Concepts and Present Relevance

Emotional regulation is a central topic in contemporary psychology, and the Bhagavad Gita, an ancient Indian literature with widespread respect, offers substantial counsel on the topic. The ability to control and direct one’s feelings is known as emotional regulation, a vital sign of overall mental health. This research seeks to answer the issue posed in the introduction by thoroughly analyzing the Bhagavad Gita’s teachings on emotion regulation, including how they relate to contemporary psychology theories and may be applied to everyday life. Methods ranging from textual analysis to psychological theory are used in the investigation. Based on a careful analysis of certain passages from the Bhagavad Gita, this study investigates important concepts related to managing one’s emotions. These concepts are similar to those discussed in contemporary psychology and include emotional intelligence, cognitive reappraisal, and self-control. Fascinatingly, the Bhagavad Gita’s lessons on adaptive emotional responses and effective procedures for emotional management are consistent with psychological beliefs. The Bhagavad Gita equates the psychological idea of emotional resilience with the concept of “Sthita-prajna” (translating as “the steadfast person”). Mindfulness practices, which help individuals learn to control their emotions, are comparable to the Gita’s emphasis on conscious awareness. This research also investigates the modern applicability of the lessons in the Bhagavad Gita about managing one’s emotions. It investigates how these lessons might be applied to real-life settings, giving practical ideas for improving emotional well-being in the process of doing so. The teachings of the Gita on self-awareness match with current conceptions of self-regulation and self-actualization, while the Gita’s emphasis on ethical decision-making resonates with contemporary talks on moral reasoning.  The emphasis that the Gita places on ethical decision-making resonates with contemporary discussions on moral reasoning. This study article presents a comprehensive viewpoint on emotional well-being by bridging the gap between traditional knowledge and modern scientific understanding. Insights provided by the Bhagavad Gita offer a fresh perspective through which to comprehend the process of emotional regulation. These insights encourage individuals to merge spiritual wisdom with psychological understanding to enhance personal development and resilience. In conclusion, the study presented in this paper contributes to the expanding conversation that is taking place at the interface of spirituality and psychology. This study highlights the eternal applicability of the Bhagavad Gita’s wisdom in cultivating emotional wellness and self-mastery in the current world by locating themes of emotional regulation in the Bhagavad Gita and illustrating their connections with psychological theories.