Thinkers’ Club webinar highlights disciplined effort, self-belief and purposeful action for civil services aspirants
Bhubaneswar, September 27: The Bhagavad Gita offers practical guidance for managing stress, overcoming failure and pursuing success through disciplined effort, speakers said at a webinar organised jointly by the Thinkers’ Club and Kalinga IAS Academy, Bhubaneswar, on Sunday.
The programme, titled “Principles of the Gita for a Successful and Stress-Free Life”, marked the club’s 163rd webinar in its sixth year. It brought together students, civil services aspirants and other participants for a discussion on applying the scripture’s teachings to everyday responsibilities and challenges.
Inaugurating the meeting, Gajapati Dibyasingha Deva described the human mind as an extraordinarily sophisticated system, whose capabilities require proper understanding and direction. Drawing a comparison with computers, he said even advanced technology needs appropriate software and trained handling to function effectively.
Similarly, the Bhagavad Gita provides guidance for harnessing the potential of the human mind, he said. Its teachings address human behaviour, choices and responsibilities, helping individuals distinguish between actions to pursue and those to avoid.
The Gajapati expressed the hope that the deliberations would offer useful insights to the wider public, particularly young people preparing for the civil services examinations.
Delivering the principal address, Swami Chidananda Saraswati spoke on the relevance of the Gita to ordinary life, with particular emphasis on the concerns of students facing competitive examinations and repeated setbacks.
Referring to the scripture’s 15th chapter, he highlighted the importance of conscious choice and discernment. Human beings, he explained, can reflect on their impulses, consider alternatives and decide how to act. This ability carries a responsibility to make thoughtful decisions.
The Swami said meaningful progress requires more than an aspiration to succeed. Hard work must be systematic, efficient and supported by proper guidance. A mentor can help students identify weaknesses, refine their methods and direct their energies towards improvement.
He urged aspirants to assess both the quantity and quality of their preparation. Sustained effort, accompanied by better understanding and effective methods, was central to the pursuit of their goals.
Discussing anxiety, he said people often become preoccupied with the outcome even before beginning a task. Such concern about the future can weaken concentration and make the present responsibility appear more burdensome.
Explaining the Gita’s emphasis on duty, he advised participants to focus sincerely on the work within their control and dedicate its outcome to the Almighty. Commitment to action, coupled with acceptance of uncertainty, could help reduce excessive worry over results.
Past failures, he said, should be examined for lessons rather than treated as permanent judgments on one’s abilities. Students who do not succeed in their initial attempts should identify what went wrong, seek guidance and avoid repeating the same mistakes.
The belief that a person cannot succeed because of an earlier failure creates a barrier to further effort, he cautioned. A constructive outlook should be accompanied by honest self-assessment and a willingness to change.
Turning to stress associated with daily work, the Swami encouraged participants to look beyond the immediate demands of a task and recognise its larger purpose. Approaching responsibilities with a spirit of service and devotion could lend greater meaning to routine effort.
He also underlined the need for balanced self-confidence. Individuals should neither exaggerate their capabilities nor underestimate their potential, but remain open to correction and improvement.
Kalinga IAS Academy director Deepak Rout summarised the address and thanked the Swami for his guidance to young aspirants. He expressed the hope that the interaction would motivate students to pursue their responsibilities with greater sincerity.
Thinkers’ Club president Barada Prasanna Das, who moderated the programme, appreciated the address and expressed an interest in organising further interactions with the Swami.
Students and other participants raised questions about the Gita and its application to their lives. According to the organisers, 100 people attended on Zoom, while additional viewers followed the programme on YouTube.
Jyoti Malha handled the technical arrangements. Club secretary Prof Umasankar Misra proposed the vote of thanks, acknowledging the speakers, organisers, academy authorities and participants.
