a little sacrifice goes a long way

Verse 3.10: In the beginning of creation, the Lord of all creatures sent forth generations of men and demigods, along with sacrifices for Viṣṇu, and blessed them by saying, "Be thou happy by this yajña [sacrifice] because its performance will bestow upon you everything desirable for living happily and achieving liberation."

As I grow older, I'm starting to realize something important. Life is about seeking and making the most out of opportunities. It's so easy to become forlorn and depressed just waiting for things to happen to us. More often than not, what we need to do is open our eyes and look at our present situation and circumstances from a different perspective. The opportunities are there; sometimes we just lack the vision to see it.

In these situations, we need help. Help from someone who has the vision to see opportunities where we may only see the status quo. That is what the Gita offers. It gives us the vision to realize, "Hey, I've only been taking care of my body for so long. I've totally forgotten about the soul inside!" In doing so, a new path opens up to us by which we can practically experience eternality, knowledge and bliss.

That opportunity, as outlined in today's verse, comes in the form of sacrifice. Sacrifice may be associated with words like hard work, pain and struggle; that is, it may seem difficult and uncomfortable. Although those components may be there, it still doesn't delve deep into the spirit of sacrifice, which is an equally important aspect.

Sacrifice comes from a willingness to do something for a higher cause and often results in putting others before our selves. It comes from a place of compassion, care, love and affection and is infused with positivity and gratitude.

One of the most beautiful examples of sacrifice is that of a Mother for her child. Over and over I have witnessed the beauty of this relationship where Mothers' have sacrificed everything from sleep, peace of mind, to even their very lives, for the happiness and well-being of their children. The amazing thing is that they are happy to do this and ask for nothing in return.

That's what the Gita is teaching us today. By offering the results of all our actions to the Divine in a spirit of gratitude, we are practicing sacrifice (i.e. we are taking the time to put the Divine first).

The opportunity is there, the rest is in our hands whether we choose to experience it!