Darshan Shastra

In Sanskrit, philosophy is called Darshan Shastra. Darshan shastra, or philosophy, is the systematic study of fundamental questions about existence, knowledge, reason, mind, value, and language. It's a rational and critical inquiry that reflects on its own assumptions and methods. The word darshan comes from the Sanskrit root drish which means "to see" or "to experience". 

The Bhagavad Gita has a deep focus. Life comprises two domains – the external world and internal world. The external domain is the outside world of office, home, and family. There are internal worlds comprising emotions, thoughts, fears, upsets, apprehensions, paradoxes, and conflicts.

The Gita teaches us to see life in a simple way despite its complexity. Can one bring simplicity to perceiving the complexity of the external world? This is awakening of the internal world. If one brings simplicity in their perception, complexities become clear facts or issues that need to be worked out.

A wife once asked her husband for a substantial amount of money. Curious, the husband inquired, ‘Why do you need so much?’ The wife excitedly explained, ‘I saw silk saris for just Rs 10 each, nylon saris for Rs 7, and cotton saris for Rs 5! I want to buy as many as I can – they’re such a bargain!’

The husband chuckled and replied, ‘Those aren’t the prices for the saris; that’s the cost of ironing them.’ While the wife had assumed she was getting an incredible deal, she had overlooked the crucial detail – it was an ironing shop, not a sari store.

This is how we think that we see, but we misunderstand.