Hari OM
Each 'Choose-day' we will investigate the process by which we can reassess our activity and interaction with the world of plurality.
There is a world of research on decision making out there. An endless supply of 'mind tools' to assist the process. There is also the academic approach. It is only necessary to plug these terms into a search engine and 'boom!', a plethora of entries to follow up.
When it comes down to personal application, however, we need a clear strategy. Casting around in piles of sand is only going to result in that very sand sifting away from our grasp. To make progress, we need to get on firmer ground and that means committing to one particular stratum or tool. This is where belief systems of all types step forward. Philosophies offer a mental structure upon which to hang our decision-making process.
The major focus here is that of Advaita Vedanta and the Sanskrit teachings. The great Bhagavad Gita is nothing more than a tete-a-tete between a teacher and student, a servant and a prince, God and Man which is all about choice.
The Gita bears many, many readings. Gurudev said, 'read the Gita as many times through as you like, but it will mean little until you let it once go through you!'
Here is a link to a very interesting paper which applies decision theory to the Gita. Do not be put off by the intense research tech talk in section two. Glean what you can of it, but otherwise move on and take in the more interesting analysis of motivation and assessment of consequence for Arjuna, then likewise for the arguments of Krishna. Interesting also is the authors' development of 'svadharmic decision making'.
