Hare Krishna.

The Dunki Movie and the dream for a better life. The Dunki Movie depicts how people often take extremely dangerous and illegal routes to reach countries like the UK. In the case of the movie, the “Dunki route” is also used nowadays to go to America, often passing through Canada, where the temperatures can reach minus 30 to minus 40 degrees Celsius, or through South America, where people journey through the Mexican desert and lands controlled by mafias with extreme dangers.

Today, we’ll talk not so much about the movie but about the dream of a better life and what the Bhagavad Gita says about this.

I will discuss this in three parts: 1) Aspiration, 2) External Action, and 3) Internal Action.

1. Aspiration

It is natural for us all to desire a better life. The life we have now may not be all we want it to be. The specific reasons for these feelings are widely varied. At the start of the Bhagavad Gita, for example, Arjuna feels he is in a terrible situation and expresses his desire to be anywhere but where he is. He says that his mind is scattered and wants to be anywhere except here. (Bhagavad Gita 1.30)

Krishna does not dismiss Arjuna’s concern. Instead, he provides Arjuna with wisdom that can channel that aspiration constructively.

2. External Action

Now, India is a country where many people face immense poverty. Despite working extremely hard, they can barely make ends meet. It’s natural for them to want a better life when in such situations.

In challenging circumstances, we could try to resolve the situation in one of three ways:

  1. We can mitigate the situation,

  2. We can emigrate from the situation, or

  3. We can tolerate the situation.

Let’s first talk about emigrating. Krishna acknowledges that there are times when leaving a place is necessary. For example, in verses 6.10-11, he mentions that someone might leave the world in order to focus on spiritual growth. The specifics may vary, but the principle is valid. Similarly, in verse 13.11, Krishna says that some people may choose to live away from others. Many Indians have emigrated abroad and found success. Some have even reached remarkable levels of achievement, including becoming CEOs of Fortune 500 companies.

The point is that emigration can be a valid option.

Next, let’s consider mitigating the situation. This involves working to improve the current conditions. Many people have worked in India to reform it, and post-independence India has seen significant progress. While India may not have advanced as quickly as countries like Singapore or China, it has certainly avoided the level of decline seen in some African nations after colonialism. India has also fared better than its immediate western neighbor, which remains focused on India’s destruction.

Thus, many people have worked from within to mitigate the situation, contributing to reform and progress.

Finally, we have the option to tolerate the situation. Some might choose to stay and tolerate their circumstances because there are valuable aspects of life here, such as strong family support, vibrant culture, and spirituality. While some things may be difficult, these elements are worth appreciating.

Each of these options—emigration, mitigation, or tolerance—can be valid, but it is essential to use our intelligence to make the right choice.

Regarding mitigating the situation, Krishna tells Arjuna in 11.33 to fight the war to establish Dharma. Concerning tolerating, Krishna advises in 2.14 (and other places) that we should practice tapas, tiksna, and sabhar.

3. Internal Action

However, in order to choose the right option, we need to do some inner work. If we haven’t cultivated a healthy attitude and vision toward our situation, we might choose any of these options with an unhealthy mindset.

For example, instead of working to mitigate the situation, we might retaliate, hating those we think have put us in that situation. This desire for vengeance might feel satisfying in movies, but in real life, it only causes prolonged agony and may even lead to generational conflicts and wars.

Similarly, tolerating the situation does not mean suffocating under it. Some people might avoid taking action because they are too lazy to change things, but they may harbor resentment. Such resentment can lead to mental illness and even explosive outbursts or self-destructive behavior.

When we choose to emigrate, it should not be out of fear or despair. If we are running away from our current situation, we are more focused on escaping than on finding a better future. This often results in rushing into situations that are worse. For instance, after a breakup, people may rush into another relationship, only to find it more toxic than the previous one.

This is similar to the Dunki route—people feeling that their current life is so desperate that anything else must be better. But in reality, not everything is better. There are situations far worse than what we are escaping from. This world is not without suffering. The Bhagavad Gita reminds us that this world is dukhalayam (a place of distress), meaning that distress is inevitable, no matter where we are.

So, instead of rushing away from one situation with the hope that the future will be better, the Bhagavad Gita advises us to do some inner work. This means appreciating that, no matter how distressing our current situation may seem, it is part of a bigger plan by the Lord. We are parts of God, and each of us has a role in God’s plan for the world.

In verse 15.7, Krishna says that if we try to play our part in His plan, our life will be well-structured. Otherwise, our mind and senses will lead us astray, subjecting us to unnecessary misery. With a prayerful disposition and a devotional connection to the Lord, Krishna promises to give us the wisdom (buddhi) to navigate life, as He says in 10.10.

With this wisdom, we can choose a path that leads to a better life—not just in material terms, but also spiritually. This means rising in consciousness and seeking connection with the higher reality.

Whether we choose to tolerate, mitigate, or emigrate, if we learn to appreciate that there is a divine plan behind our life and discern how we can cooperate with that plan, we will be able to create a better life. This way, we can avoid unnecessary risks that might lead to disaster and instead build a life that is fulfilling in every sense.

We all have a right to a better life, and the Bhagavad Gita offers us the wisdom to find the right path toward that better life.

Thank you.