Learning from others' mistakes

There is a well-known saying that we must make our own mistakes to truly live. That may be true for some things. I agree that certain things must be experienced firsthand. But, another saying comes to mind: A wise man learns from the mistakes of others, a fool learns from his own. Perhaps the second proverb is a little harsh. Some things are learned only by doing after all - imagine trying to drive a car, as much as we read about the theory we only truly learn by doing. However, while driving we may look at other and see mistakes they have made and try to alter our own techniques so that we do not do the same. Kanhaji gives us multiple opportunities to learn from the mistakes of others. Again, while watching Ekta Kapoor's Kahani Mahabharat Ki all I can really think is that this whole situation was due to little errors made along the way. In the end things escalated to such a horrible battle that left so many people hurt and many other lives taken. I think that watching the Mahabharat, reading about it and reading Kanhaji's words in the Srimad Bhagavad Gita will help us to learn from the mistakes of others and see how to change our lives for the better. We should not accept that we are allowed to make mistakes. We should always enter a situation trying to do the right thing. After all, Kanhaji sent us here to make a positive difference in the world. In the end we do not want to have any regrets - no matter how people see us - as too holy or too good, always doing the right thing, not enough fun in our lives - the only opinion that truly counts is that of Kanhaji. As long as He is happy with our actions, we should continue. "How much greater then are the brahmanas, the righteous, the devotees and saintly kings who in this temporary miserable world engage in loving service unto Me." Chapter 9, Shloka 33 Srimad Bhagavad Gita In the above verse Kanhaji says that devotion to Him is the ultimate way to attain His divine presence. "O son of Kunti, learn from Me in brief how one can attain to the supreme perfectional stage, Brahman, by acting in the way I shall now summarize." Chapter 18, Shloka 50 Srimad Bhagavad Gita This verse clearly states that we should read Kanhaji's words and follow them in order to attain peace. Jai Shri Krishna!