The Bhagavad Gita OR The Molecule of More

A Quest For Answers to Life's Most Challenging Questions

The Bhagavad Gita [bah-ga-vahd Geeta] and The Molecule of More are two very different books that both speak tremendous truths. The Bhagavad Gita (I will refer to this as “The Gita” from this point forwards), speaks of an inner Truth. One that, admittedly, I do not pretend to grasp in its entirety. However, it is a Truth so insightful, and so right, that I can feel it to the depths of my soul. It is poetic, the language is so simple that a child could follow along. So obvious upon its reading, but yet, makes you question everything you’ve ever thought you’ve known to be.

It is uncertain who spoke these words, much less who actually wrote the text. Some scholars have dated the text back o 500 B.C.E, but admittedly nobody knows for sure. The Gita translates to “The Song of The Blessed One” and its setting takes place in the middle of a battlefield where Arjuna, the hero of the Gita and the leader of his army, takes his chariot (whom we find out to be a descendent of the Gods) into the centre of battle, rested between the two armies, awaiting the war to unfold. It is at this moment where Arjuna suffers a tremendous burden. He questions everything. He says:

“As I see my own kinsmen, gathered here, eager to fight, my legs weaken, my mouth dries, my body trembles, my hair stands on end, my skin burns, the bow Gandiva drops from my hand, I am beside myself, my mind reels. I see evil omens, Krishna: no good can come from killing my own kinsmen in battle. I have no desire for victory or for the pleasures of kingship.”

He decides he cannot go on, but what to do? It is here that he turns to Krishna, his chariot rider alongside him in the centre of battlefield, who delivers one of the most powerful insights ever recorded in the history of mankind.

The Molecule of More, written by Daniel Lieberman, M.D. and Michael E. Long in 2018, is a book about dopamine. The book is divided into 7 chapters, showcasing how dopamine is directly related to love, drugs, domination, creativity and madness, politics, progress and harmony amongst the human species. In a very short summary of this wonderful book, the title says it all. Dopamine, is the molecule of more. It seems to be at the core of the hypothetical engine that has allowed human beings to survive millions of years in unfavourable conditions, rise to the top of the food chain, create and use tools, build shelters, towns and cities. It is the reason why we’ve inhabited the entire globe, explored space and the reason why some of us long for the chance to colonize another planet. It’s thee driving force behind why we have children and start families, why we work long hours and strive to get our next promotion. Dopamine grabs us by the hand and shows us what could be. A molecule that is only produced by 0.0005% of our brain cells is what gives us the motivation, or desire, to do hard things now, so we can enjoy the fruits of our labour in a not so distant future.

So what on earth do these two books have in common? How are they connected, and more importantly, what information can we gather from them to find answers to life’s deepest questions? This is what we shall explore. At first glance, it appears that both books cannot be true. One must be wrong. However, upon deeper reflection, if you held the notion that only one can be right, it seems you’d be missing the secret of all secrets.

The Secret Truth of The Gita…

I should preface by saying that the remainder of this article is solely based on my option. Admittedly, I am utterly perplexed by this philosophical dilemma. I am writing this with the sole purpose of sparking intellectual conversation amongst myself, and you, the reader. I do not claim to know the answer. Originally, I became confused by the fact that they both seem right in their own way, but it seems they cannot be. One must be wrong in order to validate the other. It was at this point where I decided to write this article. I feel as though this conversation could serve as the groundwork to potentially solving the worlds most challenging issues. I do not feel personally as though I am connected enough, nor have the insight to solve these issues, but I can see in my minds eye where this conversation could lead to just based purely on where it has led my thoughts alone.

My question to you as you read the rest of this is: What am I missing? What are we missing? I hope you can offer a perspective that I cannot yet see myself.

I feel like the best way to go about this is to first write about The Molecule of More. I have chosen this layout simply due to the fact that it is based on factual, scientific research that we can easily hold in our minds as something we can more or less relate to. Even though you are probably not a neuroscientist, you will intellectually understand the data presented. Once I have brought up my key points, we can explore The Gita, which is much more abstract, and although grounded in simple truth, one could say it is more metaphysical. I highly recommend you read both of these books, take notes, write down key takeaways along with insights you found valuable, for I am certain that we will differ in the talking points we are drawn towards.

There is a lot of gold in this book that I could easily write about. In fact, I have written about dopamine in other articles prior to this one as well as making videos on the subject. It fascinates me, and understanding how it works in the brain has even helped me alleviate symptoms of depression I have experienced in the past. But this is not an article about dopamine. The most puzzling problem that comes to mind as I finished reading these two books (I started with Molecule or More and read The Gita afterwards) can be summarized in one word.

Desire.

Here is a quote from a previous blog that is pertinent to this conversation.

For the following discussion, it helps if we understand the difference between dopamine control circuits and dopamine desire circuits. Dopamine is produced in a region of the brain called the ventral tegmental area (VTA). At this location, all dopamine works the same; it inspires us to want more. Dopamine that travels through the control circuit lands itself at the frontal cortex region of the brain, whereas the dopamine travelling through the desire circuit finds its final destination within a region called the nucleus accumbens.

The difference between the two is very important to consider. Dopamine that travels through the desire circuit (ending up at the nucleus accumbens) will commonly leave us feeling excited and enthusiastic about what we want, whereas the dopamine ending up at the VTA through the control circuit will entice us to be logical and strategic about how we will get it.

This distinction is very important. Dopamine “hits” can be sustainable and incredibly helpful depending on which circuit we use to “manage” the spikes. One circuit will leave us with a feeling of impulsiveness along with countless desires, but no particular plan to get there. Whereas the control circuit will set us on the path of achieving the realistic goals we set for ourselves.

In short, the difference between the two circuits is semi-important to understand. But what is more important for this topic is that dopamine is the same molecule, regardless of where it goes. (Frontal Cortex or Nucleus Accumbens) It gives us the desire to go out and get what we want.

As I said before, this book shows us how dopamine is responsible for love, family, building businesses, hiking to see beautiful scenery, or doing something kind for a friend. But in thinking about further about this, it is also responsible for war, genocide, rape, and murder.

And this, is where The Gita makes her entrance.

In the first chapter, when Arjuna is questioning himself and the act of war he is about to engage in, Krishna, to Arjuna’s surprise (and my own), tells him he must fight. He tells him to stand up, stop being so cowardly in front of his warriors, and engage in battle.

In this world there are two main paths: The yoga of understanding, for contemplative men; and for men who are active, the yoga of action. Not by avoiding actions does a man gain freedom from action, and not by renunciation alone, can he reach the goal. No one, not even for an instant can exist without acting.”

Immediately, he clearly exemplifies the blindness in looking at things through the lens of right and wrong. “Do any actions you must do, since action is better than inaction” One must do. What I gather from this is that Krishna is saying to Arjuna that he is not looking in the right place. He is focussed on desire and which action will give him the desire he longs most for; the desire to be good or to be evil. With that, he tells him to engage in war. He says this (I think) because he knows if Arjuna remains thinking at this level, his life will be easier if he acts. His people won’t get killed. His land won’t get taken. His shelter won’t get burned. His warriors won’t see him as cowardly.

He then goes on to say:

“the man who delights in the Self, who feels pure contentment and finds perfect peace in the Self — for him, there is no need to act. He has nothing to achieve by action, nothing to gain by inaction, nor does he depend on any person outside himself. Without concern for results, perform the necessary action; surrendering all attachments, accomplish life’s highest good.”

Upon later reflection of this, I was engaged in a conversation with someone on the topic. They provided an insight that I will share here. Their perspective went something like this:

What if our bodies have many different systems in which they run on. I think we can all agree that the physical body that relies on proteins, carbohydrates and fats and is also equipped with a vast network of hormones, neurotransmitters, muscle signalling pathways etc that are required for it to operate properly with a high degree of performance. In this case, the idea of dopamine makes sense. But what if, on a more subtle level or what some may refer to as the spiritual body, runs on a completely different network? We have heard of people who claim to be Breatharian’s requiring no food, they function solely on energy, or qi/prana. This may be far fetched for some people and I completely understand how it seems outside the realm of possibilities. (I have never met one, but I certainly have noticed that when I intensify my spiritual practices and my heart feels more open -as subjective as that may be- I do not require as much food. It is worth noting that I perform vigorous physical exercise 6/7 days a week and there have been times where I have done these workouts completely fasted and had results on both sides of the continuum - feeling like I am going to pass out, and feeling like I could train for another hour on no food) However, we can scale it back a few notches and look at people who do extended bouts of fasting (sometimes lasting 10+ days). Why can some people do this, and others can’t go 4 hours without eating?

This is also not an article about blood sugar regulation and the effects of glucose vs ketones as a more efficient fuel source. I am bringing this up solely to showcase that things can be trained, and it is my personal opinion that we limit ourselves when shrug something off as impossible, or too eccentric.

Following that thread, it makes me think that dopamine is this chemical we use at a physical, dare I say, superficial level of the human experience. It gives us the desire to take action. Without it, I am confident we wouldn’t have survived long enough to write this article. But this book, The Gita, is speaking a different Truth. It’s speaking a truth that says desire and action are limiting us in our full potential. But I don’t think Krishna is referring necessarily human potential. He speaks of it in a way that seems like it is a transcended form of the human experience. The body dies, but the soul lives onward. Reincarnation. Duality. Everything originating and returning from and back to a unified source. God, universe, higher power; I am not concerned about what it is called. I simply have the feeling that it is of this realm that he is speaking of.

I feel like throughout the entire book he is walking Arjuna, layer by layer, through the realms of human consciousness, from the level of the child all the way up to the level of the Gods. He does this so delicately, only meeting him where he is at. He speaks of wisdom, and exemplifies it so clearly here. He is prodding, but letting Arjuna come to his own conclusions and questions based on his own level of experience and readiness. A terribly hard feat to do unless you have truly mastered yourself. It is certainly not a how-to-manual. In fact, it can create feelings of frustration and annoyance as you read on as it feels it is speaking Truth, but when you reach for it, nothing is there. The teachings seem analogous to the wind; undeniably present, but we cannot grasp it in our hands.

At this point I feel as though I am rambling. I have quoted from the first two chapters. I feel like I could fill textbooks with my thoughts on this subject. In conclusion of part 1, I want to leave you with a question that consumes my mind, in hopes you read this and share your perspective with me.

How can desire be at the forefront of success within the human experience, while simultaneously be the element that stands in the way of eternal, transcended wisdom?

Thank you for reading,

I have endless thoughts and questions on this subject. I hope you join me in this quest.

Much Love.

Ty.