Human suffering is often not a result of actual events but of our thoughts about those events. We anticipate misfortunes, dwell on worst-case scenarios, and allow our fears to dictate our actions. This idea, famously articulated by the Stoic philosopher Seneca— "We suffer more often in imagination than in reality"—finds a deep resonance in the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita. The Gita, a sacred Hindu scripture, not only acknowledges this psychological tendency but also provides a path to transcend it. Through Krishna’s wisdom, we learn that suffering is largely a construct of the mind, and liberation lies in self-discipline, detachment, and surrender to a higher truth.

The Root of Mental Suffering One of the most powerful verses that captures the cycle of mental suffering is from Chapter 2 of the Bhagavad Gita:

"dhyāyato viṣayān puṁsaḥ saṅgas teṣūpajāyate
saṅgāt sañjāyate kāmaḥ kāmāt krodho 'bhijāyate

krodhād bhavati sammohaḥ sammohāt smṛti-vibhramaḥ
smṛti-bhraṁśād buddhi-nāśo buddhi-nāśāt praṇaśyati" (Bhagavad Gita 2.62-63)_

Translation:
"While contemplating the objects of the senses, a person develops attachment. From attachment arises desire, from desire arises anger. From anger comes delusion, from delusion the loss of memory. When memory is lost, intelligence is destroyed, and when intelligence is destroyed, one perishes."

This verse explains how suffering does not begin with external circumstances but with thoughts. A person who fixates on an idea—whether it is a desire, a fear, or an anxiety—becomes mentally entangled in it. The imagination fuels attachment, which breeds longing, and when those expectations are not met, frustration and anger arise. This anger clouds judgment, leading to confusion, forgetfulness, and ultimately a loss of wisdom.

Seneca's warning about suffering in the mind mirrors Krishna’s wisdom. The Gita teaches that by letting go of unnecessary mental engagement with desires and fears, we can prevent suffering before it even begins.

The Fear of the Future: A Self-Created Illusion Many of our anxieties stem from an uncertain future. We imagine potential failures, humiliations, and pains that may never happen. The Bhagavad Gita addresses this irrational fear with a profound statement:

"mātrā-sparśās tu kaunteya śītoṣṇa-sukha-duḥkhadāḥ
agamāpāyino 'nityās tāṁs titikṣasva bhārata" (Bhagavad Gita 2.14)_

Translation:
"O son of Kunti, the non-permanent appearance of happiness and distress, and their disappearance in due course, are like the appearance and disappearance of winter and summer seasons; they arise from sense perception, and one must learn to tolerate them without being disturbed."

Krishna reminds Arjuna that pleasure and pain are transient. They come and go like the seasons, yet human beings magnify their suffering by resisting this natural flow. Most fears exist only in the imagination because the actual event, when it occurs, is often far less intense than what we anticipate. The more we dwell on the future, the more we amplify our distress.

This teaching urges us to adopt a mindset of equanimity. Instead of worrying about what might happen, Krishna advises us to endure and accept experiences as they come. Mental resilience, rather than excessive rumination, is the key to peace.

The Mind as an Enemy and a Friend The Gita offers a striking perspective on the dual nature of the mind:

"bandhur ātmātmanas tasya yenātmaivātmanā jitaḥ
anātmanas tu śatrutve vartetātmaiva śatruvat" (Bhagavad Gita 6.6)_

Translation:
"For him who has conquered the mind, the mind is the best of friends; but for one who has failed to do so, the mind will remain the greatest enemy."

This verse underscores the truth that suffering is self-inflicted when the mind is left uncontrolled. A person who constantly indulges in fearful or negative thoughts becomes their own worst enemy. The mind, instead of being a tool for peace, turns into an instrument of torture.

Conversely, if one learns to discipline the mind, it becomes a source of strength. Meditation, self-awareness, and detachment from unnecessary thoughts are the remedies that Krishna prescribes. By mastering the mind, one no longer suffers from imaginary fears but embraces reality as it is.

The Wisdom of Action Without Attachment One of the most liberating teachings of the Gita is the philosophy of Karma Yoga—acting without attachment to results. Krishna tells Arjuna:

"karmanye vadhikaraste mā phaleṣu kadācana
mā karma-phala-hetur bhūr mā te saṅgo 'stv akarmaṇi" (Bhagavad Gita 2.47)_

Translation:
"You have a right to perform your prescribed duties, but you are not entitled to the fruits of your actions. Never consider yourself the cause of the results of your activities, nor be attached to inaction."

Much of our mental suffering arises from expectations—hoping for success, fearing failure, or being attached to outcomes. When things do not go as planned, disappointment and anxiety follow. Krishna advises detachment from results, emphasizing that true peace comes from performing one’s duty sincerely without obsessing over the consequences.

This principle directly counters the tendency to suffer in imagination. When we focus only on action, rather than hypothetical failures or successes, we free ourselves from unnecessary distress.

Death and the Ultimate Fear One of the greatest sources of imagined suffering is the fear of death. The Bhagavad Gita dismantles this fear with a bold assertion:

"na jāyate mriyate vā kadācin
nāyaṁ bhūtvā bhavitā vā na bhūyaḥ
ajo nityaḥ śāśvato 'yaṁ purāṇo
na hanyate hanyamāne śarīre" (Bhagavad Gita 2.20)_

Translation:
"For the soul, there is neither birth nor death at any time. The soul has not come into being, does not come into being, and will not come into being. It is unborn, eternal, ever-existing, and primeval. It is not slain when the body is slain."

Fear of death fuels much of human anxiety. We imagine scenarios of suffering, loss, and endings, forgetting that existence transcends the physical. Krishna reassures Arjuna that the soul is eternal, and death is merely a transition. If one internalizes this truth, imaginary fears lose their grip.

Freedom from Imagined Suffering The Bhagavad Gita offers profound solutions to the suffering we create in our minds. Through Krishna’s teachings, we learn that:

• Suffering begins with thoughts, attachments, and expectations (Gita 2.62-63).
• Fear of the future is an illusion; everything is transient (Gita 2.14).
• The mind can be a friend or an enemy, depending on how we train it (Gita 6.6).
• Acting without attachment to results frees us from anxiety (Gita 2.47).
• The ultimate fear—death—is an illusion, as the soul is eternal (Gita 2.20).

Seneca’s insight—that we suffer more in imagination than in reality—finds its deepest expression in Krishna’s words. The Gita teaches that peace is not found in external circumstances but in mastering the mind. By practicing detachment, discipline, and devotion, we can transcend imagined suffering and experience true inner freedom.

Wouldn’t life be lighter if we stopped carrying burdens that only exist in our minds?