Creative visualization is the basic technique underlying positive thinking in which the individual is encouraged to envision the desired goal beforehand. A detailed schema is created of what one desires and then the end result is visualized over and over again (Roeckelein, 2004). Arjuna admits that he is convinced by Lord Krishna’s philosophy (BG 11:1). He wishes to see Lord Krishna’s Vishwaroop (Universal Form) (BG 11:2–4). Then Krishna gives a direct authoritative instruction to Arjuna, „See now my opulence, hundreds of thousands of my divine forms‟ (BG 11:5). Later Krishna says, “But you cannot see me with your present eyes, therefore I give you divine eyes” and goes on to describe to Arjuna in following verses what the latter should „see‟ (BG 11:6–7). He exhorts Arjuna to get up, fight and vanquish his enemies as they ‘have already been destroyed by him’ (BG 11:33–34) (Swami Prabhupada, 1983). This suggests that Lord Krishna used a creative visualization technique in the context of “the enemies already having been destroyed” (Vartak, 2005).
Arjuna’s altered state of consciousness
Arjuna gets awed and terrified by visualizing Krishna’s vishwaroop(The Universal Form), and requests him to show his original form (BG 11:45). Responding to this request Lord Krishna changes the visualization saying, “You have been perturbed and bewildered…. Now let it be finished…With a peaceful mind you can now see the form you desire” (BG 11:49). Later Arjuna says, “Seeing your original form I am now composed in mind and I am now restored to my original nature” (BG 11:51) (Swami Prabhupada, 1983). According to these statements it may be inferred that Arjuna was in an altered state of consciousness, characteristic of a trance-like state (Kroger, 2008; Vartak, 2005).
Post hypnotic suggestion and awakening
Post hypnotic suggestion is a suggestion given to a client under hypnosis which affects his behavior in a desired manner after the hypnosis session. Post hypnotic suggestions may be for an action, a feeling or an internal physical change to occur. It helps to increase adherence to therapy and to carry out assigned tasks (Erickson, Seymour and Secter, 2005). In the concluding chapter, Lord Krishna instructs Arjuna to shed all his anxieties and adopt a complete fearless state. He tells him not to worry and to leave everything onto him and trust him (BG 18.66) (Swami Prabhupada, 1983).
Therapies are generally considered successful when their predetermined goals are achieved. In this context, Lord Krishna’s aim was to reduce Arjuna’s fears and prepare him to fight the battle.[1] To confirm this transformation in Arjuna, Lord Krishna asks in the last chapter of the Bhagavad Gita, whether Arjuna’s “ignorance and illusions are now dispelled” (BG 18:72) (Swami Prabhupada, 1983). Thereafter, Arjuna admits to being convinced and as per Lord Krishna’s instructions, gets ready to fight the battle (BG 18.73) (Swami Prabhupada, 1983). Thus Lord Krishna changes Arjuna’s fearful and anxious state to a fearless one, by which Arjuna who initially was ready to give up all his duties, decides to fight the battle till the end.
