The Bhagavad Gita is one of the most well-known and revered texts of Indian philosophy. Presented as a conversation between Lord Krishna and his childhood friend Arjuna, the Gita provides knowledge ranging from the practical to the sublime, enabling us to achieve success by expounding the principles of right action and allowing us to find harmony by understanding the nature of our environment and the people around us. Moreover, it provides a clear and systematic path for reaching the purpose of human existence—spiritual enlightenment.
From food and sleep to the subtlest practise of meditation, the Gita leaves no stone unturned in its guidance for attaining perfection. We learn what true service and sacrifice are, their role in our self-development, and what can be achieved through them. Krishna teaches us the real meaning of bhakti (devotion) and distinguishes clearly between mere book knowledge and wisdom.
Interestingly, the Gita provides clarity on human psychology rarely seen in spiritual texts. And from dozens of angles, this book points at the Supreme, the true self, the beginningless being that we truly are.
Few scriptures cover the entire spectrum of life. Perhaps for this reason, the Bhagavad Gita stands out in the five-thousand-year-old wisdom tradition called Vedanta and indeed in world literature.
There are no ‘thou shalts’ and ‘thou shalt nots’ in the Gita-iIt is a compilation of thousands of years of insight, ingeniously constructed in a rational thought flow by Lord Krishna. We are free to study it, question it, and practise whatever our intellect accepts. But the Gita itself only says that if we do X, Y will happen. It doesn’t dictate, it doesn’t ask for blind acceptance, and nowhere does it require submission to superstition or mechanical activity.
The Bhagavad Gita is like a hospital- there are various wards to serve the different ailments that affect human hearts and minds. For seekers of truth, there are pointers to the highest. For those suffering from attachment and its consequences, there is a way to independence, self-sufficiency and love. And for those victimised by the many emotions of the mind, there is a clear path to redemption.
To become an artisan or specialist of any type, one goes through an apprenticeship, residency, or years as an assistant. The knowledge of the Gita deals with the subtlest technique of transforming the inner personality. Therefore, learning from a master or an experienced practitioner is certainly recommended.
Traditionally, the Gita was taught to young students in gurukuls alongside their more mundane subjects. It gave them the fundamental tools of self-knowledge so that they could move through life with a panoramic view, not falling prey to the latest fads and fashions. Most importantly, it provided them with a powerful and clear connection to their identity. From that balcony of truth, they were then able to manage their lives gracefully while achieving the true purpose of their birth.
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Dh?itarashtra uvacha
dharma-k?hetre kuru-k?hetre samaveta yuyutsava?
mamaka? pa??avashchaiva kimakurvata sañjaya
Swami A. Parthasarthy says, about the first words of the Bhagavad Gita, “The Bhagavad Gita starts with the words dharmaksetre kuruksetre. These opening words powerfully suggest the fall of mankind from the state of perfection. Dharmaksetra means ‘field of piety’ and kuruksetra, the ‘field of conflict.’ The former denotes the original stature of man. A state of human perfection, of piety, righteousness and divinity. From the height of perfection man has fallen into a state of confusion and conflict within himself. His life is riddled with trials and tribulations, worries and anxieties, stress and strain. A dharmaksetra has been reduced to a kuruksetra. The role of the Gita is to rehabilitate and restore man to his original state of being.”
The first word of the Gita is ‘Dharma’. The last word is ‘mama.’ Together they mean ‘my essential nature.’ The ultimate purpose of the Gita is thus the redirection of humanity towards its True Nature, towards Self-Realisation.
Consider reading…
As with any advanced study, certain preliminary knowledge is required before one tries to understand the Gita. While anyone can pick up a copy and begin reading, they will not benefit as much as those who build an understanding beforehand. The recommended key to unlocking the entire wisdom of the Gita is a book called Vedanta Treatise: The Eternities. Past guests of Ananda will be familiar with this book, as it is placed in every room. The Treatise is a compendium of the entire Vedanta wisdom tradition, written in English and moving from the simplest to the most subtle concepts the philosophy has to offer. It covers the highest ideas from the ancient Upanishads, down through the Prakriyas, the Gita itself, and many other texts. When someone takes the time to grasp the ideas in the treatise and then approaches the Gita, they will find depth and clarity in the scripture that would be impossible without that preparation.