Ever since I became interested in Vedanta a few years ago, I’ve been yearning to begin studying the Bhagavad Geeta. This is because I grew up listening to the Mahabharata. The Bhagavad Geeta was mentioned in that context many times throughout my life. I’m grateful that today on Vijayadhasami, I’ve begun the study with a few other wonderful people. I will be using Master Gita Master Life course and The Holy Geeta by Swami Chinmayananda for guidance.
Our life is a series of experiences with some happy and some sad experiences. We all naturally want to be completely happy and free from sorrow. Our ultimate goal as human beings is to be free from sorrow. Only humans have this capacity to reflect with our minds and intellect. We have the ability to make choices and put effort into achieving that ultimate goal.
The means to attain liberation (freedom from sorrow) is preserved in the Vedas in Indian culture. Veda means Knowledge. It comes from the word vid which means ‘to know’. Vedas are divided into three kandas, or sections: karma-kanda, upasana-kanda, and jnana-kanda. karma-kanda gives us the means to purify the mind. Upasana-kanda gives us the means to develop single-pointedness. Jnana-kanda gives us the Knowledge of Self.
The essence of this entire Knowledge can be understood by studying and mastering the Bhagavad Geeta. It is a dialogue between Shri Krishna and Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, just before the war starts. The dialogue is narrated in the middle of Mahabharata (written by Veda Vyasa). It comprises eighteen chapters with approximately 700 verses. The first six chapters are on karma (action), providing clarity on our nature, Atma-svarupa (tvam). The next six chapters are on upasana (devotion), providing clarity on the nature of God, Isvara-svarūpa (tat). The last six chapters are on jnana (knowledge), providing clarity on the identity between Atman and Brahman (asi).
Sorrow weakens our minds to be deluded, which makes us perform wrong actions. Wrong actions automatically create more sorrow. When we are confused about our duties (svadharma), we get stuck in the vicious cycle of wrong action and sorrow. The Bhagavad Geeta gives us the wisdom to master the art of being free from delusion and sorrow. This enables one to master action, and paves the way for liberation.
In Mahabharata, Prince Arjuna is an intelligent and accomplished warrior. His mind is filled with sorrow when he sees all his relatives and teachers on the other side of the battlefield at Kurukshetra. With anguish, his mind becomes deluded. He becomes despondent and mentally crashes with a lot of confusion in his mind. That is when Shri Krishna gives discourse to Arjuna in the form of Bhagavad Geeta. It clears all of Arjuna’s doubts enabling him to do his duty with a clear mind, free from sorrow. Putting ourselves in the shoes of Arjuna, with a subjective mind, we can study the Bhagavad Geeta to master life.
The Bhagavad Geeta:
- applies to people of all temperaments
- is relatively easy to understand with practical instructions
- is engaging & captivating
- provides an opportunity to ask questions
- provides answers to all the questions
- teaches us how to transform ourselves, to live dynamically to our fullest potential
Bluishmuse 