Ever since I became interested in Vedānta a few years ago, I’ve been yearning to begin studying the Bhagavad Gītā. This is because I grew up listening to the Mahabharata. The Bhagavad Gītā 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 the Master Gita Master Life course and The Holy Geeta by Swami Chinmayananda for guidance.
Our life is a series of experiences—some happy and some sad. 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 kāṇḍas, or sections: karma-kāṇḍa, upāsana-kāṇḍa, and jñāna-kāṇḍa. Karma-kāṇḍa gives us the means to purify the mind. Upāsana-kāṇḍa gives us the means to develop single-pointedness. Jñāna-kāṇḍa gives us the Knowledge of Self.
The essence of this entire Knowledge can be understood by studying and mastering the Bhagavad Gītā. It is a dialogue between Śrī Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukṣetra, just before the war starts. The dialogue is narrated in the middle of the Mahābhārata (written by Veda Vyāsa). It comprises eighteen chapters with approximately 700 verses. The first six chapters are on karma (action), providing clarity on our nature, Ātma-svarūpa (tvam). The next six chapters are on upāsana (devotion), providing clarity on the nature of God, Īśvara-svarūpa (tat). The last six chapters are on jñāna (knowledge), providing clarity on the identity between Ātman 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 Gītā 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 the Mahābhārata, 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 Kurukṣetra. With anguish, his mind becomes deluded. He becomes despondent and mentally crashes with a lot of confusion in his mind. That is when Śrī Kṛṣṇa gives discourse to Arjuna in the form of the Bhagavad Gītā. 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 Gītā to master life.
The Bhagavad Gītā:
- 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
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