10-08-2005, 02:40 AM
came via email:
Hindu Religion* Bhagvad Gita: a practical guide to
day-to-day life By J.G. Arora
The Free Press Journal, Mumbai: September 13, 2005
A practical guide to day-to-day life, Bhagvad Gita is meant for them
who
want to achieve supreme success and excellence. Bhagvad Gita (or Gita)
is
meant also for them who wish to transcend suffering and misery. Gita
helps
them also who want to live a life of divine blessedness. Because of its
theme and content, Gita has got universal appeal, and will help anyone
realize his dreams.
Bhagvad Geeta contains just 701 *Shlokas *(verses)*,* and occurs in
*Bhishma
Parva* of *Mahabharata*. In Adi Sankara's words, Bhagvad Gita "is the
manifest quintessence of all the teachings of Vedic scriptures."
Bhagvad Gita takes us to real freedom and real success. Gita
stipulates
that real freedom is freedom from attachment, aversion, ego, greed,
anger
and fear. For Gita, real worship consists of doing one's duty with
perfection without being distracted by thoughts of its outcome. Gita
liberates us from all bondages, doubts, self-imposed limitations,
anxieties
and fears to lead happier, fuller, contented, peaceful and supremely
successful lives.
* *
*Three gateways to hell*
As per Shloka number XVI (21), desires, anger and greed are three
gateways
to hell, and should be given up. Shlokas number 62 and 63 of chapter II
caution that attachment leads to desire, desire leads to anger, and
anger
leads to delusion and destruction. To break this vicious circle of
attachment, desire and misery, and to achieve supreme success, one has
to do
one's duty with perfection and detachment (which as discussed below
implies
non-expectation of fruit of action).
Gita helps humans in self-discovery.* * Gita teaches that by
eliminating the
desires, but by not abandoning the action, one can get freedom from
misery
caused by desire driven actions.
* *
*What is detachment?*
Detachment does not mean inaction or renunciation of action. Detachment
means renunciation of expectation of reward of action. Bhagvad Gita
repeatedly emphasises performance of duty without any expectation of
reward.
Shloka number 47 of chapter II, the most quoted but the most
misunderstood
Shloka is reproduced as follows:- Â
* *(*"Karmanya vadhikaraste ma phleshu kadaachan,/ ma karmphal
heturbhurma
te sango astav akarmani"). "*Your right is only to do your duty, and
not to
its fruit or result. Neither the result of your action should be your
motive, nor should you become inactive". This Shloka does not glorify
inaction. Rather, this Shloka makes us focussed toward our duty, and
instructs us not to be distracted by brooding over outcome of duty.
*Yoga means perfection in duty*
* *
'Yoga' is a Sanskrit word meaning union. In spiritual context, linking
oneself with the Supreme is called 'Yoga'. Vide Shloka number VIII
(27), the
Lord advises Arjuna to be always immersed in Yoga *(sarveshu ka1eshu
yogayukta bhava Arjuna)*. Moreover, Yoga means having complete control
over
one's mind and senses. Here, it is relevant to refer to Shloka number
II
(48):
* "Yogasthah kuru karmani sang tyaktva Dhananjay, sidh asidhyo samo
bhutva
samatvam yoga uchyate." * (O Arjuna! Be steeped in Yoga and do your
duty in
a detached manner unconcerned as to success or failure. This equanimity
is
called Yoga).
Same point is repeated in *Shloka* number VI (1) which stipulates that
he
who does his duty without caring for its fruit is a real Sanyasi and
Yogi.
Adding another dimension to Yoga, *Shloka* number II (50) elevates duty
to
the status of Yoga since Yoga means doing one's duty with perfection
(*"yogah
karmsu kaushalam"). ***
* *
*"Get up and fight"*
* *
Bhagvad Gita is the journey of a despondent Arjuna who faced with the
prospect of fighting his near and dear ones in the battle, has thrown
away
his weapons in the battlefield as described in *Shloka* number I (47),
to a
self-assured Arjuna ready to fight as described in *Shloka* number
XVIII
(73). Arjuna's refusal to face the challenge at Kurukshetra is
described by
*Shloka* number I (47) as follows:Â
"*Evam uktava Arjuna sankhye rathopasth upavisht, Visarijya sasharam
chapam
shok sanvigna manasah.". * (Thus uttering the despondent words, grief
stricken Arjuna threw away his bow and arrows, and sat down on the
chariot
in the battle.
Gita is replete with the Lord's exhortations to Arjuna to get up and
fight.
How the Lord began to inspire Arjuna in this regard can be seen in
*Shloka*number II (3):Â
*"klaibyam ma sama gamah Partha naitatava yupapadyate, Khshudram
hrudaya
dourbalyam tayaktvo uttishtha prantapa".* (O Partha, do not yield to
weakness. It does not become you to yield to weakness. O scorcher of
foes,
shake off faint heartedness, and get up).
Shlokas IV (42) and XI (33) also similarly exhort Arjuna to get up *
(Uttishth)* and fight.
The Lord tells Arjuna to engage in the battle without worrying over
its
outcome. Just visualize motivation contained in Shloka number II (38):Â
*"Sukh dukhe same krutava labh alabhou jaya ajayaou,/ tato yudhay
yujasva
na tvam papam vapasyasi" *(Treating pleasure and pain, gain and loss,
victory and defeat as the same, engage in the battle. Thus, you will
not
incur sin).
After this, the Lord continues to guide Arjuna culminating in Arjuna's
transformation and eagerness to face any situation as described in
*Shloka*number XVIII (73):
*"Nashto mohah smruti labdha tavat prasadanmaya achyut,/ sthito asmi
gata
sandehah karishye vachanam tva".* (O Lord, by your grace my
apprehension is
gone, and I have regained my senses. All my doubts are destroyed and I
am
ready to fight).
*Timeless and universal message *
* *
Message of Gita is timeless and universal, and is applicable to all
situations, all times and all places. Message of Gita cannot be
confined
just to a war like situation.
Gita is a practical guide to the day to day obligations, problems and
duties
of life, and enables us to lead happier, fuller, contented, blissful
and
successful life. Gita teaches us to focus body, mind and soul toward
the
goal and not to be distracted by random desires and distractions.
As per Gita, the person equanimous in pain and pleasure, and
transcending
the feelings of attachment, aversion, ego, greed, fear and anger, and
performing his duty without getting distracted by thoughts of its
outcome
will achieve excellence and supreme success.
Life presents us with unprecedented challenges. Gita teaches us not to
be
dismayed with enormity of situations but to face every situation with
boldness, dexterity, equanimity and confidence.
Gita prepares any quitter to stand up and fight.
* *
Apart from helping humans in self-discovery, Gita eulogizes *Karma*
i.e.
human endeavour as a supreme value* *to achieve anything in life; and
stresses that performance of action *(Karma Yoga)* is better than
renunciation of action *(Karma sanyasa).*
Besides, it proclaims that combination of wisdom and valour brings
glory
and victory.
For in its last *Shloka*, Sanjay, the narrator of Gita declares,
"*Yatra
yogeshwarah Krishno yatra Paartho dhanurdharah, / tatra shreervijayo
bhootirdhruvaa neetir matirmama" *(Where ever Krishna, the Lord of
yoga, and
Arjuna, the wielder of bow are there; wealth, victory and prosperity
are
bound to follow).
Hindu Religion* Bhagvad Gita: a practical guide to
day-to-day life By J.G. Arora
The Free Press Journal, Mumbai: September 13, 2005
A practical guide to day-to-day life, Bhagvad Gita is meant for them
who
want to achieve supreme success and excellence. Bhagvad Gita (or Gita)
is
meant also for them who wish to transcend suffering and misery. Gita
helps
them also who want to live a life of divine blessedness. Because of its
theme and content, Gita has got universal appeal, and will help anyone
realize his dreams.
Bhagvad Geeta contains just 701 *Shlokas *(verses)*,* and occurs in
*Bhishma
Parva* of *Mahabharata*. In Adi Sankara's words, Bhagvad Gita "is the
manifest quintessence of all the teachings of Vedic scriptures."
Bhagvad Gita takes us to real freedom and real success. Gita
stipulates
that real freedom is freedom from attachment, aversion, ego, greed,
anger
and fear. For Gita, real worship consists of doing one's duty with
perfection without being distracted by thoughts of its outcome. Gita
liberates us from all bondages, doubts, self-imposed limitations,
anxieties
and fears to lead happier, fuller, contented, peaceful and supremely
successful lives.
* *
*Three gateways to hell*
As per Shloka number XVI (21), desires, anger and greed are three
gateways
to hell, and should be given up. Shlokas number 62 and 63 of chapter II
caution that attachment leads to desire, desire leads to anger, and
anger
leads to delusion and destruction. To break this vicious circle of
attachment, desire and misery, and to achieve supreme success, one has
to do
one's duty with perfection and detachment (which as discussed below
implies
non-expectation of fruit of action).
Gita helps humans in self-discovery.* * Gita teaches that by
eliminating the
desires, but by not abandoning the action, one can get freedom from
misery
caused by desire driven actions.
* *
*What is detachment?*
Detachment does not mean inaction or renunciation of action. Detachment
means renunciation of expectation of reward of action. Bhagvad Gita
repeatedly emphasises performance of duty without any expectation of
reward.
Shloka number 47 of chapter II, the most quoted but the most
misunderstood
Shloka is reproduced as follows:- Â
* *(*"Karmanya vadhikaraste ma phleshu kadaachan,/ ma karmphal
heturbhurma
te sango astav akarmani"). "*Your right is only to do your duty, and
not to
its fruit or result. Neither the result of your action should be your
motive, nor should you become inactive". This Shloka does not glorify
inaction. Rather, this Shloka makes us focussed toward our duty, and
instructs us not to be distracted by brooding over outcome of duty.
*Yoga means perfection in duty*
* *
'Yoga' is a Sanskrit word meaning union. In spiritual context, linking
oneself with the Supreme is called 'Yoga'. Vide Shloka number VIII
(27), the
Lord advises Arjuna to be always immersed in Yoga *(sarveshu ka1eshu
yogayukta bhava Arjuna)*. Moreover, Yoga means having complete control
over
one's mind and senses. Here, it is relevant to refer to Shloka number
II
(48):
* "Yogasthah kuru karmani sang tyaktva Dhananjay, sidh asidhyo samo
bhutva
samatvam yoga uchyate." * (O Arjuna! Be steeped in Yoga and do your
duty in
a detached manner unconcerned as to success or failure. This equanimity
is
called Yoga).
Same point is repeated in *Shloka* number VI (1) which stipulates that
he
who does his duty without caring for its fruit is a real Sanyasi and
Yogi.
Adding another dimension to Yoga, *Shloka* number II (50) elevates duty
to
the status of Yoga since Yoga means doing one's duty with perfection
(*"yogah
karmsu kaushalam"). ***
* *
*"Get up and fight"*
* *
Bhagvad Gita is the journey of a despondent Arjuna who faced with the
prospect of fighting his near and dear ones in the battle, has thrown
away
his weapons in the battlefield as described in *Shloka* number I (47),
to a
self-assured Arjuna ready to fight as described in *Shloka* number
XVIII
(73). Arjuna's refusal to face the challenge at Kurukshetra is
described by
*Shloka* number I (47) as follows:Â
"*Evam uktava Arjuna sankhye rathopasth upavisht, Visarijya sasharam
chapam
shok sanvigna manasah.". * (Thus uttering the despondent words, grief
stricken Arjuna threw away his bow and arrows, and sat down on the
chariot
in the battle.
Gita is replete with the Lord's exhortations to Arjuna to get up and
fight.
How the Lord began to inspire Arjuna in this regard can be seen in
*Shloka*number II (3):Â
*"klaibyam ma sama gamah Partha naitatava yupapadyate, Khshudram
hrudaya
dourbalyam tayaktvo uttishtha prantapa".* (O Partha, do not yield to
weakness. It does not become you to yield to weakness. O scorcher of
foes,
shake off faint heartedness, and get up).
Shlokas IV (42) and XI (33) also similarly exhort Arjuna to get up *
(Uttishth)* and fight.
The Lord tells Arjuna to engage in the battle without worrying over
its
outcome. Just visualize motivation contained in Shloka number II (38):Â
*"Sukh dukhe same krutava labh alabhou jaya ajayaou,/ tato yudhay
yujasva
na tvam papam vapasyasi" *(Treating pleasure and pain, gain and loss,
victory and defeat as the same, engage in the battle. Thus, you will
not
incur sin).
After this, the Lord continues to guide Arjuna culminating in Arjuna's
transformation and eagerness to face any situation as described in
*Shloka*number XVIII (73):
*"Nashto mohah smruti labdha tavat prasadanmaya achyut,/ sthito asmi
gata
sandehah karishye vachanam tva".* (O Lord, by your grace my
apprehension is
gone, and I have regained my senses. All my doubts are destroyed and I
am
ready to fight).
*Timeless and universal message *
* *
Message of Gita is timeless and universal, and is applicable to all
situations, all times and all places. Message of Gita cannot be
confined
just to a war like situation.
Gita is a practical guide to the day to day obligations, problems and
duties
of life, and enables us to lead happier, fuller, contented, blissful
and
successful life. Gita teaches us to focus body, mind and soul toward
the
goal and not to be distracted by random desires and distractions.
As per Gita, the person equanimous in pain and pleasure, and
transcending
the feelings of attachment, aversion, ego, greed, fear and anger, and
performing his duty without getting distracted by thoughts of its
outcome
will achieve excellence and supreme success.
Life presents us with unprecedented challenges. Gita teaches us not to
be
dismayed with enormity of situations but to face every situation with
boldness, dexterity, equanimity and confidence.
Gita prepares any quitter to stand up and fight.
* *
Apart from helping humans in self-discovery, Gita eulogizes *Karma*
i.e.
human endeavour as a supreme value* *to achieve anything in life; and
stresses that performance of action *(Karma Yoga)* is better than
renunciation of action *(Karma sanyasa).*
Besides, it proclaims that combination of wisdom and valour brings
glory
and victory.
For in its last *Shloka*, Sanjay, the narrator of Gita declares,
"*Yatra
yogeshwarah Krishno yatra Paartho dhanurdharah, / tatra shreervijayo
bhootirdhruvaa neetir matirmama" *(Where ever Krishna, the Lord of
yoga, and
Arjuna, the wielder of bow are there; wealth, victory and prosperity
are
bound to follow).