The Philosophy of the Bhagavadgita - 3.1. Swami Krishnananda
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07/10/2019.
Chapter 3: The Spirit of True Renunciation -1.
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After the brief introduction to the important features which are predominant in the whole of the Bhagavadgita, we have to enter into the main theme of the exposition. The setting of the occasion of the Gita, the context of the delivery of the gospel, is the human situation, which I tried to liken to the atmosphere of a battlefield, an air of war, conflict and confrontation, to be expected at every step, every moment of time, and under every circumstance. The structure of the universe appears to be such that it faces us as a complex of various layers of conflict which we are supposed to overcome, and which are known as achievements in life. A particular context or situation has an opposing or conflicting context or situation. If this opposition were not to be there staring at every given occasion in life, there would not be any impulse to action. There would be no necessity for any activity. There would be no such thing as achievement.
Achievement is the result that follows the bringing about of a reconciliation or a harmony between a particular position and its opposition, usually known as the thesis counterpoised by the antithesis. The two have to be synthesised. And the whole of the Gita is nothing but this tremendous progressive process of achieving larger and larger syntheses in our life, so that we become an embodiment of synthesis to such an extent that when it reaches its climax or logical conclusion, we achieve a comprehensiveness of being, which is inseparable from a universal synthesis of experience. This may be regarded as equivalent to what we call God-realisation, or whatever one would like to call it.
The aim of the Gita is to lead us up to this universal synthesis or the ultimate balance of things. But for this achievement towards the goal of life we have to move from stage to stage, and the admonition which the Gita gives us at different degrees of this exposition is the Yoga of the Bhagavadgita. Many of us, perhaps all of us, might have had a glance over the various chapters of the Bhagavadgita. We are aware as to what it is about. We know how many chapters there are, and what the First Chapter is telling us, and what the Second Chapter is about, and so on.
Usually, we gloss over the First Chapter. Many exponents and commentators of the Gita have opined that the First Chapter is something like an introduction, and we generally pass over an introduction to the main subject of the text. But this is a mistake. The First Chapter is not an introduction in the sense of a prolegomena or a preface that an author may write to his own book. Vyasa, or Krishna, or whoever may be the author, is not giving a publisher’s note in the form of the First Chapter. We would be wondering that at the end of the First Chapter, it is designated as a Yoga: “Arjuna-Vishada-Yoga”. It is a Yoga; a wonder, indeed. It is as much a Yoga as any other chapter of the Gita is. It is an inseparable vital limb of the entire body of the doctrine. It is a Yoga and, therefore, it cannot be escaped or glossed over or passed on.
To be continued ...
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NOTE : Recent media reports
1.Anna University to Teach Upanishadas and Gita to Engineering Students
Several political parties, academicians and students’ organisations have condemned the move by the university.
2.DMK chief MK Stalin slams 'mandatory' teaching of Hindu scriptures in Anna University, varsity denies move
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) staged a protest against the alleged imposition of Sanskrit in Anna University and other issues.
3.Earlier, DMK President MK Stalin had condemned Anna University over its decision to include Bhagwad Gita in the curriculum. Seeking governor's intervention, Stalin had tweeted, "It is condemnable to attempt imposition of Sanskrit by making philosophy compulsory in the syllabus of Anna University's CEG campus."
3. People can’t dictate religion: Kamal Haasan slams inclusion of Gita in Anna University syllabus
After Stalin, now Kamal Haasan has raised concerns about the inclusion of Bhagavad Gita in the Anna varsity curriculum saying that one can't dictate religion.
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OPINION :
1.THIS UNIVERSE RESPECTS OUR BHARATIYA HOLY SCRIPTURES THAN ANY THING;
2. NATIONS ALL OVER THE WORLD INTRODUCED LEARNING OF SRIMAD BHAGAVAD GITA AND SANSKRIT;
3. WONDER ARE THESE TAMIL PEOPLE NOT AWARE OF THIS UNIVERSAL TRUTH?
4. ARE THESE TAMIL POLITICS SEPARATE FROM THIS HOLY NATION?
5. WHY TAMILNADU PEOPLE NOT PREPARED REJECT THIS RUBBISH ANTI NATIONAL POLITICS OF SEPARATISTS?
6. EVR ATROCITIES AGAINST TAMILNADU BRAHMINS AND HIS ACCUSAL THEORY OF ANTI RAMAYANAM BY WAY OF HIS DRAMA KEEMAYANAM; NO ONE PROTESTED THEN; WHY? ARE THE PEOPLE NOT AWARE OF THE HOLYNESS OF GREAT EPIC RAMAYANAM. THEN?
7. THE FUNNIEST PART OF THIS STORY THAT WHEN AP NAGARAJAN PRODUCED SAMPURNA RAMAYANAM WITH THEN SUPER STARS TAMIL PEOPLE MADE A HEAVY RUSH TO THEATRES? WHY THIS ATTITUDE? CINEMA IS DIVINE NOT RAMAYANAM IS IT SO?
========================================================================
07/10/2019.
Chapter 3: The Spirit of True Renunciation -1.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
After the brief introduction to the important features which are predominant in the whole of the Bhagavadgita, we have to enter into the main theme of the exposition. The setting of the occasion of the Gita, the context of the delivery of the gospel, is the human situation, which I tried to liken to the atmosphere of a battlefield, an air of war, conflict and confrontation, to be expected at every step, every moment of time, and under every circumstance. The structure of the universe appears to be such that it faces us as a complex of various layers of conflict which we are supposed to overcome, and which are known as achievements in life. A particular context or situation has an opposing or conflicting context or situation. If this opposition were not to be there staring at every given occasion in life, there would not be any impulse to action. There would be no necessity for any activity. There would be no such thing as achievement.
Achievement is the result that follows the bringing about of a reconciliation or a harmony between a particular position and its opposition, usually known as the thesis counterpoised by the antithesis. The two have to be synthesised. And the whole of the Gita is nothing but this tremendous progressive process of achieving larger and larger syntheses in our life, so that we become an embodiment of synthesis to such an extent that when it reaches its climax or logical conclusion, we achieve a comprehensiveness of being, which is inseparable from a universal synthesis of experience. This may be regarded as equivalent to what we call God-realisation, or whatever one would like to call it.
The aim of the Gita is to lead us up to this universal synthesis or the ultimate balance of things. But for this achievement towards the goal of life we have to move from stage to stage, and the admonition which the Gita gives us at different degrees of this exposition is the Yoga of the Bhagavadgita. Many of us, perhaps all of us, might have had a glance over the various chapters of the Bhagavadgita. We are aware as to what it is about. We know how many chapters there are, and what the First Chapter is telling us, and what the Second Chapter is about, and so on.
Usually, we gloss over the First Chapter. Many exponents and commentators of the Gita have opined that the First Chapter is something like an introduction, and we generally pass over an introduction to the main subject of the text. But this is a mistake. The First Chapter is not an introduction in the sense of a prolegomena or a preface that an author may write to his own book. Vyasa, or Krishna, or whoever may be the author, is not giving a publisher’s note in the form of the First Chapter. We would be wondering that at the end of the First Chapter, it is designated as a Yoga: “Arjuna-Vishada-Yoga”. It is a Yoga; a wonder, indeed. It is as much a Yoga as any other chapter of the Gita is. It is an inseparable vital limb of the entire body of the doctrine. It is a Yoga and, therefore, it cannot be escaped or glossed over or passed on.
To be continued ...
NOTE : Recent media reports
1.Anna University to Teach Upanishadas and Gita to Engineering Students
Several political parties, academicians and students’ organisations have condemned the move by the university.
2.DMK chief MK Stalin slams 'mandatory' teaching of Hindu scriptures in Anna University, varsity denies move
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) staged a protest against the alleged imposition of Sanskrit in Anna University and other issues.
3.Earlier, DMK President MK Stalin had condemned Anna University over its decision to include Bhagwad Gita in the curriculum. Seeking governor's intervention, Stalin had tweeted, "It is condemnable to attempt imposition of Sanskrit by making philosophy compulsory in the syllabus of Anna University's CEG campus."
3. People can’t dictate religion: Kamal Haasan slams inclusion of Gita in Anna University syllabus
After Stalin, now Kamal Haasan has raised concerns about the inclusion of Bhagavad Gita in the Anna varsity curriculum saying that one can't dictate religion.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OPINION :
1.THIS UNIVERSE RESPECTS OUR BHARATIYA HOLY SCRIPTURES THAN ANY THING;
2. NATIONS ALL OVER THE WORLD INTRODUCED LEARNING OF SRIMAD BHAGAVAD GITA AND SANSKRIT;
3. WONDER ARE THESE TAMIL PEOPLE NOT AWARE OF THIS UNIVERSAL TRUTH?
4. ARE THESE TAMIL POLITICS SEPARATE FROM THIS HOLY NATION?
5. WHY TAMILNADU PEOPLE NOT PREPARED REJECT THIS RUBBISH ANTI NATIONAL POLITICS OF SEPARATISTS?
6. EVR ATROCITIES AGAINST TAMILNADU BRAHMINS AND HIS ACCUSAL THEORY OF ANTI RAMAYANAM BY WAY OF HIS DRAMA KEEMAYANAM; NO ONE PROTESTED THEN; WHY? ARE THE PEOPLE NOT AWARE OF THE HOLYNESS OF GREAT EPIC RAMAYANAM. THEN?
7. THE FUNNIEST PART OF THIS STORY THAT WHEN AP NAGARAJAN PRODUCED SAMPURNA RAMAYANAM WITH THEN SUPER STARS TAMIL PEOPLE MADE A HEAVY RUSH TO THEATRES? WHY THIS ATTITUDE? CINEMA IS DIVINE NOT RAMAYANAM IS IT SO?
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