The Philosophy of the Bhagavadgita - 5.3. Swami Krishnananda
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Saturday, May 16, 2020.
Chapter 5: The Mortal and the Immortal-3.
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1.
#The doubts that arise in the mind later on, when we advance sufficiently on the path, can be many, but those that are recorded in the First Chapter of the Gita, as those that occurred to the mind of Arjuna, are a few. He had a few serious difficulties which he posed before Krishna. All this is the preparation for the war, the battle in which the seeking spirit is confronting Nature as a whole and the society outside.
*“Can this adventure be a mistake on our part?”
**“Have I committed a blunder with no proper thought?”
##When we grow older in age, these doubts can come to the mind. “Is there not something different from what I am seeking just now? I have made an evaluation of human society, my relationship with human society, and the world as a whole, and have come to a conclusion that they are to be faced in a storm if it becomes necessary.
They are to be subdued and thrown out, abandoned, put down for the purpose of the achievement of spiritual victory.
*But is this a proper attitude?
**Shall we face in a war those things, those persons, who have been our support and in regard to whom we are certainly required to perform certain obligations?
There is what is called ethics and morality, there is an etiquette and a goodness, a charitable feeling, all of which is quite different from the spirit of battle or war with the atmosphere outside.
***Are we to consider it friendly and accommodative with our relationships in the world of sense? Or, are we to fight with everything?
****What should be our spirit, our attitude in relation to the world and human society?
###A spirit of accommodation is one thing, and a spirit of war is another thing. Are things to be completely put down with the power of our arms? Or, can this attitude be an error on our side?”
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2.
#Arjuna puts this question: “Is this not a mistake? Are we expected to face our brethren, our nephews, our relations, our grandsire, our teachers as if they are our opponents? Is the world our enemy? Are we to confront society as an unfriendly environment?
##This is one difficulty. Secondly, if we set this example before other people, naturally, we expect others also to follow the same thing as a permissible attitude. The world will follow suit along this line, which will end in a chaos of the entire society, a destruction of all human values, and a defeat of the very purpose of creation. Is this not a sin that we commit?
*Are we to create disorder in human society in the name of a so-called victory, in the name of an idea that we have placed before ourselves, calling it dharma or justice?
**But, there is another difficulty, yet. Is it certain that we are going to win victory in this battle?
***The world is mighty enough, and human society is very complicated in its makeup. Are we sure that we are to be the winners, or can it be the other way round?
###We may be overpowered by the powers of Nature or we may be destroyed by the ethics of society. Considering all these aspects of the situation it appears to me that all these engagements of ours are a futile attempt. We have to think thrice before we take a step. To me, at least, it appears that there is a basic error in the entire outlook with which we have embarked upon this war. I shall do nothing,” says Arjuna, and throws down the weapon of all effort, enthusiasm and aspiration, and reverts to the level of the ordinary human being of sentiments and sense-ridden satisfaction.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Saturday, May 16, 2020.
Chapter 5: The Mortal and the Immortal-3.
-----------------------------------------------------------
1.
#The doubts that arise in the mind later on, when we advance sufficiently on the path, can be many, but those that are recorded in the First Chapter of the Gita, as those that occurred to the mind of Arjuna, are a few. He had a few serious difficulties which he posed before Krishna. All this is the preparation for the war, the battle in which the seeking spirit is confronting Nature as a whole and the society outside.
*“Can this adventure be a mistake on our part?”
**“Have I committed a blunder with no proper thought?”
##When we grow older in age, these doubts can come to the mind. “Is there not something different from what I am seeking just now? I have made an evaluation of human society, my relationship with human society, and the world as a whole, and have come to a conclusion that they are to be faced in a storm if it becomes necessary.
They are to be subdued and thrown out, abandoned, put down for the purpose of the achievement of spiritual victory.
*But is this a proper attitude?
**Shall we face in a war those things, those persons, who have been our support and in regard to whom we are certainly required to perform certain obligations?
There is what is called ethics and morality, there is an etiquette and a goodness, a charitable feeling, all of which is quite different from the spirit of battle or war with the atmosphere outside.
***Are we to consider it friendly and accommodative with our relationships in the world of sense? Or, are we to fight with everything?
****What should be our spirit, our attitude in relation to the world and human society?
###A spirit of accommodation is one thing, and a spirit of war is another thing. Are things to be completely put down with the power of our arms? Or, can this attitude be an error on our side?”
------------------------------------------------------
2.
#Arjuna puts this question: “Is this not a mistake? Are we expected to face our brethren, our nephews, our relations, our grandsire, our teachers as if they are our opponents? Is the world our enemy? Are we to confront society as an unfriendly environment?
##This is one difficulty. Secondly, if we set this example before other people, naturally, we expect others also to follow the same thing as a permissible attitude. The world will follow suit along this line, which will end in a chaos of the entire society, a destruction of all human values, and a defeat of the very purpose of creation. Is this not a sin that we commit?
*Are we to create disorder in human society in the name of a so-called victory, in the name of an idea that we have placed before ourselves, calling it dharma or justice?
**But, there is another difficulty, yet. Is it certain that we are going to win victory in this battle?
***The world is mighty enough, and human society is very complicated in its makeup. Are we sure that we are to be the winners, or can it be the other way round?
###We may be overpowered by the powers of Nature or we may be destroyed by the ethics of society. Considering all these aspects of the situation it appears to me that all these engagements of ours are a futile attempt. We have to think thrice before we take a step. To me, at least, it appears that there is a basic error in the entire outlook with which we have embarked upon this war. I shall do nothing,” says Arjuna, and throws down the weapon of all effort, enthusiasm and aspiration, and reverts to the level of the ordinary human being of sentiments and sense-ridden satisfaction.
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To be continued ....
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