The Bhagavadh Geetha is one of the holy books of the Hindus.It is a guide to life,and contains a total of eighteen chapters.The Bhagavadh Geetha is actually an extract from the Mahabharatha.It is considered by many as the essence of the Upanishads.It deals with a variety of topics concerned with ethics,morality,ways of life and God.Millions of men and women,have through the centuries been inspired by the Bhagavadh Geetha and have led better lives than what they previously lived.
Thus writes Dr.P.Nagaraj Rao,"The Gita is a basic human document that outlines not only man's Godward journey to moksa but also his character of duties,the performance of which secures individual well being and social welfare.No other religious scripture,even remotely approaches the Gita's influence on Indian religion and culture.It is the book of light and love.It is the best introduction to Indian life and culture."
It is interesting to note the setting in which the Gita was spoken.It was spoken to Arjuna,not in a lonely hermitage on a mountain top,but in the thick of a battle,in the hour of crisis.Unlike the books of other religions,there is no attemp at forcible indoctrination,nor pressurizing one into the acceptance of a faith on the basis of authority through threats and intimidation.
One of the most intersting facets of the Bhagavadh Geetha is the chapter on Karma Yoga.In that chapter,Lord Krishna asks arjuna to fight his own cousins,not for the sake of attaining the kingdom,but for the sake of Dharma.He asks Arjuna to fight with dispassion.
"कर्मन एवढी कारस्ते मा फलेषु कधाचन"
"Do your duty. Don't expect the rewards".
A question might arise in the mind for the reader if krishna is asking us to work with a sense of negativity.A little introspection will clear this doubt.It is a fact of daily experience that the efficiency of output is increased if we do something for the sake of interest rather than for the sake of just the end result.The student is likely to score better if he reads a subject with interest rather than just for the sake of getting high marks.Similarly,the teacher is likely to teach well if she likes what she is doing.A sportsman should focus on winning the match at hand rather than think about lifting the trophy once the match gets over.
In many American universities,this kind of an approach is being taught in order to relieve oneself from stress.If one starts considering his duty as a service to the society,it would give him self respect,irrespective of the work he were to do.On the other hand,if one were to do his duty only for the sake of obtaining material benefits,he would be left with discontent,as the mind itself is tuned that way.i really dont quite remember the last time any of my studious friends were happy with the grades they secured in the examination.But I would console myself with the fact that I did put in my best efforts for the examination:P
Lord Krishna goes a step further and says that doing one's duty with dispassion is the equivalent of showing devotion to God.In simpler terms,God considers an army jawan fighting for the nation's sake and a preist doing rituals in the temple as one and the same.This is where the concept of swadharma comes into focus.Swadharma means one's own duty.
If everyone were to take pride in doing their own duty,the overall well being of the society could be easily taken care of by the rulers.
The Bhaghavadh geetha is the only Indian scripture which doesn't see any distinction between duty and prayer.in no other Hindu scripture do you find such an approach,leave alone the holy books of other religions.This is what makes the Geetha unique.That is why it is called "the book of life".
It is such a tragedy that such a book is not being taught in schools,under the name of secularism.I cant remember a single good which has happened to India because of secularism.In the hindi translation of the Indian constitution,the word "dharm nirpeksh" is used wherever the word secularism is used in the original text of the constitution."Dharm nirkpesh" means indifference to dharma(religion).It is this constitution which is used whenever laws are being framed for the country.
In an affidavit filed in the supreme court,the central government submitted,"India is a secular country.So,the government has the right to demolish the Ram Sethu".I cant think of any other country which shows such disrespect to a religion which originated in that very land.Such an attitude was professed by Jawaharlal Nehru,the first Prime Minister of India.It has grown in leaps and bound in the years that have passed by.
These days,the more a man speaks lowly of Hinduism,the more secular are his credentials.As the noted columnist S.Gurumurthy observed,"Secularism is an intra-Christian phenomenon. It has no application outside Christianity at all. Secularism resolved the fight between two powerful persons, the King and the Archbishop who were loyal to the same faith, to the same prophet, to the same book and to the same Church. It is not a multi-religious virtue".
But alas,Indians have the habit of copying whatever the west does.So they have blindly adopted secularism.There is a deliberate attempt these days to portray the Bhagavadh Geetha as a book that calls for men to use arms against others.What filthy propaganda is this!!
Lord Krishna asked Arjuna to take up arms only after the Kauravas had refused to give them even an inch of their rightful land.First he tried to bring about a consensus.Then he himself went as a messenger to the court of the kauravas.Then he tried to wean away Karna from the side of the Kauravas by explaining to him the genuineness of the Pandava cause.he decided to take the violent route only because all other options failed.War was the last resort.
It is very easy to read a text selectively and jump to conclusions.Even worse it is if this is done deliberately.Such an attempt would not succeed if children are brought up with the right values.It is such a shame that today's parents donot expose their children to such books.They raise their children with a materialistic mindset and blindly hope that those children will grow up to be ethical people.
The children donot learn it at home.They dont learn it at school either,thanks to secularism.The society also doesn't teach them any ethics.The media portrays only the negative side of the society.If some elder tries to teach them anything good,the children turn a deaf ear to such advice.The movies teach them to do this.The one thing the child learns to do is ape the West in every possible way.I would be happy if such an inclination to blindly imitate results in any tangible good to the society.Go to any city court and you can find for yourself.
If at all the child takes an interest in Indian culture,his friends start making fun of him.Finally what we get is a totally corrupt society,devoid of any moral values.And people start sitting on hunger fasts complaining about the corruption.How can a society be corruption free as long as the children are taught to achieve success,sans ethics??How can a country ever be prosperous as long as the mind is held hostage by some external country?
"A time must come when the Indian mind will shake off the darkness that has fallen upon it,cease to think or hold opinions at second and third hand and reassert its right to judge and enquire in a perfect freedom into the meaning of its own scriptures."
--Aurabindho
I hope Aurabindho's dream materializes one day...................
(To be continued)
Thus writes Dr.P.Nagaraj Rao,"The Gita is a basic human document that outlines not only man's Godward journey to moksa but also his character of duties,the performance of which secures individual well being and social welfare.No other religious scripture,even remotely approaches the Gita's influence on Indian religion and culture.It is the book of light and love.It is the best introduction to Indian life and culture."
It is interesting to note the setting in which the Gita was spoken.It was spoken to Arjuna,not in a lonely hermitage on a mountain top,but in the thick of a battle,in the hour of crisis.Unlike the books of other religions,there is no attemp at forcible indoctrination,nor pressurizing one into the acceptance of a faith on the basis of authority through threats and intimidation.
One of the most intersting facets of the Bhagavadh Geetha is the chapter on Karma Yoga.In that chapter,Lord Krishna asks arjuna to fight his own cousins,not for the sake of attaining the kingdom,but for the sake of Dharma.He asks Arjuna to fight with dispassion.
"कर्मन एवढी कारस्ते मा फलेषु कधाचन"
"Do your duty. Don't expect the rewards".
A question might arise in the mind for the reader if krishna is asking us to work with a sense of negativity.A little introspection will clear this doubt.It is a fact of daily experience that the efficiency of output is increased if we do something for the sake of interest rather than for the sake of just the end result.The student is likely to score better if he reads a subject with interest rather than just for the sake of getting high marks.Similarly,the teacher is likely to teach well if she likes what she is doing.A sportsman should focus on winning the match at hand rather than think about lifting the trophy once the match gets over.
In many American universities,this kind of an approach is being taught in order to relieve oneself from stress.If one starts considering his duty as a service to the society,it would give him self respect,irrespective of the work he were to do.On the other hand,if one were to do his duty only for the sake of obtaining material benefits,he would be left with discontent,as the mind itself is tuned that way.i really dont quite remember the last time any of my studious friends were happy with the grades they secured in the examination.But I would console myself with the fact that I did put in my best efforts for the examination:P
Lord Krishna goes a step further and says that doing one's duty with dispassion is the equivalent of showing devotion to God.In simpler terms,God considers an army jawan fighting for the nation's sake and a preist doing rituals in the temple as one and the same.This is where the concept of swadharma comes into focus.Swadharma means one's own duty.
If everyone were to take pride in doing their own duty,the overall well being of the society could be easily taken care of by the rulers.
The Bhaghavadh geetha is the only Indian scripture which doesn't see any distinction between duty and prayer.in no other Hindu scripture do you find such an approach,leave alone the holy books of other religions.This is what makes the Geetha unique.That is why it is called "the book of life".
It is such a tragedy that such a book is not being taught in schools,under the name of secularism.I cant remember a single good which has happened to India because of secularism.In the hindi translation of the Indian constitution,the word "dharm nirpeksh" is used wherever the word secularism is used in the original text of the constitution."Dharm nirkpesh" means indifference to dharma(religion).It is this constitution which is used whenever laws are being framed for the country.
In an affidavit filed in the supreme court,the central government submitted,"India is a secular country.So,the government has the right to demolish the Ram Sethu".I cant think of any other country which shows such disrespect to a religion which originated in that very land.Such an attitude was professed by Jawaharlal Nehru,the first Prime Minister of India.It has grown in leaps and bound in the years that have passed by.
These days,the more a man speaks lowly of Hinduism,the more secular are his credentials.As the noted columnist S.Gurumurthy observed,"Secularism is an intra-Christian phenomenon. It has no application outside Christianity at all. Secularism resolved the fight between two powerful persons, the King and the Archbishop who were loyal to the same faith, to the same prophet, to the same book and to the same Church. It is not a multi-religious virtue".
But alas,Indians have the habit of copying whatever the west does.So they have blindly adopted secularism.There is a deliberate attempt these days to portray the Bhagavadh Geetha as a book that calls for men to use arms against others.What filthy propaganda is this!!
Lord Krishna asked Arjuna to take up arms only after the Kauravas had refused to give them even an inch of their rightful land.First he tried to bring about a consensus.Then he himself went as a messenger to the court of the kauravas.Then he tried to wean away Karna from the side of the Kauravas by explaining to him the genuineness of the Pandava cause.he decided to take the violent route only because all other options failed.War was the last resort.
It is very easy to read a text selectively and jump to conclusions.Even worse it is if this is done deliberately.Such an attempt would not succeed if children are brought up with the right values.It is such a shame that today's parents donot expose their children to such books.They raise their children with a materialistic mindset and blindly hope that those children will grow up to be ethical people.
The children donot learn it at home.They dont learn it at school either,thanks to secularism.The society also doesn't teach them any ethics.The media portrays only the negative side of the society.If some elder tries to teach them anything good,the children turn a deaf ear to such advice.The movies teach them to do this.The one thing the child learns to do is ape the West in every possible way.I would be happy if such an inclination to blindly imitate results in any tangible good to the society.Go to any city court and you can find for yourself.
If at all the child takes an interest in Indian culture,his friends start making fun of him.Finally what we get is a totally corrupt society,devoid of any moral values.And people start sitting on hunger fasts complaining about the corruption.How can a society be corruption free as long as the children are taught to achieve success,sans ethics??How can a country ever be prosperous as long as the mind is held hostage by some external country?
"A time must come when the Indian mind will shake off the darkness that has fallen upon it,cease to think or hold opinions at second and third hand and reassert its right to judge and enquire in a perfect freedom into the meaning of its own scriptures."
--Aurabindho
I hope Aurabindho's dream materializes one day...................
(To be continued)
Such a depth of knowledge you have!
ReplyDeleteI have just read a very very small portion of the Gita...now I'm all obsessed to read it more, thanks to your post!
lol...hope you read the gita....am really happy if i've inspired some one...i dunno if am the right person to initiate you,but some one has got to do it u know........
ReplyDeleteIt's a pity.
ReplyDeleteThere is a country which makes its Annual Budget from loans, pleading with World Monetary heads.
There is a country which in the name of FREE MARKET CAPITALISM incurred itself to a country ungoverned. To being a country with little order. To being a country run by Banking big shots and not by, as they claim, the highest office of the world. To a country were people were dumb enough to accept a President who never won the election. To a country were people were dumb enough to follow that demagouge president into WAR on a nation totally harmless.
So why do i pity? I pity not for that nation but for ours.
We have a nation were people actually perceive GLOBALISATION and WESTERNISATION to mean the same. This holds not just for people but for our Govt.
read this : http://vivekranjannema.blogspot.in/2013/07/tamil-pride.html
ReplyDelete