Recently there was a news item in India about a Supreme Court judge who opined that if he were to be a dictator, he wold make the study of the Bhagwad Gita compulsory in schools. No sooner had he said this, there were howls of protest from pseudo intellectuals as to why a book promoting Hindu religion and that too a book that exhorts violence is being promoted. Countering this were supporters who argued that there was nothing wrong in introducing Gita in schools and it was needed to promote basic Indian culture. Then there were the people on the fence who said, knowledge from every religion should be introduced and not just the Bhagwad Gita. In all this, unfortunately the Bhagwad Gits is getting trivialized and being used like a football by each camp trying to score a point over the other.
Let me give my opinion on this topic. Let's start off with some introductions. The Bhagwad Gita is part of the great Indian epic, the Mahabharata, which is the largest epic in the world, with over 100,000 verses. It details the life of a dynasty called the Kuruvamsha and primarily focuses on the lives of two warring branches of this dynasty. One branch is the Kaurava branch and the other the Pandava branch. After a series of events. the two branches are facing each other in a do or die battle for the kingdom of Hastinapura. The ace archer on the Pandava side is Arjuna whose charioteer is Krishna. As the battle is about to begin, Arjuna seeing his kith and kin in the enemy camp is overcome by grief and decides not to fight. Then Krishna, through a series of talks advises Arjuna on what is to be done and leaves the choice to him. Arjuna, after understanding the true purpose of his existence takes up arms and finally the Kauravas are defeated. That portion of the Mahabharata which starts with the description of the two armies, through Arjuna's grief, Krishna's teachings and finally Arjuna's realization is about 700 verses and is called the Bhagwad Gita.
What The Gita Is Not
1. It is not a religious text
Many people assume that since Gita is part of Mahabharata which is an ancient Indian text, the Gita is primarily a religious book. Nothing can be farther from the truth. The Gita is not about promoting any religious practices nor does it in anyway promote Hinduism or the ancient Indian religion. I will come later to tell what it covers. The type of material in the Gita is universal and can be useful to anybody anywhere in the world.
2. It is not outdated
The charge against the Gita is that, it is outdated and not suitable for current times. This again stems from the fact that the Mahabharata is over 5000 years old and hence its content is no more relevant. If that be true, any knowledge in any form that is not in the recent history is not relevant. The principles in the Gita, if properly understood with help from the right teacher are as current as any modern text can be.
3. It is not casteist
There are allegations against the Gita that it promotes the caste system that is a bane of Indian society. But then even a casual reading of the Gita will clearly bring out why it talked of different castes as a way of division of labor. Every society has a class system with division of labor which helps it become productive depending on skill specialization. So someone blaming the Gita for the country's caste issues has obviously not even understood the literal meaning of the Gita, let alone the implied meaning.
4. It is not for youngsters and is relevant only after retirement
This probably is the most ludicrous statement I have heard. The Gita teaches how to live life and succeed against all odds. Why then would someone suggest that it be read at retirement and not during young age? Getting this knowledge when young would equip people to have a much better life as a spouse, parent, worker, manager to name a few.
What The Gita Is
I am too small a person to really comment on what the Gita is. I can only talk about how the Gita has helped me in day to day life.
1. The Need To Fight Desires
One of the foremost thing that the Gita teaches is that desires are never ending. Each time we acquire an object of our desire, there is a next desire waiting to be fulfilled. There is anxiety whether the object can be acquired, anger and frustration if it is not acquired and finally, the fear of losing it, if it is acquired. Then, people question as to how one can survive without desires and why to live? The Gita talks of binding selfish desires and not of unselfish higher level desires. It discourages a businessman from desiring a Benz for himself, while encouraging him to work so that all his employees can get a Toyota! If the entire society grows due to an unselfish desire, an individual also grows.
2. The need to act and the way to act
The Gita promotes action and is vehemently against sloth. It also shows a way of doing action which can give best results. Once a goal is fixed, it talks of focusing on how best to do the task to achieve the goal, rather than day-dreaming about the benefits after achieving the goal. The Gita is a very practical, "Do It Properly Now" text and not a "Dream About Benefits" text.
3. A principle of humility and gratitude
The Gita teaches us an attitude of gratitude and advises against selfishness or the trend to abrogate all benefits to one self. It teaches good morals about respecting parents, teachers, seniors, friends, literally anybody who has at some point in life helped make the person and the position we are in. I do not see how this teaching can be called parochial or religious. It is universal good moral teaching which will save the world from greed and deprivation.
4. The impermanence of stuff
Most of us get stung by the death of a loved one or a separation. The Gita goes deep into the cause of the grief of separation and how it can be overcome. So a teaching that helps overcome grief due to separation or death cannot be religious or local. Anybody anywhere in the world can use it for grief management.
5. Ability to address unanswered questions
Most of us have doubts as to why there is suffering, why bad things happen to us, to name a few. The Gits through its brilliant exposition of the Doctrine of Karma helps answer many of these questions. It helps understand why I find myself in a particular situation and the best part is that it says that I am the master of my own destiny. What I do today will determine what happens to me tomorrow. I wonder how such a powerful message can be deemed religious. It is something that empowers anyone anywhere in the world.
6. Ability to reach full potential
The Gita's first word is Dharma, which means nature and the last word is Mama, which means mine. So basically, Gita brings out what the true nature of an individual is. It proves that we are not these small beings trapped in a body/mind/intellect, but are the very embodiment of that universal energy and tells us not to limit ourselves, but to strive to achieve the infinite.
Conclusion
As can be seen above, the Gita is not parochial, is not religious, is not an useless old text not suited for modern times. On the contrary it is a text that gives hope, is practical in terms of how to act and does never promote a religious belief.
So, I personally do not see any harm in introducing the Gita at a younger age. But I disagree that it should be forced on children. I personally believe that if we as adults can remove the mental block that we have to our ancient texts, we can benefit from it and pass it on to our next generation. Rather than spending useless time watching a mindless show on TV, I am sure we can spare a small amount of time to read and understand a text which can change our lives.
I humbly request all the critics of the Gita to please read it with help of a good teacher and after that, you still feel it is useless, I will respect your views. At the same time, I request the supporters of the Gita to do the same thing and understand what is really good about the Gita.
As readers may be aware, 3 of my books on spirituality are available on Amazon.com.
I invite readers of my blog to try any of the books and give me feedback so that I can make changes in the next edition.
1. My Humble Understanding Of Spirituality
My Humble Understanding Of Spirituality
2. Attain Infinite Bliss
Attain Infinite Bliss - A Spiritual Guide
3. The Spirit Of Spirituality
The Spirit Of Spirituality
Let me give my opinion on this topic. Let's start off with some introductions. The Bhagwad Gita is part of the great Indian epic, the Mahabharata, which is the largest epic in the world, with over 100,000 verses. It details the life of a dynasty called the Kuruvamsha and primarily focuses on the lives of two warring branches of this dynasty. One branch is the Kaurava branch and the other the Pandava branch. After a series of events. the two branches are facing each other in a do or die battle for the kingdom of Hastinapura. The ace archer on the Pandava side is Arjuna whose charioteer is Krishna. As the battle is about to begin, Arjuna seeing his kith and kin in the enemy camp is overcome by grief and decides not to fight. Then Krishna, through a series of talks advises Arjuna on what is to be done and leaves the choice to him. Arjuna, after understanding the true purpose of his existence takes up arms and finally the Kauravas are defeated. That portion of the Mahabharata which starts with the description of the two armies, through Arjuna's grief, Krishna's teachings and finally Arjuna's realization is about 700 verses and is called the Bhagwad Gita.
What The Gita Is Not
1. It is not a religious text
Many people assume that since Gita is part of Mahabharata which is an ancient Indian text, the Gita is primarily a religious book. Nothing can be farther from the truth. The Gita is not about promoting any religious practices nor does it in anyway promote Hinduism or the ancient Indian religion. I will come later to tell what it covers. The type of material in the Gita is universal and can be useful to anybody anywhere in the world.
2. It is not outdated
The charge against the Gita is that, it is outdated and not suitable for current times. This again stems from the fact that the Mahabharata is over 5000 years old and hence its content is no more relevant. If that be true, any knowledge in any form that is not in the recent history is not relevant. The principles in the Gita, if properly understood with help from the right teacher are as current as any modern text can be.
3. It is not casteist
There are allegations against the Gita that it promotes the caste system that is a bane of Indian society. But then even a casual reading of the Gita will clearly bring out why it talked of different castes as a way of division of labor. Every society has a class system with division of labor which helps it become productive depending on skill specialization. So someone blaming the Gita for the country's caste issues has obviously not even understood the literal meaning of the Gita, let alone the implied meaning.
4. It is not for youngsters and is relevant only after retirement
This probably is the most ludicrous statement I have heard. The Gita teaches how to live life and succeed against all odds. Why then would someone suggest that it be read at retirement and not during young age? Getting this knowledge when young would equip people to have a much better life as a spouse, parent, worker, manager to name a few.
What The Gita Is
I am too small a person to really comment on what the Gita is. I can only talk about how the Gita has helped me in day to day life.
1. The Need To Fight Desires
One of the foremost thing that the Gita teaches is that desires are never ending. Each time we acquire an object of our desire, there is a next desire waiting to be fulfilled. There is anxiety whether the object can be acquired, anger and frustration if it is not acquired and finally, the fear of losing it, if it is acquired. Then, people question as to how one can survive without desires and why to live? The Gita talks of binding selfish desires and not of unselfish higher level desires. It discourages a businessman from desiring a Benz for himself, while encouraging him to work so that all his employees can get a Toyota! If the entire society grows due to an unselfish desire, an individual also grows.
2. The need to act and the way to act
The Gita promotes action and is vehemently against sloth. It also shows a way of doing action which can give best results. Once a goal is fixed, it talks of focusing on how best to do the task to achieve the goal, rather than day-dreaming about the benefits after achieving the goal. The Gita is a very practical, "Do It Properly Now" text and not a "Dream About Benefits" text.
3. A principle of humility and gratitude
The Gita teaches us an attitude of gratitude and advises against selfishness or the trend to abrogate all benefits to one self. It teaches good morals about respecting parents, teachers, seniors, friends, literally anybody who has at some point in life helped make the person and the position we are in. I do not see how this teaching can be called parochial or religious. It is universal good moral teaching which will save the world from greed and deprivation.
4. The impermanence of stuff
Most of us get stung by the death of a loved one or a separation. The Gita goes deep into the cause of the grief of separation and how it can be overcome. So a teaching that helps overcome grief due to separation or death cannot be religious or local. Anybody anywhere in the world can use it for grief management.
5. Ability to address unanswered questions
Most of us have doubts as to why there is suffering, why bad things happen to us, to name a few. The Gits through its brilliant exposition of the Doctrine of Karma helps answer many of these questions. It helps understand why I find myself in a particular situation and the best part is that it says that I am the master of my own destiny. What I do today will determine what happens to me tomorrow. I wonder how such a powerful message can be deemed religious. It is something that empowers anyone anywhere in the world.
6. Ability to reach full potential
The Gita's first word is Dharma, which means nature and the last word is Mama, which means mine. So basically, Gita brings out what the true nature of an individual is. It proves that we are not these small beings trapped in a body/mind/intellect, but are the very embodiment of that universal energy and tells us not to limit ourselves, but to strive to achieve the infinite.
Conclusion
As can be seen above, the Gita is not parochial, is not religious, is not an useless old text not suited for modern times. On the contrary it is a text that gives hope, is practical in terms of how to act and does never promote a religious belief.
So, I personally do not see any harm in introducing the Gita at a younger age. But I disagree that it should be forced on children. I personally believe that if we as adults can remove the mental block that we have to our ancient texts, we can benefit from it and pass it on to our next generation. Rather than spending useless time watching a mindless show on TV, I am sure we can spare a small amount of time to read and understand a text which can change our lives.
I humbly request all the critics of the Gita to please read it with help of a good teacher and after that, you still feel it is useless, I will respect your views. At the same time, I request the supporters of the Gita to do the same thing and understand what is really good about the Gita.
As readers may be aware, 3 of my books on spirituality are available on Amazon.com.
I invite readers of my blog to try any of the books and give me feedback so that I can make changes in the next edition.
1. My Humble Understanding Of Spirituality
My Humble Understanding Of Spirituality
2. Attain Infinite Bliss
Attain Infinite Bliss - A Spiritual Guide
3. The Spirit Of Spirituality
The Spirit Of Spirituality
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