The onset of Bhagavad Gita reveals a conflict. Vice pitted against the virtuous. Arjuna a formidable warrior shows sign of feminine weakness at having to kill his guru, grandfather and brothers. What follows is immaculate wisdom issued by the supreme personality of godhead Krishna.
In his discourse to redeem Arjuna's courage to fight Sri Krishna spells out a celebrated monument of philosophy, ethics and self-realization- The Gita. I attempt to put here the very first arguments that Sri Krishna puts forward to Arjuna to prepare ground for his spiritual sojourn.
We are not these bodies, we are the souls: The instruction that we are not the bodies but the spirit soul comes almost like a teaser to Arjuna from Sri Krishna who was lamenting for what was not 'worthy of grief'. Sri Krishna explains that those who are in knowledge lament neither for the living nor for the dead but engage in activities that are in accordance with religion and instructions of God. Arjuna slaying the opponent kings will not end their existence for they will live again, in some other body somewhere else. For having being killed in the presence of Krishna they will certainly achieve a higher destination. On the other hand if he would not kill them the irreligious leaders would exploit the subjects.
'Just as one passes from childhood to youth to old age; one passes from one body to another. One must not be bewildered by such a change.'[BG 2.13] Just as we have cast away the body of a child and taken on a youthful body, we will cast away the body of the youth and take up an old man's body, then we will cast away this body and and take up a new body, that's death, we should not be bewildered by such a change.
Knowing that we are not these bodies but spirit souls can empower us with the knowledge that can free us from the hook that binds us to the mixed pleasure and pain of a materialistic way of life and provide a cue for cultivating our true self and harness the unadulterated happiness available therein. This knowledge also serves as a constant companion of the spiritual seeker bringing him back on track whenever he sways off.
Happy exploring reality!!
In his discourse to redeem Arjuna's courage to fight Sri Krishna spells out a celebrated monument of philosophy, ethics and self-realization- The Gita. I attempt to put here the very first arguments that Sri Krishna puts forward to Arjuna to prepare ground for his spiritual sojourn.
We are not these bodies, we are the souls: The instruction that we are not the bodies but the spirit soul comes almost like a teaser to Arjuna from Sri Krishna who was lamenting for what was not 'worthy of grief'. Sri Krishna explains that those who are in knowledge lament neither for the living nor for the dead but engage in activities that are in accordance with religion and instructions of God. Arjuna slaying the opponent kings will not end their existence for they will live again, in some other body somewhere else. For having being killed in the presence of Krishna they will certainly achieve a higher destination. On the other hand if he would not kill them the irreligious leaders would exploit the subjects.
'Just as one passes from childhood to youth to old age; one passes from one body to another. One must not be bewildered by such a change.'[BG 2.13] Just as we have cast away the body of a child and taken on a youthful body, we will cast away the body of the youth and take up an old man's body, then we will cast away this body and and take up a new body, that's death, we should not be bewildered by such a change.
Knowing that we are not these bodies but spirit souls can empower us with the knowledge that can free us from the hook that binds us to the mixed pleasure and pain of a materialistic way of life and provide a cue for cultivating our true self and harness the unadulterated happiness available therein. This knowledge also serves as a constant companion of the spiritual seeker bringing him back on track whenever he sways off.
Happy exploring reality!!
