I wanted to love the Bhagavad Gita. I wanted to be enlightened. Did that happen? Kind of. Overall, I found a lot of similarities between how I was raised in the Christian faith, the Bible and the Bhagavad Gita. While I did not find this text life changing, it certainly was interesting (at times) and thought provoking.
About the Bhagavad Gita
The Bhagavad Gita, often referred to simply as the Gita is a spiritual text that is often assigned during Yoga Teacher Training. It is a 700-verse conversation between Lord Krishna and Arjuna, the main characters. The purpose is said to be to explain higher concepts like the nature of our existence and leading a life of purpose. It discusses this through the four classical schools of yoga: Jnana (the path of knowledge), Bhakti (the path of devotion), Karma (the path of action) and Raja (the path of meditation).
The Bhagavad Gita Explained
Civil War
The Gita starts out with Arjuna having to lead his army into what is essentially a civil war; brother against brother. Obviously, this is not sitting well with him as his “enemies” are also his cousins, his teachers, and his friends. He is afraid. His driver (who turns out to be, spoiler alert, The Almighty) tells him he needs to get on with it; fight the fight. That there is no way out of it; this is his responsibility – to fight for justice and truth.
I am by no means an authority on all things religion. When I was assigned to read The Bhagavad Gita for Yoga Teacher Training, I was less than thrilled. I am more of an asana yogi than a spiritual one, but that beginning really got me! This was something that I could get into. I like history.
The Real Deal
Still afraid and skeptical, Arjuna asks Krishna to guide him as his Guru. Krishna reveals himself as the Lord. He says that people should defer everything to him, and not to engage in the materialistic world at all. If they give up everything – money, relationships, desires, they can be reborn/reincarnated. For people who engage in the world, their option is to devote themselves to the Lord. If they work for work’s sake and not for the glory, the results or the reward they will still get to heaven. With this devotion, one can surrender to the Supreme (and not give up his stuff). This way is easier.
Now my Christian upbringing is kicking in. I was raised Seventh Day Adventist and watched my grandparents tithe every week. I was taught that if I followed the rules (aka the Ten Commandments) that when the time came, I would go to heaven. Pretty heady stuff for a little kid, but that was just the way it was.
We Live. We Die.
Krishna tells Arjuna that we all live, and we all die. That dying is a given, so why worry about it. A wise person doesn’t worry about it but rather lives their life in devotion and work without worry. He also tells him that if he runs away and avoids the work (fighting the battle) well, he won’t come back from that.
Then he talks about meditation and having a balanced lifestyle. Having an unbalanced life just keeps us scrambling, off kilter and it’s really hard to find peace this way. Or to enjoy ourselves.
Lord Krishna then goes into a long-winded speech regaling Arjuna of his divine knowledge, his power, his supremeness. I am the ocean, I am the mountains, I am the Aum. There is no end to my power, he says.
As I grew into adulthood, and no longer went to church, I still believed that life was a big balancing act. Sometimes things were good and sometimes they were chaotic; off kilter.
Here is where the Gita starts to lose me. Krishna goes on and on, for several verses about being Aum; all powerful. I get it, you’re God, no need to brag. Give me your insights from this infinite celestial being point of view.
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Prove it.
Arjuna replies with “Prove it. Show me.” Lord Krishna says ok, but I never do this. First, he gives Arjuna “divine eyes” so that he will be able to see it. What he reveals is both glorious and terrifying. Arms and legs, faces of gods and demons, blinding light. He also tells Arjuna, who at this point is seriously petrified, that he has already taken care of the opposing army so fear no more. “I am time, destroyer of worlds. Except for you, the soldiers assembled here will all be slain.” To which Arjuna replies, “I get it. I believe you. You are everything. Hope I didn’t offend you. Now can you come back to your human self?”
Krishna tells him there is no problem. He loves everyone but tends to give more attention to those that show their devotion to him. Then he talks about the physical body (which is temporary) and the soul (which is eternal) and how all souls have originated from him, the supreme soul.
I would totally be Arjuna – Prove it. Show me. Make me believe. But also, stop trying to scare me. As a child, the thought of going to Hell as a punishment for not following the rules was terrifying. Also, if he was the destroyer and already took care of everyone else, why did Arjuna have to go to battle in the first place?
Sattva, Rajas, Tamas
There are three qualities in the world: Sattva (goodness and kindness). Rajas (passion and attraction) and Tamas (ignorance, laziness, and evilness). Everyone has all of these, and one is typically stronger than the others and that is what guides our lives. However, he says that a person that is devoted and meditative can release these qualities and can receive brahman – the ultimate eternal truth and bliss.
Eternal truth and bliss. The afterlife. Heaven. Whatever you call it, isn’t that what we all desire? Or if not, to leave something behind that says “I was here” so that in the last moments we have something to look forward to or something to look back on. Maybe that’s just me.
The Banyan Tree Reference
God then explains that the materialistic world is like a banyan tree, but everything still flows up to Him. He is the one in control and when we realize that we can be enlightened and liberated. Then there is the part about good and evil. Good leads to heaven and evil leads to hell. The people that “put other gods before me, worship idols” are foolish and misled. We all make mistakes and are not perfect but if we offer it up to the Supreme Person, we can be forgiven. Sounds kind of familiar. Ezekiel 18:21-23, anyone?
I really didn’t get the banyan tree reference but totally understood the rest. Do unto others and all that. The Bible is full of this stuff. Are we done yet?
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Are you a fan of the Bhagavad Gita?
Bottom line for me: Seek peace within yourself. Do the work that you love and that which allows you to look yourself in the eye in the mirror every morning. Look at the mysteries of life and the universe with wonder. I personally like to start with the moon. Just look at it!
Love it? Hate it? What are your thoughts? Let me know on social media.