Bhagwad Gita Transcribed from Parisamvad at The Yoga Institute.
Chapter 3, Sloka 1
If it be thought by you that ‘knowledge’ is superior to ‘action,’ O Janardana, why then, do you, O Kesava, engage me in this terrible action?
Chapter 3, Sloka 2
Chapter 3, Sloka 3
In this world there is a two-fold path, as I said before, O sinless one; the ‘Path-of –Knowledge’ of the samkhyan-s and the ‘Path-of–Action’ of the yogin-s.
“The Gita was pronounced on a battle field in favour of not having a desire for the fruits of action. It becomes a little confusing for Arjuna, because if it is so, then why fight at all? If you fight then you cause a reaction, then you want to stop the reaction. So that is the proposition. Krishna also is challenged, ‘Why don’t you speak in a straight forward way? Should I fight or leave the battlefield?’ This kind of questions keep coming to us also. If we try to behave correctly, others are hurt, if we don’t and do things cleverly then we are transgressing the laws of life, nature and yoga. More or less, the Gita goes on talking about this area. What it propounds is, carry on your work .
The central thing is the attitude. The work is done mechanically, physically. A soldier uses his gun and kills – it is a physical thing. You can’t forget that he is a soldier. We all have put him there. If he is not there, we would be overrun and suffer. In every area, work is being done; it has to be done. A surgeon has to take the knife and cut the abdomen – cutting is there, hurting is there, pain is there. Doesn’t he do that? Ultimately the whole thing falls on the attitude. While doing something, do you bring in all kinds of feelings, thinking or you do it an absolutely objective way? It has to be done, you are the one who has to do it, carry on. What does the policeman do? He is on the street, he sees something and he acts. He doesn’t go into consideration, that let me ask this man’s wife or neighbours. This is an important question.
When we are discussing the Gita to resolve for ourself that if I act results comes and results can be in the nature of hurting, harming, killing – isn’t that bad? We can’t argue like that. We have to live the life. Life would include actions and ideas. If we slip from this and come to just one area, it is wrong. Life is a continuous process – we have to function, carry on action. Philosophy is a different area, where we go into thinking. Separately it is a good exercise, but jointly we can’t rely on these two different things. If you have gone to war with arms and the other person also is ready, then starting to say, ‘I will kill and killing is bad’, will not be right. A good yogi just does things, no arguments. If we just think we will not be able to do anything. If you have read the Gita and read it with devotion, then whatever it says, we must do. To take a lawyer in front of Krishna and argue is unnecessary.”
“The second chapter spoke of Samkhya yoga – yoga of Knowledge – what is life, how the human mind works and how it should work, how to manage your feelings, control over sensory organs, maintain brahmi sthithi – balanced state. Arjuna asks, “When you are talking about knowledge, why do you want me to do action, why do you tell me to fight? I am getting confused.” Arjuna represents a commander, a king. The king’s duty is to see that law and order is maintained, wrong people are thrown out or kill them if required. A householder also at times gets overpowered by feelings – death of a near and dear one. A person may get so sad that he may not do his duty – duty to self, to others in the family, to work, etc. Krishna is continuously telling Arjuna to do his duty and Arjuna is baffled. He says there are two paths – path of knowledge and path of action. We can’t separate knowledge and action. We should learn to work with understanding, with wisdom.”
About Parisamvad
On every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, The Yoga Institute, Santacruz holds Parisamvad sessions – Free interactive sessions that are open to all. These session begin at 7:20 am and end around 7:45 am.
The Tuesday Parisamvad is dedicated to explanation of the the Bhagwad Gita by our esteemed Gurus, Dr. Jayadeva and Smt. Hansaji.
All are welcome to attend.Click Here to learn more about The Yoga Institute, Santacruz, Mumbai.
(Picture credit http://www.ishwar.com/hinduism/holy_bhagavad_gita).