Saturday.
by David on Saturday, 6th March, 2010
Reading the Bhagavad Gita today. This work is embedded in a much longer work, The Mahabharata, an epic story regarding a war between sons of different mothers but the same kingly father. The good guys win, but it’s not a happy ending for any guys, good or bad. In any event, the Gita contains a lot of good advice in regards to situations that are, by analogy, similar.
The basic topic of the Gita is about a Decision. Arjuna must decide to fight or not against his half-brothers, and his teachers; he is deeply saddened by either prospect and turns to a nearby king, Krishna, for advice.
Three paths are described (a triad!): the path of action, the path of wisdom, and the path of devotion. The royal path harmonizes these three paths.
There is a wealth of material in the Gita. One big take-away is that it says conflict is inevitable (even if illusory) but acting out of anger is not. Gandhi has a commentary on the Gita that is very good.
