Introduction

Bhagvad geeta does not need an introduction to a reader from Indian sub continent and also who is aware of Hindu religion.

This introduction is meant for a reader who does not know about Bhagvad Geeta (also called as The geeta or briefly The Gita) but has curiosity to read or make an attempt at least.

 

1.    How is Bhagvad Geeta: 

Gita is an allegorical poem of about 700 stanzas (shlokas) grouped in 18 chapters. The stanzas are in Sanskrit with lot of jointed words and therefore you cannot understand the meaning mere by reading even if you have basic knowledge of Sanskrit. That makes it imperative to read the translation along with the commentary

The Gita is about eternal principles of life. It deals with almost all aspects of life.

You can find answers to many perplexing questions of your life.

·         You may have personal questions like How should I study to get good grades? What should I eat for remaining healthy? How should I handle stress in the job or business?  You will find answer in the Gita, if not direct at least terse. The Gita will at some time prescribe and at some other time proscribe and at still at other time only suggest or recommend an action and leave it for you to decide your course.

·         Also, you may have worldly questions; like why there is inequality, injustice and violence in the society and your role in that.

·         It may happen, though rarely, that you may not have any personal or worldly problems and due to that fortunate situation or simply, because of your trait, you have abstract questions like who am I, why am I borne in this family or born at all and is there a God or not?  You will find answers to such esoteric questions also.   

2.    In which language original Gita is written. The original Geeta is in Sanskrit. The Bhagavad Gita has been translated into more than 75 languages worldwide. 

3.    What is Utilitarian Doctrine:

Utilitarian Doctrine is the applying Gita’s teaching for mundane i.e. day to day life. 

The principle of utility would create the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people.

        
        Bhagvad Geeta is studied and commented on by many renowned persons.

In ancient time, Gita was interpreted by Acharya’s (teachers) like Shankar, as the guide for the ultimate aim of life i.e. Salvation or emancipation of a being from cycle of birth and  death. However that journey of life to up to that aim is not a single jump but it is a ladder with several steps. The lower steps of life pertain to the mundane life. The higher you go it becomes less mundane and more spiritual.

Many western thinkers like Carl Jung, Robert Steiner and Indian leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Lokmanya Tilak have referred Gita for understanding the deeper meaning of the worldly matters in  different perspectives. 

4.    Where can I get my copy of Gita and how much it costs? You don’t have to spend any money. Get Bhagavad Gita in 15 different languages including English, Sanskrit, French, Spanish and many other languages online from International Gita Society from a site.  www.gita society.com/bhagavadgita_15.html

5.    Which is the rigorous method of studying the Gita

For that you should select the Gita, which contains original shlokas in Sanskrit  along with splitting of jointed words -Sandhi  vigrah and also  transliteration and translation in  your mother tongue and also the commentary. The Geeta is a poem written in meter known as  Anushtup Chhand which can be chanted.  The serious students chants regularly  to memorise the stanzas if not all, the important ones for ready reference.

6.    What  are the traits  needed to understand The Gita

7.     The following three traits are helpful to understand the correct meaning of the Gita.

i)             Open mindedness: Bhagvad Geeta enjoys the status of the scripture of Hindu religion. That is also a reason for the reluctance to reading that, by the followers of other religions. It should be noted that Gita was narrated before the humanity was divided into religions and therefore there is no reference to any religion, not to mention Hinduism. The Gita only shows ways of living rightousl, socially dedicated and with individually equanimity and joy.That is the utilitarian angle.

ii)            Receptive: To be receptive does not mean not to doubt or question. Gita employs certain concepts which may not be readily acceptable to persons of different cultures and background. One should accept them provisionally and keep reading further, keeping in mind whether the concepts are ultimately logically consistent for final acceptance. If the concept seems to be in contravention to overall reality, the problem can be discussed with someone who knows more. If still not satisfied it is better to live according to your concept rather than to follow Gita in a forced way. That is also against the doctrine of Gita.

iii)           Regular:  Gita is elaborate but also cryptic in places. Regular reading is necessary to remain connected to the complex logic sequences. The regular and repeated reading gives opportunity to try out principles of Gita to problems which occur only rarely but really difficult  and see the results. Thus you understand the hidden meaning which may not understood by reading it casually or in mindless way.

What is the subject matter of Gita?

At the end of each chapter of Gita, an epigraph is there and in which it is described “Bhagvad Geetasu Upnishadsu…….” This means that Gita is an Upnishad.

Not only that, it is also the  Upnishad of Upnishads which means Gita contains essence of other Upnishads. There are many Upnishads out of which 11 are main.

 Upnishads are also known as Vedant (means of end of Vedas)

Thus Gita draws its core indirectly from Vedas. The first veda is called Rigveda is reckoned as the first book of human civilization.

The Vedas is a voluminous scripture and therefore for many people the original Vedas are inaccessible. Therefore out of compassion, the Lord himself gave us a condensed version of the Vedas and that is the Bhagavad Geeta

If you learn the Gita, you have learned the entire Vedas.

What is then the core of Gita ?

It is summarized in the following points.

1)    Every person, in life, is struggling to fulfill different  goals-short term and long term. The  goals appear different and often opposite and these goals even get revised from time to time

       If types of the goals are carefully examined, it will be observed that, they can be divided in 3 basic types. These three types do not change from person to person or from time to time and can be called as universal goals.

These goals are security, peace and happiness.

Though the people struggle,  very hard in their life, they do not succeed in fulfilling these basic goals.

2 ) People think that they will achieve their goals in the world by working hard, intelligently, cooperating and competing with others. But they do not achieve them as per their expectation and feel as failed. Why they fail ?

3)    The reason for the failure is that they are seeking the goals viz. security , peace and happiness in outside world but  they are not there. Where are they?

4)    These goals are there within everyone’s own  SELF but one cannot see them because of some obstacles. What are the obstacles?

   

5)    The obstacles are three:

.i) impurity of mind. Like In dirty water you cannot see a thing.

ii)       disturbance in mind which is due to being extrovert and restless. Like turbulent water, in which you cannot see a thing.

iii)       ignorance of the fact that I am the only source of three goals viz. Security, Peace and happiness means they are within me.

You have to practice to remove these three obstacles by spiritual exercises or discipline, Each discipline is called a yoga.

Yoga. means that which unites the seeker with the destination.

We have to use three different disciplines or yogas to recover our own treasure of security , peace and happiness.

These three yogas are known as Karma yoga, Bhakti yoga and Jnan Yoga.and the collective application will help you to get security, peace and the happiness. 

These three yogas do not bring anything extra but they connect you to your own treasure.

These Yogas are explained at length in Bhagvad Geeta

(1)  Karma Yoga to remove the first obstacle i.e impurity of mind.

Karma Yoga is a life style consisting of proper action and proper attitude. What is a proper action? Any action which will help in the reduction of the impurities is called proper action. The impurities are  kama (desires), krodha (anger)., lobha (greed) and moha (delusion)

A healthy attitude towards the action and its result which will help you grow through every experience; even through it may be the most painful experience

(2)   Bhakti yoga  to remove the second obstacle i.e restlessness of mind. Bhakti includes all different forms of meditations will help in quietening the mind. The extrovert, turbulent, restless, outgoing, wandering, fidgety mind has to 
     have some relaxation

(3) Jñana yoga.to remove the third obstacle i.e ignorance of the SELF being source of Security, Peace and happiness. It consists of enquiry into my real nature.

There is no option in these three yogas, because you have to overcome all  three obstacles