Care For Wisdom?

The Baghavad Gita has been one very interesting book. I have been able to relate to it in so many ways. It was a true inspiration to me. The quotes I have gotten from this book are ones I will remember forever. It was a difficult piece of literature to interpret, but once I got into it I really was able to capture the essence of it. I have never voluntarily ever chosen a similar reading. This was my first of many more to come. I enjoyed this book mainly because I could see the teaching in it mixed with the culture of the time it took place and was written.

The book was basically a conversation between Arjuna and Krishna. Krishna (a God) trying to convince Arjuna to fight in battle. He used so many ways of persuasion with such rhetoric and wisdom; it was truly a work of art. I could see all the connections to other religions besides Hinduism as well.

I finished this book well. I was able to understand it to the fullest. It is a book I can be proud to say I have read. This is going to give me so much knowledge in the future when I can relate back to it. I recommend this book for anyone who wants to learn from old wisdom. 

Krishna's Brain

Teaching seventeen was all about faith and how there are three different men who have faith in different things. Faith shows the degree of lucidity, “Men of lucidity sacrifice to the gods; men of passion, to spirits and demons; the others, men of dark inertia, sacrifice o corpses and to ghosts” Three Aspects Of Faith Pg. 131 text.4. Basically the teaching is on the different types of faith. Krishna also talks about the three types of relinquishments. There was also a very interesting part at the end of the teaching where they show the symbols and their meanings. OM TAT SAT: symbol of the infinite spirit. OM: Knowers of the infinite spirit. TAT: Men who crave freedom. SAT: Whats real and good, steadfastness in sacrifice. ASAT: charity.

The last teaching basically summed up on the most important things in the book. The drawing below pretty much sums it up. 

Why so Many Men?

Is Arjuna going to cave into fighting? In teaching 11 it seems like Arjuna is becoming more prone to the idea, “To favor me you revealed the deepest mystery of self, and by your words my delusion is dispelled” The Vision Of Krishna’s Totality Pg. 97 text. 1. Arjuna seems to be falling for Krishna’s wise, yet wrong intentional, words. This could go either good or bad. Back then the right thing to do would be to fight, but all morals say not to, especially not against family. Krishna is on society’s side. As well in this teaching a clear good picture of Krishna is described. My artistic intention of drawing it can be exhibited in this post. I am beginning to get a better view on my theory and I believe Arjuna is to, “Tell me- Who are you in this terrible form? Homage to you, Best of Gods! Be gracious! I want to know you as you are in your beginning. I do not comprehend the course of your ways.” The Vision Of Krishna’s Totality Pg. 103 text.3 1. I think Arjuna is telling us he also believes Krishna’s intentions are bad, and he doesn’t understand why since he is so wise. Krishna is also saying he that he killed all these battle heroes. Since when is a God a killer? Any way there is still no clear point in where this will go, at least in this chapter.

Devotion, it’s a pretty powerful word for a title. It’s a powerfull word for anybeing. Krishna wants Arjuna to devote himself completely to him. He says that is the only way to escape rebirth. Krishna says “Focus your mind on me, let your understanding enter me; then you will dwell in me without doubt” Devotion Pg. 110 text. 8. I fail to see how focusing on someone your whole life will not waste your time, but give you eternal happiness and no rebirth. Another of the “men” was also brought up the man of devotion, “He does not rejoice or hate, grieve or feel desire; relinquishing fortune and misfortune, the man of devotion is dear to me” Devotion Pg. 111 text. 17. The man of devotion is also free from attachment. Personally I would like to call all these men of devotion, discipline, self control, etc Krishna freaks (like Jesus freaks). It would be kind of weird to find a person that devoted to Krishna. I mean Krishna’s cool and all but that would be a little much. I say this being raised fully Catholic. It isn’t healthy to be that devoted to one person.

Knowing The Field, this title reminds me of Enkidu.  The first image that comes up is a field with gazelles and a beast grazing in it. A new man is introduced, the field- knower. This man gives me an image of Ishmael and a man living with gorillas. Now I feel stupid, apparently the field isn’t an actual green grassy field, “The field contains the great elements, individuality, understanding, unmanifest nature, the eleven senses, and the five sense realms” Knowing The Field Pg. 113 text. 5. Apparently there is a double meaning to the classic words you’ve known since kindergarten for every word in this book. Despite my sarcasm in this section of the blog, I did find a quote I liked, “Just as one sun illumines this entire world, so the master of the field illumines the entire field” Knowing The Field Pg. 117 text. 33. I really liked this because the way I interpret it is that everyone shines in some aspect. There is always something you can illumine. After all Knowing The Field finished on a good note.

Lucidity, passion, and dark inertia make up the triad of nature. This is of course what this teaching is all about. I’m going to explain them one by one according to Krishna.

1.    Lucidity: Lucidity is not attained yet it is luminous with no decay. It makes you addicted to joy and passion to actions. When it dominates passion and inertia it thrives. When knowledge shines in all of your senses it prevails. The men of lucidity go up.

2.    Passion: It is born of craving and is very emotional. It binds the embodied self with attachment to action. When increased longing, greed, activity, actions, and disquiet arise. When a man dies in passion he is reborn with lovers of action. Passions fruit is suffering. The men of passion stay neutral.

3.    Dark Inertia: Dark inertia is born of ignorance and is the delusion of every embodied self. It binds negligence, sleep, and indolence as it also obscures knowledge. When dark inertia is increased, arise obscurity, inactivity, negligence, and delusion. When a man dies of dark inertia he is reborn into wombs of folly. Its fruit is ignorance. The men of dark inertia go way down.  

Krishna again brings up his main point of wanting Arjuna to devote himself to him. If you devote yourself to Krishna you will get immortality, no rebirth, no death, and no old age. Men devoted to Krishna like light, like activity, and like delusion. When these elements go away though, they don’t desire them. These men are impartial to suffering vs. joy and all material objects. This remind me very much of the enlightened man. The only difference is that the men of Krishna are un moved by natures qualities. The more I read, the more I realize how many similarities there are in Buddhism and Hinduism. I want to end this teaching with Krishna’s last quote, “I am the infinite spirits foundation, immortal and immutable, the basis of eternal sacred duty and of perfect joy” The Triad Of Nature’s Qualities Pg. 121 text. 27.

The biggest thing they have brought up through this book are the different types of men. This teaching is called The True Spirit Of Man. It begins with the quote that I found rther interesting, “Roots in the air, branches below, the tree of life is unchanging, they say; it leaves of hymns, and he who knows it, knows sacred lore” The True Spirit Of Man Pg. 122 text. 1. The tree of life is unchanging, is he talking about immortals and life when you get to him and not rebirth? Is this referring to old age? One thing life with Krishna would guarantee not to happen. This quote was a little hard to interpret but I liked it. I especially liked the comparison of the tree to life. Many times the trees are indeed compared to life. This teaching had very little, but I enjoyed it. It was different. Finally something that wasn’t all about Krishna.

How to successfully draw Krishna (important aspects):

1.    Serpents

2.    Boundless

3.    Many arms, legs, feet, eyes, mouths, noses, bellies, fangs

4.    Fiery

5.    Crown

6.    Mace

7.    Discus

8.    Moon eye and sun eye

9.    Flamed mouth

10. Heaven/ Earth

11. Lots of color!

*If you did it right, it should not look like the picture below.

 

Krishna, Krishna, Krishna, And More Krishna

I’ve finally gotten to the next teachings. Basically Krishna is saying everything is made from him. This teaching to me seems a little egotistical. This chapter is basically Krishna talking about how wonderful Krishna is. It reminds me of a friend of mine. Sometimes she thinks the universe revolves around her, “Learn that this is the womb of all creatures; I am the source of all the universe, just as I am its dissolution” Knowledge and judgment Pg.74 text 6. Although this is all egotistical the main purpose of this teaching is for Krishna to teach Arjuna the totality of knowledge. He begins saying there are four types of men devoted to him, “Arjuna, four types of virtuous men are devoted to me: the tormented man, the seeker of wisdom, the suppliant, and the sage” Knowledge and judgment Pg. 75 text 16. This to me is very interesting because of another thing I have recently heard at church. Basically they were saying there are 4 types of Catholics that seek god: 1.The devoted ones who go to church every Sunday 2.The ones that go to church only when there is need 3.The ones that want to learn from going to church 4.The ones who were raised catholic and go to church as an obligation. This quote reminded me of this. The tormented man is like the man that goes only when in need. These are the people that go to church only when a family member is sick o r they have some other kind of problem. The people that are devoted and go every Sunday are the sages. The ones who were raised Catholics are the suppliants. And the seekers of wisdom are equal to the people that go to church to learn. This to me was a good connection with my own beliefs.

Teaching eight is all about its title, The Infinite Spirit. This teaching is about the spirit after death. Basically Krishna says that if you think of him before you die, you will have a pleasant after life. The teaching begins with questions from Arjuna, “What is the infinite spirit Krishna? What is its inner self, its action? What is its inner being called? What is its inner divinity?                        Who is within sacrifice, Krishna? How is he here in the body? And how are men of self-control to know you at the time of death?” The Infinite Spirit Pg. 71 text 1-2. Krishna replies to these questions, which basically covers the teaching. The infinite spirit according to Krishna is eternal and supreme. The inner self is called the inherent being and aaction is the source of the creatures existence. Inner being is perishable existence. And inner divinity the man’s spirit. Krishna is within sacrifice and In your body, the best of mortals. The men of self control enter Krishna’s body at the time of death only when there is no doubt. Krishna explains very deeply how if the man thinks of him at the time of death he will come to him, “Whatever he being remembers when he abandons the body at death, he enters, Arjuna, always existing in that being” The Infinite Spirit Pg. 80 text 6. This quote I like a lot because I also believe that at the time of death you remember the most pleasant. According to this, you enter what you remember. So you must remember something pleasant or Krishna at the time of death. Who knows maybe I will even remember Krishna at the time of my death (sike). I hope that sike won’t cause me any karma though. I found this eight teaching very interesting.

The ninth teaching intends to be suspenseful. It is not. Krishna intends to tell you his deepest mystery. Do you know what it is? Devote yourself to him, like we haven’t read this in every single other teaching of his. I’m sorry I’m being a bit unfair. See today I had written everything I had to. When I got on my computer after tutoring it was all erased. So I am basically re writing everything. Maybe this is why it seems so familiar. Anyway in this teaching Krishna is saying you must devote yourself to him. He says if not you will have to face death and then rebirth, “Without faith in sacred duty, men fail to reach me, Arjuna; they return to the cycle of death and rebirth” The Sublime Mystery Pg. 85 text 3. Is life on earth really that bad? So now I know what happens once you die, you either rebirth or go to a magical heaven if you think of Krishna 24/7. He also says something that confuses me. He says the creatures exist in him but he does not exsist in them. From church and God I’ve heard the complete opposite. This is an interesting religiouse difference. Then Krishna brings up an interesting point, the power of discipline. This is so true. Discipline has so much power. If you set your mind to it you can achieve anything with hard work and discipline. Most people say they have it, but only the ones who have worked themselves up from the ground can really say they are disciplined. Is it just me or has this been repeated a lot?, “Keep me in your mind and devotion, sacrifice to me, bow to me, discipline yourself toward me, and you will reach me!” The Sublime Mystery Pg. 90 text 34. This teaching left me rather disappointed as the mystery once again is Krishna.

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The video linked reminds me of the types of catholics. 

The Secret To Success

I finally got to reading the next teachings of The Baghavad Gita. I would like to start off with a quote Ifound, “When his senses are controlled but he keeps recalling sense objects with his mind, he is a self-deluded hypocrite” The discipline of action Pg. 44 text 6. I really liked this quote. I’m not sure I really understand it, but it just stood out to me. It was like I could relate to it in some way, only I don’t know how. So the third teaching was mainly about senses and its title The discipline of action. Krishna is again trying to persuade Arjuna to fight in the war. This reminds me of the writer’s workshop lesson I took with rhetoric and ways of persuasion. I was able to find Logos, Ethos, and Pathos that Krishna uses to try to persuade Arjuna into fighting. Pathos was used when Krishna started saying it would bring shame to the family if he didn’t fight. Logos was used when he uses the examples of men of discipline, and ethos was used when he talks about how men have to be strong and detach from their emotions. This was very interesting because rhetoric was being used here when this was written far before rhetoric was invented. Another interesting point I noticed was that in this quote, “Men say that the senses are superior to their objects, the mind superior to the senses, understanding superior to the mind; higher than understanding itself” The discipline of action Pg. 49 text 42. Here, self is first, understanding is second, mind third, then senses, and last object. The order of this was interesting because although we may not see it we have this order in modern day as well. Although we try not to, we tend to put ourselves first. Without understanding we get nowhere so it is very important as to be second on the list. Our mind has to be above our senses; our senses wouldn’t work without our mind. Lastly we put our objects. You may find reason to contradict this but let me put it in a more logical way. If there was a burning building would you risk losing your senses to rescue an object? This is just my way of looking at the hierarquia.  There was one more quote in the third teaching that I really enjoyed. This quote I believe is something we could use now days especially, “Your own duty done imperfectly is better than another man’s done well. It is better to die in one’s own duty; another man’s duty is perilous” The discipline of action Pg. 48 text 35.

The fourth teaching is called Knowledge which is exactly what it is about. Krishna intends on teaching Arjuna the knowledge of life. This quote I believe explains just what this is about, “Your birth followed the birth of the sun; how can I comprehend that you taught it in the beginning? Knowledge Pg. 51 text 4. This is the essential question that starts this teaching. This teaching talks a lot about action and inaction. Krishna intends to teach the difference between the two, “What is action? What is inaction? Even the poets were confused- What I shall teach you of action will free you from misfortune” Knowledge Pg. 53 text 16. In pages 54-55 Krishna explains what type of action men of discipline do. He says some do it through sacrifice; inaction, giving up senses, and some by giving up food (exhaust sins). This is all kindled by knowledge and its source, action. Now this did make me think about sacrifice. I always thought of sacrifice in a death related way. But I’ve come to see its real definition would be giving up something. You don’t have to die in order to sacrifice. This to me was interesting because it changed an image I had for a long time. They also said sacrifice in knowledge was better that sacrifice in material objects. That said goes back to the heirarquia in teaching 3. Reading all of this got me to rethink my theory I had of Krishna. Maybe he isn’t so bad after all, or maybe I’m just falling for his persuasion. I know his intentions are bad though, trying to get Arjuna to fight. I’m just going to have to keep reading to discover the truth I guess.

Renunciation of Action, The title of the fifth teaching baffles me. Wasn’t Krishna trying to get Arjuna to take action? Krishna says here that you have to first praise actions and then discipline but discipline in action was best. Krishna confuses me sometimes. There are many constant contradictions but once you interpret them it is only making the information more specific. In this case he is saying Action is best when there is discipline. There is something in what Krishna says that makes me think of successful men today, “A man able to endure the force of desire and anger before giving up his body is disciplined and joyful” Renunciation of Action Pg. 62 text 23. A successful man isn’t a man loaded with money and a trophy wife. A successful man isn’t a man who has a perfect life with everything under control and not a financial dime short. A successful man is one that is truly eternally happy. Just like the quote says able to endure the force of desire. You are not happy if you are in constant greed. You are not happy if you are angry, so you must overcome those impulses. This quote is a formula to being a successful person. Another quote to further this example is this one, “Truly free is the sage who controls his senses, mind, and understanding, who focuses on freedom and dispels desire, fear, and anger” Renunciation of Action Pg. 63 text 28. This is also very much like Buddhism like I have previously said. This is what an enlightened person is. So far I am really enjoying this book. It is full of advice on life. The only thing is that it is a persuasion to go to war, the intentions aren’t the best. This was in a time where war was the answer, so I can’t blame a thousand year old book for that. In a way I just want to prove my theory wrong because it is full of so many truths that Krishna can’t be bad. I’m going to continue reading The Baghavad Gita. Stay tuned for my next blog. 

The Voice Inside My Head

I have begun the second teaching proving thus a little more the theory pondering in the back of my head. You know the little voice inside your head? The one that leads you to do bad things when your bored? Well that voice sometimes has very good arguments, and is very persuasive. This voice is what causes my impulses. Well Krishna is trying to convince Arjuna to fight against his family. Krishna uses very good arguments and quotes that are very convincing. He uses just the ones that make you think, and say “hey maybe I’m actually wrong”. Krishna is like that little voice inside your head that you know deep down is wrong. Arjuna is keeping to what he knows is right, but I wonder how long this will last. Krishna’s arguments contradict Arjuna’s in very convincing ways. He also tries convincing him with religious views; he is basically telling him he will cause shame to his family if he doesn’t fight. Isn’t it his family he would be fighting against? “People will tell of your undying shame, and for a man of honor shame is worse than death.” -Pg. 36 passage 34. “The great chariot warriors will think you deserted in fear of battle; you will be despised by those who held you in esteem.” -Pg.37 passage 35. These are two perfect examples. He is saying indirectly that his family and everyone who loves him will abandon him if he does not fight. Since Krishna is considered a person of wisdom this said from him may be very convincing. This is just my interpretation so far. In fact I believe Krishna may actually be good, and only in this text it appears he is not. This is a book of wisdom, of beliefs, but not for everyone to agree with. How would the world be if everyone was in unanimous agreement to one set of beliefs?

Reading this teaching brought me to think about many quotes that were said. This one stood out the most to me. “When he shows no preference in fortune or misfortune and neither exults nor hates, his insight is sure.” -Pg.40 passage 57. This stood out to me because it may be a connection between the Hindu beliefs and the Buddhist ones. Buddhism is based on trying to get to the state of enlightenment. Now last semester in Global studies we had a guest speaker who was Buddhist, and explained to us about the religion. He said an enlightened person would never choose to reincarnate a wealthy person over a poor person.  I believe there are parallels in Buddhism along the lines of this quote.

This is what most stood out to me from this teaching. I believe I am neither wrong nor right in what I say. It’s just to give a famous text a different perspective. This is just my mere second opinion.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------If you have a chance check out this link Bhagavad Gita