Bhagavad Gita for the Lay Reader

Author: R I Easwaran
Ardhendu Sekhar Ghosh/
Publisher: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan
Year: 2006
Language: English
Pages: 61
ISBN/UPC (if available): 8172763832

Description

The Bhagavad Gita as is well known, forms part of the great Indian epic, ‘Mahabharata’, and contains the teachings of Sri Krishna imparted to Arjuna of the battlefield of Kurukshetra. The dialogue between Arjuna and his charioteer as well as friend, philosopher and guide Sri Krishna is adored in India throughout the ages as the celestial song.

The Bhagavad Gita consists of eighteen chapters. It is only from the second chapter that the teachings of Sri Krishna, the Lord Incarnate, start appearing. That is perhaps the reason why many commentators, including Shankaracharya, preferred to ignore the first chapter, which is concerned with a description of Arjuna’s despondency as well as the setting in the battlefield wherein he received these teachings. It may be worthwhile to recall briefly the genesis of the war as recounted in the famous epic Mahabharata, of which Gita forms a part.

Bhagavad Gita for the Lay Reader is a pithy exposition of the teachings of the Gita by quoting select verses arranged in a logical though unconventional manner. It serves as a useful introduction for the lay reader yet to be exposed to this ancient wisdom, and attempt to take the reader from rationality to supra-rationality.

Contents

Contents


Prefatory Notes

Note to the Second Edition

Prologue


Chapter I

Introduction

Fulfillment – the aim

Scope

Dharma

Conditional or applied aspects of Dharma

Alien Influence

Its effect

Value of Tradition

Shastra

Secularism and education

Science and Spirituality


Chapter II

Journey to Fulfillment

Authority of Shastras

Guru or Guide

Rationality

Shraddha (faith)

Futility of unnecessary arguments

Detachment and objectivity

Karma (work, action)

Gunas of Prakriti

Brahman

Jnanam and Vijnanam

Yoga

Karma-yoga and Naishkarma

Symbolism

Upasana

Divine Grace

Prayers

Sattva is close to Illumination

How action starts – impulse

Drashta-drishya and darshana

Ego or Asmita

Klesha

Variations of knowledge

Diversities of action and agent

Threefold happiness

Total control of the Gunas

Supreme Realization

Why a secret


Chapter III

Yajna, Dhyana and Bhakti (As Aid to Fulfillment)

Yajna (sacrifice)

Dhyana (meditation)

Bhakti (love and devotion to the Divine)


Chapter IV

Illumined Life

Supreme Abode

Inadequacy of language

Brahmakara Vritti

Guidance always from the Supreme Intelligence

Action is not a bondage for the enlightened

Exemplary life

Sympathy for humanity


Epilogue
Appendix I
(Letter of Lt. Col.R.I. Easwaran to Shri S.K. Ganguly)
Swamiji’s constant guidance