The Bhagavad Gita: A Unifying Text in Hinduism - Its Significance and Approaches, Slides of Philosophy

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• the Gita

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• Where we left off:
• (5) The Gita is significant in the development of Hinduism for three reasons:
• (i) It encapsulates much Upanishadic philosophical, spiritual and moral teaching (Koller, Asian Philosophies , p.44);
• (ii) as a repository of Vedic teaching it was ‘available’ to those outside of the twice-born varnas , or classes (unlike the Vedas themselves); (i.e. the Gita brought Vedic teaching to ‘the masses’ thus circumventing the relevant restrictions imposed by the varnadharma );

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• There are several approaches available to dealing with

the tensions in the text:

• (A) You can simply concede that there are irreconcilable

differences or contradictions in the Gita due to the

diverse character of the traditions or outlooks being

brought together within the one text.

• This will mean rejecting the common Hindu approach

to the text.

• This approach requires as much defense as the other

two. So you would need to show why the various

themes or elements in the Gita are ultimately

irreconcilable.

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• (B) You can attempt a 'reconciliation' of the outlooks.

This can be attempted in at least one of two ways: (i)

You can interpret each way of approaching Reality as

being in some sense inferior to the one preceding it as

you move from Vedic ritualism through devotionalism

to a rather Upanishadic outlook (or, alternatively, as

you move from Vedic Ritualism through a rather

Upanishadic outlook to devotionalism), or (ii) you can

interpret each outlook as expressing within its relevant

framework, using vocabulary appropriate to that

framework, insight into the same fundamental reality.

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• (6) The title itself means the Song (or Gita ) of the

Lord (or Bhagavan ). This points to its emphasis on

devotion as a Path to moksha.

• (7) You can approach this text in at least one of two

ways: (i) literally or (ii) allegorically. Neither one is

clearly superior to the other, though there will be

problems with taking the setting too allegorically.

• Think of it this way. The literal approach falls out of

an attempt to understanding the meaning of the

text as it is set down, while an allegorical approach

falls out of applying the teaching of the text to our

lives in the here and now. Docsity.com

• (8) The basic context for the dialogue between

Arjuna and Krishna is the coming battle between

the armies under the Pandavas and under the

Kauravas. Arjuna is a Pandava and cousin to the

Kauravas.

• The battle is necessary because the Kauravas have

refused to give the Pandavas back the kingdom they

lost when Yudhisthira (the head of the Pandavas)

gambled it away to Duryodhana (the head of the

Kauravas). (It was agreed that the Pandavas could

have their kingdom back after successfully

remaining out of sight for thirteen years (twelve ofDocsity.com

• Krishna’s basic solution to Arjuna’s crisis, offered in

Chapter Two, is to encourage him to reevaluate his

view of the self and human agency.

• Krishna offers Arjuna two basic perspectives on

what lies before him. One outlook makes use of

Arjuna’s view of human agency and its karmic

significance, the other makes use of a view of the

self grounded in Upanishadic philosophy (though,

as we will see later, it is not merely a reiteration of

an Upanishadic view).

• Importantly, the content of Chapter Two sets the

path for the rest of the dialogue.

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• Krishna provides several responses to Arjuna’s dilemma.
• First, Arjuna, an arya or noble, is acting in a way unbecoming his station and in a fashion that threatens his chance of heaven (see Bhagavad Gita 2:2 or page 46 of Mitchell’s Gita ).
• This is clearly an appeal to values found in the Vedas , particularly the early Vedas and the Dharmasutras (or treatises on dharma ). On the one hand there is the value attached to achieving heaven, or a heavenly paradise. On the other hand there is the value attached to living according to his nature as an arya.
• This fails to move Arjuna. Interestingly, this fails to move Arjuna because such considerations pale in the light of what must be done to achieve either victory or a heavenly reward. Clearly, Arjuna is no hedonist. Docsity.com