The Bhagavad Gita recounts the story of a battle over control of a land known as Hastinapura. Arjuna, leader of the Pandavas, stands on a battlefield opposite his kin, the Kauravas, and turns to the Lord Krishna for courage. Just before the start of the battle, Arjuna has a conversation with Krishna, an avatar of Brahman, on whether or not battling his own family is the right thing to do, for it seems to be one of the greatest sins. In response, Krishna advises Arjuna not to question God’s will and to fulfill his duty, telling of a life philosophy through the guidance of Brahman that can eventually lead one to attain salvation, a process at first Arjuna finds intimidating but later willingly accepts. Thus, in the Bhagavad Gita, salvation is
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Speaking on this knowledge, Krishna states that “he who has faith, whose senses are restrained, and who is assiduous, obtains knowledge” (Gita Ch.4), telling what a yogi must do in order to obtain this knowledge. In the discussion with Arjuna, Krishna tells that not all obtain knowledge; in fact only a few who are capable of grasping this great concept do acquire it. Krishna tells that “knowledge is enveloped by ignorance, hence all creatures are deluded. But to those who have destroyed that ignorance by knowledge of self . . . [allow] for their sins [to be] destroyed by knowledge” (Gita Ch. 6). The ability to control one’s mind and focus on oneself to destroy ignorance is recognized even by Arjuna as a difficult action, yet Krishna argues that those who do control their thoughts and concentrate on themselves reach a state of peace and a stable mind, which leads them closer to attaining salvation. Without recognition of the ultimate reality that Brahman is everywhere, one is ignorant, and this ignorance can vanish with knowledge. Thus knowledge, or Jnana yoga, is a key to salvation because “those who know the Brahman go to the Brahman” (Gita Ch.8), and one can only obtain this understanding of Brahman by recognizing that Brahman is everywhere, including …show more content…
With Jnana yoga, one can come to know Brahman and recognize that he is a singular, supreme being. Bhakti yoga helps one build on this concept, enforcing that one must practice yoga and therefore fully devote themselves to Brahman in order to reach true salvation, or moksha, which is freedom from reincarnation and the mortal world. Krishna tells that a yogi must “keep [Brahman] in [one’s] mind and devotion, sacrifice to [Him], bow to [Him], [and] discipline [oneself in order to] reach [Brahman]!” (Gita Ch.9), specifying that this devotion will lead you to true happiness because you have reached a life residing with Brahman, the highest level of happiness and tranquility one can reach. Krishna continues that “the highest happiness comes to such a devotee, whose mind is fully tranquil, in which the quality of passion has been suppressed, who is free from sin, who has become Brahman” (Gita Ch.6). Overall the goal of following these ideals is to free oneself from the reoccurring cycle of reincarnation and to reside with Brahman, allowing ones eternal soul to “attain perfection after many births and [eventually] reach the supreme goal” (Gita Ch.6), which is holding the ability to reside with Brahman in heaven, free of the cycle of reincarnation and the mortal world full of evils the yogi spends his many lives trying to free himself from. Breaking the recurring cycle is simple for those who practice
Speaking on this knowledge, Krishna states that “he who has faith, whose senses are restrained, and who is assiduous, obtains knowledge” (Gita Ch.4), telling what a yogi must do in order to obtain this knowledge. In the discussion with Arjuna, Krishna tells that not all obtain knowledge; in fact only a few who are capable of grasping this great concept do acquire it. Krishna tells that “knowledge is enveloped by ignorance, hence all creatures are deluded. But to those who have destroyed that ignorance by knowledge of self . . . [allow] for their sins [to be] destroyed by knowledge” (Gita Ch. 6). The ability to control one’s mind and focus on oneself to destroy ignorance is recognized even by Arjuna as a difficult action, yet Krishna argues that those who do control their thoughts and concentrate on themselves reach a state of peace and a stable mind, which leads them closer to attaining salvation. Without recognition of the ultimate reality that Brahman is everywhere, one is ignorant, and this ignorance can vanish with knowledge. Thus knowledge, or Jnana yoga, is a key to salvation because “those who know the Brahman go to the Brahman” (Gita Ch.8), and one can only obtain this understanding of Brahman by recognizing that Brahman is everywhere, including …show more content…
With Jnana yoga, one can come to know Brahman and recognize that he is a singular, supreme being. Bhakti yoga helps one build on this concept, enforcing that one must practice yoga and therefore fully devote themselves to Brahman in order to reach true salvation, or moksha, which is freedom from reincarnation and the mortal world. Krishna tells that a yogi must “keep [Brahman] in [one’s] mind and devotion, sacrifice to [Him], bow to [Him], [and] discipline [oneself in order to] reach [Brahman]!” (Gita Ch.9), specifying that this devotion will lead you to true happiness because you have reached a life residing with Brahman, the highest level of happiness and tranquility one can reach. Krishna continues that “the highest happiness comes to such a devotee, whose mind is fully tranquil, in which the quality of passion has been suppressed, who is free from sin, who has become Brahman” (Gita Ch.6). Overall the goal of following these ideals is to free oneself from the reoccurring cycle of reincarnation and to reside with Brahman, allowing ones eternal soul to “attain perfection after many births and [eventually] reach the supreme goal” (Gita Ch.6), which is holding the ability to reside with Brahman in heaven, free of the cycle of reincarnation and the mortal world full of evils the yogi spends his many lives trying to free himself from. Breaking the recurring cycle is simple for those who practice