Arjuna

(Bhagavad-Gita, 86 ) The second reason shows the Indian respect towards their own duties and the importance of the natural law in their culture. The third reason given by Krishna to Arjuna brings us back to the idea of asceticism that was very controversial during the times the Bhagavad-Gita was created. Krishna brings the idea that it is impossible to be inactive, because every human decision or a choice, whether it is action or withdraw…

dialogue, in which an envoy between two battling nations narrates the conversation between a warrior named Arjuna and his confidant called Krishna. Primarily, Arjuna does not like the idea of fighting, but Krishna attempts to persuade him to fight by mentioning his dharma, also known as one’s code of ethics or predetermined fate, commands him to do so as well as explain principles that Arjuna must learn to overcome his obstacle. Sells…

In The Gita when Lord Krishna reveals his true form to Arjuna he states, “of words, I am the eternal syllable, OM” (10.25) he then goes on to proclaim, “I am the vowel a of the syllabary, / the pairing of words in a compound” (10.29) Lord Krishna’s equation of himself to letters, syllables and words demonstrates…

Much is misunderstood when it comes to one’s world view. To reflect and dictate how someone is meant to live their life is a very complex thing to understand. How are we meant to know what is right and wrong, when someone tells us. However, every person has their different view on things so who’s word are we supposed to take for it? Some may lean on a spiritual or higher being to help them know right from wrong. Others may simply do things their way and live and learn by their experiences. It…

In A World of Ideas by Lee A. Jacobus, two stories are compared to one another. Jacobus gives us a summary of The Bhagavad Gita: Meditation and Knowledge and how Lord Krishna speaks to his follower Arjuna. Jacobus also summarizes St. Teresa of Avila: The Raptures of St. Teresa. A good reason to compare the two can be summarized by Molesky; “religion--so often neglected by contemporary historians--offers a more effective window into the origins of modernity than other, trendier subjects.” In both…

Much philosophical and spiritual material has been compressed within these verses. . In the first chapter the Bhagavad Gita, titled- ‘The Despondency of Arjuna’, Arjuna is seen as being agitated by his attachments or Moha, experiencing helplessness and hopelessness, and using various defense mechanisms to justify his state (Rationalization, Denial, Intellectualization, etc.). The drama of Arjuna’s utter despondency…

ultimate “non-control.” It is impossible to escape action, yet performing deeds without personal gain and as a sacrifice, or act of love to God, is the way to be free from bondage. As Krishna explains to Arjuna, “action imprisons the world unless it is done as sacrifice, freed from attachment, Arjuna, perform action as sacrifice” (Bhagavad-Gita, 3.9). Conducting actions as a sacrifice, without expectation of reward, is the only way to be emancipated from our bondage. Most actions are forms of…

Part I: Krishna’s Worldviews This paper will examine, in two parts, the worldviews of Krishna and Hinduism. The first part of the paper will examine four of the worldviews covered in class in relation to how they align with the beliefs of Krishna and Hinduism. The second part of the paper will examine a flaw in the logic of the worldviews and a way to remedy the flaw in the logic. Excerpts from the Bhagavad Gita as well as from the Upanishads will support analysis of the worldviews. Condition…

Discovering meaning in life has been of the upmost importance to grasping the purist human experience for generations. Philosophers have utilized various concepts in regards to the quest of finding meaning in one’s life including: living with a greater purpose in mind, expanding one’s existence beyond an endless cycle of satisfying desires, and utilizing the idea of duty to overcome conflicts of interest. Living with a purpose is beneficial for enduring suffering as it seems to give the…

The problem that I have chosen to tackle is the fraudulent manipulation of religion and religious values among the illiterate population in India by self acclaimed “god men (and women)” and other “godly” people. These words usually represent people who either have godly powers or can talk to God. They are often referred to as ‘baba’, ‘maharaj’, ‘pandit’, etc. I have chosen Krishna and Dante to deal with this problem. Since the majority of the population in India follows the religion that is…