the chariot

[Guest guest]

Nitin Trasi wrote:

>

> Dear Patrick,

>

> Nisargadatta Maharaj recommended it too, as Greg has just pointed out.

> However, I would say that it is less of a real recommendation than a

> comment. It is not something that one "should do." It is something that

> happens with spiritual evolution and maturity. In the beginning, the

> identification is with Arjuna in the sense that the identification is more

> with the questions, while the answers are attempted to be intellectually

> comprehended. With spiritual maturation and the intuitive understanding, the

> questions seem transparent, and the answers obvious.

>

Greetings Nitin,

 

I raised the question about the chariot

metaphor in the Katha Upanishad (cited

by Ram)

to make the

point that there is scriptural support

for more than one 'right' way to read

the Gita. (But I do find that the

resulting identification of Arjuna with

atman and Krishna

with Buddhi is very intriguing. The fact

that Arjuna doesn't know that he is

atman

is to my mind no objection; as the Gita

tells us over and over again there is

one

Self in all beings but 'nobody knows it

yet' and what being has a higher claim

to

this title than Arjuna? Nor do I think

that Krishna would have any problem with

being 'demoted' to be the means by which

the Self comes to know itSelf.)

 

Regards,

 

Patrick