Guest guest Posted February 24, 2000 Report Share Posted February 24, 2000 Arjuna's understanding in Chapter 1 is that his dilemma is an ethical one and commentaries on Chapter 1 of the Gita including those that have been excerpted in this list generally present Arjuna's crisis in this way. However I submit that this way of looking at things risks missing the cental teaching of the Gita altogether. Arjuna is torn by two conflicting dharmas (family and caste) each of whose claims are legitimate as far as I can see. How could Arjuna's awareness of his responsibilities to his family be a character flaw? The problem is rather that his sensitivity in this respect undermines his effectiveness as a warrior in which capacity he has the larger responsibility of 'holding the world together' (III.25). Arjuna is often compared to Hamlet and it has been said that if Hamlet and Othello changed places then neither tragedy could have been written since Hamlet would have seen through Iago straight away and Othello would not have hesitated to kill Claudius while he was at prayer. If Arjuna is not sufficiently Othello-like to meet the demands of the situation then that is not a *moral* defect. However it is his *belief* that his dilemma is a moral one---that the only courses of action open to him are both morally wrong---that has incapacitated him and this is what has to be overcome but uprooting the illusion that he is `the doer'. Contrary to his belief he is not at choice here---prakriti will impel him to fight whether he likes it or not (XVIII.59)---and all of his scruples about right and wrong are to be dissolved by karmayoga--- Having relinquished all dharmas, take shelter in me alone. I shall make you released from all sins: be not grieved. (XVIII.66) If this statement and others like it are taken at face value, then Gita is written from a point of view which is altogether above morality (but I'm not saying that this should be shouted from the rooftops). In order to understand it, it is necessary to start by recognizing that Arjuna is not morally defective but rather that his understanding is impaired. Regards, Patrick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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