Gandhiji's Devotion to Gita

[Guest guest]

This is the right time to divert our attention to Gita

Satsang because it is quite relevant for our

understanding of Shankara's Advaita Philosophy. One

of the human weaknesses is to jump into quick

conclusions without thorough enquiry. This has

happened to all of us one time or other. The same

weakness is also responsible for statements such as

"Shastras such as Gita contain potential

inconsistencies." Gandhiji has the following

observation on the inherent human weakness in reading

and understanding our scriptures:

 

"I am a devotee of the Gita and a firm believer in the

inexorable law of karma. Even the least little

tripping or stumbling is not without its cause and I

have wondered why one who has tried to follow the Gita

in thought, word and deed should have any ailment.

The doctors have assured me that this trouble of high

blood- pressure is entirely the result of mental

strain and worry. If that is true, it is likely that I

have been unnecessarily worrying myself, unnecessarily

fretting and secretly harboring passions like anger,

lust, etc. The fact that any event or incident should

disturb my serious efforts, means not that the Gita

Ideal is defective but that my devotion to its

defective. The Gita Ideal is true for all time, my

understanding of it and observance of it is full of

flaws."

 

Harijan, 29 February 1936. ("What is Hinduism?"

Mahatma Gandhi, National Book Trust of India.

 

Gandhiji's observation is quite useful for all of us

while discussing various topics and questions.

Hopefully, Gandhiji's warning will help us to avoid

making erroneous statements such as "Shastras are

defective." Instead, let us take more time and energy

to study and learn the Shastras such as Gita to get

rid of our ignorance.

 

regards,

 

Ram Chandran