Bhagawad Gita and Capitalism

[Guest guest]

Mantra One

TEXT

ishavasyam idam sarvam

yat kincha jagatyad jagat

tena tyaktena bhunjetha

ma grham kasya svid dhanam

 

TRANSLATION

 

Everything animate or inanimate that is within the

universe is controlled and owned by the Lord. One

should therefore accept only those things necessary

for himself, which are set aside as his quota, and one

should not accept other things, knowing well to whom

they belong.

 

lobham pravrttim arambham

karmanam ashramam sprha

rajasy etani jayante

vivrddhe bharatarshabha

 

TRANSLATION

O chief of the Bhäratas, when there is an increase in

the mode of passion the symptoms of great attachment,

fruitive activity, intense endeavor, and

uncontrollable desire and hankering develop.

 

PURPORT

One in the mode of passion is never satisfied with the

position he has already acquired; he hankers to

increase his position. If he wants to construct a

residential house, he tries his best to have a

palatial house, as if he would be able to reside in

that house eternally. And he develops a great

hankering for sense gratification. There is no end to

sense gratification. He always wants to remain with

his family and in his house and to continue the

process of sense gratification. There is no cessation

of this. All these symptoms should be understood as

characteristic of the mode of passion.

Bg 14.13

 

Srimad-Bhägavatam (1.2.18–19) states:

nasta-prayeshnv abhadreshu nityam bhagavata-sevaya

bhagavaty uttama-shloke bhaktir bhavati naishtiki

tada rajas-tamo-bhavam kama-lobhadayash ca ye

ceta etair anaviddham sthitam sattve prasidati

 

Considering the chaotic condition of human society, if

one actually wants peace and tranquillity, one must

take to the God consciousness movement and engage

always in bhägavata-dharma. Engagement in

bhägavata-dharma dissipates all ignorance and passion,

and when ignorance and passion are dissipated one is

freed from greed and lust. When freed from greed and

lust, one becomes brahminically qualified, and when a

brahminically qualified person makes further

advancement, he becomes situated on the Vaiñëava

platform. It is only on this Vaiñëava platform that it

is possible to awaken one’s dormant love of Godhead,

and as soon as one does so, his life is successful.

 

At present, human society is specifically cultivating

the mode of ignorance (tamo-guëa), although there may

also be some symptoms of passion (rajo-guëa). Full of

käma and lobha, lust and greed, the entire population

of the world consists mostly of çüdras and a few

vaiçyas, and gradually it is coming about that there

are çüdras only. Communism is a movement of çüdras,

and capitalism is meant for vaiçyas. In the fighting

between these two factions, the çüdras and vaiçyas,

gradually, due to the abominable condition of society,

the communists will emerge triumphant, and as soon as

this takes place, whatever is left of society will be

ruined. The only possible remedy that can counteract

the tendency toward communism is the Kåñëa

consciousness movement, which can give even communists

the real idea of communist society. According to the

doctrine of communism, the state should be the

proprietor of everything. But the Kåñëa consciousness

movement, expanding this same idea, accepts God as the

proprietor of everything. People cannot understand

this because they have no sense of God, God

consciousness movement can help them to understand God

and to understand that everything belongs to God.

Since everything is the property of God, and all

living entities—not only human beings but even

animals, birds, plants and so on—are children of God,

everyone has the right to live at the cost of God with

God consciousness.

 

 

--- wrote:

> Hi All

>

> Is there a similarity between the Gita and

> Capitalism? Does Sri

> Krishna talk about Capitalism?

>

> Thanks

> Sangeetha

>

>

>

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SBC - Internet access at a great low price.

http://promo./sbc/

[Guest guest]

, "" wrote:

> Hi All

>

> Is there a similarity between the Gita and Capitalism? Does Sri

> Krishna talk about Capitalism?

>

> Thanks

> Sangeetha

 

 

Dear friend,

 

It's a very unusual question you pose. Since no one on the list has

so far responded to you, let me at least attempt to do so.

 

The soul of Capitalism is Profit. It teaches you how to gain through

what is known as 'shrama', acquisitive effort. Such gain can be

easily measured on a Profit & Loss statement or Balance Sheet.

 

The soul of the Bhagavath-Gita is also Profit but it's the soulful,

not earthly variety of gain. It's acquired through the effort

of 'thyAga', 'nyAsa' or 'saraNagathi' i.e. self-sacrifice,

renunciation and self-surrender. Unfortunately, double-entry book-

keeping cannot measure it.

 

Ask yourself now a simple question: Which makes more meaning in life

-- Profit or Self-sacrifice?

 

Depending on what your answer is you may decide then which work to

take up for serious study -- the 'Bhagavath-Gita' or the 'Das

Capital'.

 

Rgds,

dAsan,

Sudarshan

[Guest guest]

THE FIRST MANTRA IS NOT FROM GITA, BUT FROM ISHAVASYA UPANISHAD.

REGARDS

 

 

 

Damana Krishna

<damanakrsnadas@y

,

ahoo.com>

cc:

05/19/2004 04:17 Re:

Bhagawad Gita and Capitalism

PM

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mantra One

TEXT

ishavasyam idam sarvam

yat kincha jagatyad jagat

tena tyaktena bhunjetha

ma grham kasya svid dhanam

 

TRANSLATION

 

Everything animate or inanimate that is within the

universe is controlled and owned by the Lord. One

should therefore accept only those things necessary

for himself, which are set aside as his quota, and one

should not accept other things, knowing well to whom

they belong.

 

lobham pravrttim arambham

karmanam ashramam sprha

rajasy etani jayante

vivrddhe bharatarshabha

 

TRANSLATION

O chief of the Bhäratas, when there is an increase in

the mode of passion the symptoms of great attachment,

fruitive activity, intense endeavor, and

uncontrollable desire and hankering develop.

 

PURPORT

One in the mode of passion is never satisfied with the

position he has already acquired; he hankers to

increase his position. If he wants to construct a

residential house, he tries his best to have a

palatial house, as if he would be able to reside in

that house eternally. And he develops a great

hankering for sense gratification. There is no end to

sense gratification. He always wants to remain with

his family and in his house and to continue the

process of sense gratification. There is no cessation

of this. All these symptoms should be understood as

characteristic of the mode of passion.

Bg 14.13

 

Srimad-Bhägavatam (1.2.18–19) states:

nasta-prayeshnv abhadreshu nityam bhagavata-sevaya

bhagavaty uttama-shloke bhaktir bhavati naishtiki

tada rajas-tamo-bhavam kama-lobhadayash ca ye

ceta etair anaviddham sthitam sattve prasidati

 

Considering the chaotic condition of human society, if

one actually wants peace and tranquillity, one must

take to the God consciousness movement and engage

always in bhägavata-dharma. Engagement in

bhägavata-dharma dissipates all ignorance and passion,

and when ignorance and passion are dissipated one is

freed from greed and lust. When freed from greed and

lust, one becomes brahminically qualified, and when a

brahminically qualified person makes further

advancement, he becomes situated on the Vaiñëava

platform. It is only on this Vaiñëava platform that it

is possible to awaken one’s dormant love of Godhead,

and as soon as one does so, his life is successful.

 

At present, human society is specifically cultivating

the mode of ignorance (tamo-guëa), although there may

also be some symptoms of passion (rajo-guëa). Full of

käma and lobha, lust and greed, the entire population

of the world consists mostly of çüdras and a few

vaiçyas, and gradually it is coming about that there

are çüdras only. Communism is a movement of çüdras,

and capitalism is meant for vaiçyas. In the fighting

between these two factions, the çüdras and vaiçyas,

gradually, due to the abominable condition of society,

the communists will emerge triumphant, and as soon as

this takes place, whatever is left of society will be

ruined. The only possible remedy that can counteract

the tendency toward communism is the Kåñëa

consciousness movement, which can give even communists

the real idea of communist society. According to the

doctrine of communism, the state should be the

proprietor of everything. But the Kåñëa consciousness

movement, expanding this same idea, accepts God as the

proprietor of everything. People cannot understand

this because they have no sense of God, God

consciousness movement can help them to understand God

and to understand that everything belongs to God.

Since everything is the property of God, and all

living entities—not only human beings but even

animals, birds, plants and so on—are children of God,

everyone has the right to live at the cost of God with

God consciousness.

 

 

--- wrote:

> Hi All

>

> Is there a similarity between the Gita and

> Capitalism? Does Sri

> Krishna talk about Capitalism?

>

> Thanks

> Sangeetha

>

>

>

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SBC - Internet access at a great low price.

http://promo./sbc/

 

 

 

------------------------ Sponsor ---------------------~-->

Make a clean sweep of pop-up ads. Companion Toolbar.

Now with Pop-Up Blocker. Get it for free!

http://us.click./L5YrjA/eSIIAA/yQLSAA/VkWolB/TM

---~->

 

 

Links