Essence Of Gita

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Essence Of Gita

THE Upanishads, the Brahma Sutras and the Bhagavad Gita constitute the

triple authorities of Vedanta—" Prasthana Traya." The Upanishads are the

final authorities in matters of spiritual knowledge. They are rightly

described as the Himalayas of the Soul, since they record the spiritual

heights reached by the ancient Maharshis of this great land.

The Brahma Sutras systematize the Upanishadic philosophy in a set of

aphorisms which are short and full of deep meaning. This can be comprehended

only in the light of various traditional interpretations which have given

rise to the different schools of Vedanta. The Bhagavad Gita contains the

essence of the Upanishads and the Brahma Sutras in a concrete and easy way

to be understood by the masses. Every chapter in the Gita ends with the

citation that it is the Upanishad sung by the Lord and that it is a Brahma

Vidya.

Not only did the Gita enjoy popularity and importance in days gone by, but

with the passing of years its importance and value have increased at home

and abroad. William Von Humboldt regards the Gita as " most beautiful,

perhaps the only true, philosophical song existing in any known tongue. "

Sir Edwin Arnold writes : " So lofty are many of its declarations, so

sublime its aspirations, so pure and tender its piety, that Schlegal, after

his study of the poem, breaks forth into outbursts of delight and praise

towards its unknown author."

The Grand Philosophy, the high ideals and the true solutions to the various

problems of life contained in the Gita have a universal appeal. This appeal

is greatly enhanced by its non-sectarian character, as Lord Krishna says : "

However men approach me, even so do I welcome them, for the path men take

from every side is mine." There is hope of salvation offered to the lowest

and the lost. As Mahatma Gandhi says, " The Gita is the Universal mother;

she turns away nobody. Her door is wide open to anyone who knocks."

The Gita teaches unity in diversity —a great necessity in the modern age. It

is a scripture of yoga which means becoming one with the Divine Life, being

in harmony with the Divine Law, In order to reach the balance, we must gain

an equilibrium so that self joined to the Eternal Self shall not be affected

by pleasure or pain, desire or aversion, or any one of the pairs of the

opposites. Moderation is, therefore, the key-note of the Gita. The disciple

has to learn to attune himself with the one supreme Self. In the midst of

toil and turmoil of life, he must rest in the Lord of Peace, discharging his

duties, not for the result of his actions, but as a divine duty.

The Gita gives us the explanation for the problem of good and the evil in

the world, i. e., the Law of Karma. In other words, the Gita teaches the

science of Karma Yoga. It shows the way of doing things without

getting entangled in ' Samsara,' through ' Nishkama Karma.' The

background of battle in which the teaching is given is symbolical. It

shows that a Karma Yogi should have calm and poise even in the

midst of universal disaster. A true man of spirit has steadied his

mind and is not affected by the changing vicissitudes of life. As the

Gita says : "He attains peace to whom all desires flow as rivers flow

into the ocean, which is filled with water, but remains unmoved."

In conclusion, "the Gita is meant to lift the aspirant from the lower

levels of renunciation, where objects are renounced, to the loftier

heights where desires are dead, and where the Yogi dwells in calm and

ceaseless contemplation, while his body and mind are actively employed in

discharging the duties that fall to his lot in life. That the spiritual

man need not be a recluse, that union with the divine may be achieved and

maintained in the midst of worldly affairs, that the obstacles to that union

lie not outside us, but within us—such is the central lesson of Bhagavad

Gita." (Dr. Annie Besant). The last stanza of the Gita is a

message of eternal hope to people of all ages and countries and leads us

to prosperity, victory and happiness.

(Adopted from the Book Pearls of Wisdom by His Holiness Swami Kesavaiahji)