The Bhagavad Gita

[Guest guest]

-

" toni nelson " <the_tribulation

Thursday, February 14, 2002 01:41

the bhagavad gita

 

 

sir/madam

 

i am presently studying hinduism at nailsea school and we are looking at

the bhagavad gita and it's views on bhakti and karma yoga. in my

essay i have to include sankara's popularisation of the gita, his

views on bhakti and karma yoga, and views prior to him.

to me there seems to be a contradiction. zaehner's introduction to

hinduism comments on how sankara thought bhakti was inferior to jnana.

This contrasts what my tutor taught us about how sankara changed these

traditional ideas by popularising the gita. i'd really appreciate your

help as my essays due in on monday! no worries if you

haven't the time!

 

> toni nelson

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~response~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Dear Toni

 

Your question is very interesting.... We will ask some of our

list members to resond to you directly or via our list.

I am pretty sure you will get very interesting answers....

 

jay Vivekananda Centre London

[Guest guest]

Namaste,

 

Shankara cites Gita 11:54 as its essence:

 

The following quotes from Gita, and one from Vivekachudamani can be

studied for a fuller understanding:

 

Gita:

 

English Translation of Sri Sankaracharya's Sanskrit Commentary -

Swami Gambhirananda

 

Commentary 11.54

 

bhak{}tyaa tvananyayaa shak{}ya ahameva.nvidho.arjuna .

GYaatuM drashhTu.n cha tatvena praveshhTu.n cha para.ntapa .. 11\.54..

 

Tu, but, O Arjuna; bhaktya, by devotion-. Of what kind? To this the

Lord says: Ananyaya, by (that devotion which is ) single-minded. That

is called single-minded devotion which does not turn to anything else

other than the Lord, and owing to which nothing else but Vasudeva is

perceived by all the organs. With that devotion, aham sakyah, am I

able; evamvidhah, in this form-in the aspect of the Cosmic form;

jnatum, to to known-from the scriptures; not merely to be known from

the scriptures, but also drastum, to be seen , to be realized

directly; tattvena, in reality; and also pravestum, to be entered

into-for attaining Liberation; parantapa, O destroyer of foes.

 

 

Now the essential purport of the whole scripture, the Gita, which is

meant for Liberation, is being stated by summing it up so that it may

be practised:

 

matkarmakR^inmatparamo madbhak{}taH saN^gavarjitaH .

nirvairaH sarvabhuuteshhu yaH sa maameti paaNDava .. 11\.55..

 

Commentary 11.55

 

Pandava, O son of Pandu; yah, he who; mat-karma-krt, works for Me:

work for Me is mat-karma; one who does it is mat-karma-krt-.

 

 

Mat-paramah, who accepts Me as the supreme Goal: A servant does work

for his master, but does not accept the master as his own supreme

Goal to be attained after death; his one, however, who does work for

Me, accepts Me alone as the supreme Goal. Thus he is matparamah-one

to whom I am the supreme Goal-.

 

 

So also he who is madbhaktah, devoted to me: He adores Me alone in

all ways, with his whole being and full enthusiasm. Thus he is

madbhaktah-.

 

 

Sanga-varjitah, who is devoid of attachment for wealth, sons,

friends, wife and relatives, Sanga means fondness, love; devoid of

them-.

 

 

Nirvairah, who is free from enmity; sarva-bhutesu, towards all beings-

berefit of the idea of enmity even towards those engaged in doing

unmost harm to him-.

 

 

Sah, he who is such a devotee of Mine; eti, attains; mam, Me. I alone

am his supreme Goal; he does not attain any other goal. This is the

advice for you, given by Me as desired by you.

 

 

===============================================================

 

 

Vivekachudamani:

 

31. Among the contributory factors of liberation, devotion stands

supreme, and it is the search for one's own true nature that is meant

by devotion.

 

 

 

Regards,

 

Sunder

 

 

Ramakrishna, " Vivekananda Centre " <vivekananda@b...>

wrote:

>

> -

> " toni nelson " <the_tribulation@h...>

> Thursday, February 14, 2002 01:41

> the bhagavad gita

>

>

> sir/madam

>

> i am presently studying hinduism at nailsea school and we are

looking at

> the bhagavad gita and it's views on bhakti and karma yoga. in my

> essay i have to include sankara's popularisation of the gita, his

> views on bhakti and karma yoga, and views prior to him.

> to me there seems to be a contradiction.

[Guest guest]

Namaste everybody!

 

I recently read the Gita. It is the most beautiful book I

have ever read! I am new to this type of great literature and was

hoping some of you may be able to recommend other great similar

books. Thank you all, and have a great day!

 

Jose Gonzalez

[Guest guest]

, " gonzocell " <gonzocell wrote:

>

> Namaste everybody!

>

> I recently read the Gita. It is the most beautiful book I

> have ever read! I am new to this type of great literature and was

> hoping some of you may be able to recommend other great similar

> books. Thank you all, and have a great day!

>

> Jose Gonzalez

 

 

Welcome Jose,

 

I will suggest you to read Kath Upanishada, after Gita.

This has a wonderful description of what happens after death...and

who can be saved from repeated births and deaths

 

love

[Guest guest]

Welcome Jose!

 

Along with Katha-Upanishad, I also recommend Tripura Rahasya, Isha

Upanishad. For a good overview of Hindu Yogis practices I also

recommend " Yoga & Ayurveda " by Dr David Frawley. In fact, any of

Frawleys books will do.

[Guest guest]

I just wanted to thank everybody for the warm

welcome!

I have purchased most of the books that I was

recomended. I am confident I will enjoy them. (the

upanishads, and yoga Ayurveda) I also purchased The

Awakening Of Intelligence... by J. Krishnamurti...

 

I have never heard of him, but it seemed very

interesting and too good to pass up. If anybody has

any thougts on his writting I would really appreciate

it.

 

Have a great day everybody!

 

Jose L, Gonzalez

--- shanracer <no_reply > wrote:

 

> Welcome Jose!

>

> Along with Katha-Upanishad, I also recommend Tripura

> Rahasya, Isha

> Upanishad. For a good overview of Hindu Yogis

> practices I also

> recommend " Yoga & Ayurveda " by Dr David Frawley. In

> fact, any of

> Frawleys books will do.

>

>