Saturday, February 21, 2015

Vedic Philosophy

                  Vedic Philosophy  - As enumerated in Bhagwad Gita

In order to grasp and  comprehend the philosophy enumerated in Bhagwad  Gita it is necessary to go back to the period  when it was felt necessary to provide a philosophy to the then ailing Vedic society.

To begin with let us understand what a human being is and what is intelligence. Human   being consists of a body  ( which includes among others organic memory and brain ), mind ( thinking and imagination senses ) and intellect ( logical reasoning ). Intellect   makes thinking process practical, logical, reasonable and repetitive. Intelligence compares the  present  with the past accumulated learnt wisdom stored in the memory. It thus works by comparing relevant stored memory with the present happenings. It also reasons with whatever mind thinks and imagines and comes to a conclusion.  Intelligence differentiates men from animals. Human societies evolve through their intelligence and innovations. 

Perhaps it may also be necessary to know how the human society evolved in the first place. Earliest human beings lived where rivers and fruit trees were easily available. They were happily living amongst themselves till some one made a receptacle – a dona – by connecting together large leaves and a race accrued to reach the trees first and collect most of the fruits to avoid going to forest again and again. Those left behind saw the option of either stealing or snatching the fruits. A social conflict arose and need was felt to curb it. Elders selected one of the strong men to discipline the defaulters. This did not succeed as there were too many strong men. The wise among them thought of creating a divine power above who was already showing his power through lightening, rain, heat and cold and thus could punish the guilty by putting fear in them. Yet the people could not understand how this power named God could individually watch each one of them. Hence a concept of Soul, an entity of God Himself, in all human beings was created who would report to God directly without any interference from the body. This innovation succeeded.

 Elders went a stage further and divided the society as per the skills needed by it and ensured that skills were transferred from father to sons. Brahamans were expected to do prayers and give learned advice to Kshatries who would look after order and peace in their domain. Logistics like groceries were to be catered to by Vaish. Menial work and cleaning was the responsibility of Shudras. Thus a system now called caste was created inadvertently. Naturally later they became distinct entities. Inter caste marriages ceased.

People became very much fond of their families and attachments grew in extreme. ( Moh ). This led to possessiveness, greed and unending desires in people. They became very selfish and self centered .( Selfish, I, Me, and Mine only ). Social and material conflicts in society grew to large proportions.

Further as times passed, knowledge and reasoning among people grew. They desired to see the Supreme Power – God – themselves, so that they could  be convinced  Since this did not happen doubts arose about the concept of God itself. Wise men thought of ways to solve this problem so that their society does not get disintegrated and annihilated as the Kings too had become selfish. Somehow God had to be visible for authentication.
  
The result was in the form of Bhagwad Gita – vedic philosophy elaborated 

Now we must understand how Vedic society comprehended and perceived God. He came into being on His own. He was neither born or would ever die. He created the stars, son moon and all other planets  He had all the supernatural powers of creation, sustenance and destruction of all living beings . He controlled the natural phenomenon. He had the powers of punishment. Since He had no parents , siblings , wife or children , He had no personal emotional attachments. He had no desires which He could not fulfill as He possessed all the supernatural powers. There was no need for “ Himself, I, Me or Mine “ concept He remained calm and serene unaffected by sorrow or happiness.  
Hence when human beings minds and intellects behave like God ( they have fully surrendered themselves to God ), they become enlightened and Godly. This truth every one wishes to achieve as it provides complete bliss.   

Philosophically if all attachments and selfishness disappear from ones mind unawares one becomes godly unaffected by sorrow and happiness. Gita vividly tells us how to achieve this blissful state and sustain it. Krishna tells that He abides in the souls of all human beings and quietly observes all their actions,

The narration begins when selfishness and attachment of Dhritrashtra for his own sons   grew to alarming lengths even subverting decency and goodness to evil and also Arjun’s deep attachment to his extended family, teacher and elders. Krishna intervened to curb these awful tendencies which were damaging the society and tells the people  to perform their assigned duties to the society as per their skilled vocations now called castes. However they had to perform without any attachment and selfishness.

He tells Arjun that all good actions of human beings are done at His behest and they are only acting on his behalf. So there need be no remorse or sorrow in killing your near and dear ones. To convince Arjun and alley his natural misgivings about  His cosmic Self , He bestows him with divine vision as no human being can see His cosmic manifestation with his ordinary eyes and shows His divine self where he shows the future of all Dhrishrashtra’ sons , Dronacharya and Bheeshm Pitamah etc who lay   already dead. Krishna is thus removing all delusions of attachments from the society through Arjun. Once these delusions disappear one becomes calm and godly.

He then tells how to achieve the blissful state. One can attain it through Karma Yoga ( Actions ) , Bhakti Yog ( Devotion ) or Gyan Yog ( Wisdom ). It has to be achieved through meditation on Him stage by stage. In the final stage even while working one does not know that he is working for the good of society as he has completely surrendered himself to God as though he does not physically exist. He becomes a true sanyasi. Anyway whatever way one chooses ultimately one has to surrender oneself completely to Him. All attachment and self would then disappear from the mind unawares.


Relevant shloks from Bhagwad Gita are listed below for reference 
 



Ch 2 – 11
When in the midst of warring armies Arjun filled with grief told Krishna that he would not fight, He advised him not to feel sorrow for evil persons. The wise do not lament either for the living or dead

Ch 2 – 20
Soul is part of me without a beginning or end. It is birthless and deathless. When body dies it just leaves it.

Ch 2 – 23 to 24
Soul is unaffected by weapons, fire and water. Winds can not blow it. It can not be divided,  dissolved, dried up or burnt as it is eternal and all pervading.

Ch 2 – 29
All living beings remain invisible before their birth and after death. They can be seen only in-between.

Ch 2- 39
Exhorting Arjun to fight and take joy and sorrow alike, He tells him how to use wisdom  in Sankhya and Yoga ( Union with God )to free him from the effects of Karma - good or bad.

Ch – 42
You should perform your duties as per your vocation as you can not remain without action. But you are not entitled to the fruits of your actions.

Ch 2- 51
Wise totally absorbed in Yogic wisdom renounce the fruits of their actions. They become immune to cycles of births and deaths and remain peaceful.

Ch 3 -5
Because of Gunas ( essential nature or qualities ) no one is free from actions whether one likes or not.

Ch 3- 7
He who does Karma without attachment by controlling his senses with his mind is a wise person.

Ch  3 –18
One who attaches nothing to fruits of his actions needs no purpose to motivate him.

Ch 3 -21
People would follow your and My actions as only wise men set standards

Ch 3- 25
For uplifting the society knowledgeable should be unattached to the fruits of their labour.

Ch 4-5
When Arjun inquired how He could teach eternal science of Yoga to Vivasvan who lived long long back Krishna told Arjun that you and I have had many births though you do not remember them whereas I do.

Ch 4-8 to 9
I take birth on this earth to save virtue and eliminate evil to establish dharm. Those who are aware of the divine nature of My birth attain Me leaving the cycle of birth and death.

Ch 4-13 to 14
According to exhibited characteristics and qualities ( Gunas ) in their Karma I created in the society four social divisions of skill ( now called caste ).Since I had no desire for fruits of action My creation does not affect Me.

Ch 4-18
One who identifies inaction in action and action in inaction is a sage- a wise person spiritually inclined.

Ch 5-18
For a Brahaman who is learned, cultured and wise, a cow, an elephant, a dog or a  dog-eater are the same.

Ch 6-10
A Yogi should remain in a secluded place and meditate on Me as he is free from all desires and material possessions.

Ch 6- 41 to 42
Those Yogis who stray from the path of Yoga still attain Heaven and remain there for eternity and then take birth in a pious family. It is rare that they take birth in a family of wise transcendentalists.

Ch 6-47
Among the Yogis who abide in Me with great devotion get united with Me intimately. They are considered highly and the best.

Ch 7-4-5
My eight distinct material (earthly ) energies are earth, water, fire, air, ether, mind, intellect and ego (Ahankar ), In addition I have a superior energy  comprising of souls in all beings through which I maintain the world.

Ch 7-21
I support all those who worship with sincerity My any particular form.

Ch 8-6
Whatever one recollects and is absorbed in thought when dying attains that state.

Ch 8-8
One who devotedly meditates on Me attains Me.

Ch 8-26
According to Vedas one can leave the world either in light ( enlightened ) or in darkness ( Delusions ). Those passing away in light never return but those in darkness return.

Ch 10 -22
I am Sam Ved of the Vedas, Indra of the Gods, of the senses I am the mind  and  consciousness of the living beings.

Ch 11- 8-9
Arjun beseeched Krishna to show him His imperishable Self if He considered him qualified. Shri Krishna agreed and told Arjun that He would provide him with divine vision as no one can see His cosmic manifestation with his own eyes. He then showed His opulent form to Arjun.

Ch 11-48
Krishna told Arjun that no one has either seen My cosmic form or can  even see Me despite learning Vedas or performing pious activities,

Ch 12-8 to 12
Krishna tells Arjun that if you focus your mind on me with your intellect you would be with Me forever. In case you are unable to do so then pursue the path of Bhakti Yog for realizing Me. If you can not practice even this form of devotion then act on my beliefs, words and actions to give you perfection. Even if this is not possible then control your mind and senses and renounce fruits of your actions. This renunciation is possible even if you just fully concentrate on me with your wisdom

Ch 13-26
Even those without spiritual knowledge can transcend death if they worship God by hearing about Him from others.

Ch 13-30
One who realizes that actions are not performed by soul but by material nature ( body) is truly aware of Me.

Ch 13-33
As the sky though all pervading does not mix with any thing so also soul does not mix with the body although situated in it.

Ch 14-5
Material nature has three qualities ( Gunas ) when interacting with nature – sattva (Goodness), rajas (Passion ), and tapas (Delusion, ignorance).

Ch 14- 9 to 13
In sattva mode, goodness brings knowledge, enlightenment and happiness. In rajat mode, passion leads to limitless yearnings, attachments and activities for fruits. In tamas, ignorance leads to darkness, delusions and even madness is manifested.

Ch- 14- 17 to 20
Sattva creates understanding, rajas materialism and tamas delusion. Those in sattva ascend to higher planes, those in rajas remain in earthly planes and those in tamas descend to hellish worlds. Those who correctly comprehend these three qualities realize God and attain spiritual transcendence. When a he is liberated from birth, death, old age and illness. He thus enjoys life and remains happy.

Ch 15-5
Those who are free from pride, illusion and attachment and understand the eternal truth  and have given up material desires  and for whom happiness and distress are alike  attain the eternal kingdom.

Ch 15 to 17
All souls in this world are My integral part and My eternal fragment. Only living beings alone are affected by their six senses and mind. Just as wind carries the fragrance from one place to another, similarly souls move from one body to another.

Ch 16- 21
Lust, anger and greed are the three gates which lead to hell  and should be curbed  as they corrupt the soul