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
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
