M a x i m u m H a p p i n e s s t o t h e M a x i m u m N u m b e r o f P e o p l e f o r t h e M a x i m u m T i m e

CHINMAYA MISSION BOSTONCHINMAYA MISSION BOSTON

THe HOlY GeeTA THe HOlY GeeTA

Chapter 1 – The Yoga of Arjuna-Grief

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Chapter 1 – What is a Gita?

• Gita is a song of spiritual knowledge – a dialogue between the Guru and Sishya

• Examples of Gita

Vidura Gita in Mahabarata

Rama-Gita in Ramayana

Hamsa-Gita in Bhagavatam

Guru-Gita and Siva-Gita in Skanda Puranam

Ashtavakra Gita

Avadhuta Gita

Ramana Gita

• Bhagavad Gita – is a dialogue between Shri Krishna and Arjuna in Mahabarata; appears almost at the center of the 18 cantos of Mahabarata. Gita consists of 18 chapters and 700 verses – Chapters 25-42 of the sixth canto

• Written by Veda Vyasa

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Chapter 1 – What is Mahabarata?

• Mahabarata facts

Consists of 10,000 verses

So called because it is great, vast and deepAlso called Jaya (Victory) – victory of good over evilVeda Vyasa was the authorLord Ganesha was the scribe

• Veda Vyasa is the author of

Mahabarata

18 Puranas

Brahma Sutras

Four Vedas

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Chapter 1 – What does Bhagavad Gita teach?

• ‘Tat Tvam Asi’ – That Thou Art• Eighteen Chapters correspond roughly to

Tvam – Karma Yoga – First six chaptersTat – Bhakti Yoga – Second six chaptersAsi – Jnaana Yoga – Last six chapters

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What is Gita?

• Bhagavad Gita is both Upansiad and Yoga-Sastra

Gita as Upanisad – Expounds knowledge about absolute truth and our essential oneness with it - also called Brahma Vidya

Gita as Yoga Sastra – Gives practical guidance on how to attain the Truth and live fulfilled lives

Sastra has two meaningso A scripture that teaches us what is good for uso A science that talks about a subject in its totality

Yoga means to unite with the higher – Each chapter of Gita is named a particular Yoga

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Chapter 1 – The Yoga of Arjuna-Grief

1. Dhrtarastra’s Question 2. Duryodhana describes

the Pandava Army3. Pitamaha blows the conch

4. Arjuna views the two armies 5. Arjuna’s Grief 6. Conclusion: I can’t

Introduction

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Chapter 1 – Topics for the Day

Story of Mahabharata – Setting for Bhagawad Gita

Symbolism of the External Battle and the Inner Battle

Dhrtarashtra’s question

Arjuna’s Grief

Excuses

External and Internal Battle

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Chapter 1 – Mahabharata in a Nutshell (1)

The Mahabharata is the history of the Great War of India between the Pandavas and the Kauravas. The two brothers Dhritarashtra and Pandu were born through sage Vyasa after the death of Vichitravirya.

Dhritarashtra being blind, Pandu succeeded to the throne but he entrusted the kingdom to his elder brother and himself proceeded to forest where his five sons Yudhishthira, etc., were born and were called the "Pandavas." Dhritarashtra also had one hundred children in Duryodhana and others, who were called the "Kauravas." Pandu died during the infancy of his sons and Dhritarashtra continued to rule the kingdom with the help of their granduncle Bhishma, who had pledged himself to lifelong celibacy.

The Pandava and Kaurava princes were brought up together and also educated and trained alike through Dronacharya. Both sets of princes considered themselves entitled to the kingdom and looked upon the other with hostility and their feelings and relations grew strained from day to day. On account of persecution by the Kauravas, the Pandavas left their home and suffered much hardship and pain, but on their marriage with the daughter of Drupada, king Dhritarashtra sent for the Pandavas and made over half the kingdom to them.

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Chapter 1 – Mahabharata in a Nutshell (2)

The Pandavas improved their country and established their capital at Indraprastha and then performed the horse-sacrifice with great pomp. The Kauravas were also invited there but on seeing the good fortune of the Pandavas and being offended by jokes made at them, they were overcome with jealousy and resentment and returned home with feelings of enmity and revenge.

They then conspired against the Pandavas and invited them to gamble and thereby they won all their wealth, kingdom and their person and also insulted and ill-treated their wife, Draupadi, in the presence of all. In the end, it was settled that the Pandavas should go out in exile to the forest for twelve years and pass another year in secrecy and on return from the exile be entitled to get back their lost kingdom. The Pandavas did all this but on their return the Kauravas refused to return the kingdom. This gave rise to the great battle of Kurikshetra between the Pandavas and the Kauravas.

The setting of the Gita is the scene of the great battle which brings the Kauravas and the Pandavas face to face in the final trial of strength. Arjuna, the best archer of all, tell Krishna to lead the chariot to a central point, between the two arrays of hostile forces. As he surveys the field he is overcome with emotion; the absurdity of war dominates the mind. The answer that Krishna gives forms eighteen chapters of the Gita. Free of doubt and firm in the mind, Arjuna enters the field and emerges triumphant.

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Chapter 1 – Discussion: What is significance of Gita in today’s world?

Pandavas

OUTER BATTLEOUTER BATTLE

Kauravas

Battlefield

Krishna - Charioteer

Arjuna - Devotee

Game of Dice

Chariot

Reins/Horses

INNER BATTLEINNER BATTLE

Forces of Righteousness

Forces of Ignorance

Everyday challenges

Wisdom of the Self

Ordinary man – the Ego

Uncertainties in Life

Human Body

Mind/Senses

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Chapter 1 – Kurukshetra – Battle Scene

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Chapter 1 – Dhrtarastra’s Question (Verse 1)

O Sanjaya, What did the sons of Pandu and my people do when,

wishing to fight, they assembled together on the holy field of

Kurukshetra . (1.1)

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Chapter 1 – Battle scene description

Having seen the army of the Pandavas drawn up in battle array, King

Duryodhana then approached his teacher (Drona) and spoke these

words. (1.2)

Behold, O Teacher! this mighty army of the sons of Pandu, arrayed

by the son of Drupada, thy wise disciple. (1.3)

Here are heroes, mighty archers, equal in battle to Bhima and

Arjuna, Yuyudhana, Virata and Drupada, each commanding eleven-

thousand archers. (1.4)

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Chapter 1 – Battle scene description

His glorious grandsire (Bhishma) , the oldest of the Kauravas, in

order to cheer Duryodhana, now sounded aloud a lion's roar and

blew his conch. (1.12)

Then (following Bhishma) , conches and kettle-drums, tabors, drums

and cow-horns blared forth quite suddenly and the sound was

tremendous (1.13)

Then, also Madhava and the son of Pandu, seated in their

magnificent chariot yoked with white horses, blew their divine

conches (1.14)

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Chapter 1 – Battle scene description

Hrishikesha blew the Panchajanya and Dhananjaya (Arjuna) blew the

Devadatta and Vrikodara (Bhima) , the doer of terrible deeds, blew

the great conch, named Paundra. (1.15)

Then, seeing the people of Dhritarashtra's party standing arrayed

and the discharge of weapons about to begin, Arjuna, the son of

Pandu, whose ensign was a monkey, took up his bow and said these

words to Krishna (Hrishikesha) , O Lord of the Earth! (1.21)

In the midst of the two armies, place my chariot, O Achyuta, that I

may behold those who stand here desirous of fighting and, on the

eve of this battle, let me know with whom I must fight. (1.22-23)

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Chapter 1 – Battle scene description

Seeing these my kinsmen, O Krishna, arrayed, eager to fight. My

limbs fail and my mouth is parched, my body quivers and my hair

stands on end. (1.28,29)

The Gandiva-bow slips from my hand, and my skin burns all over; I

am also unable to stand and my mind is whirling round, as it were.

(1.30)

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Arjuna’s rationale for not fighting the war

• War causes destruction of family (1.39)War causes destruction of family (1.39)

• Destruction of the family causes the destruction of family cultures and Destruction of the family causes the destruction of family cultures and values (1.40)values (1.40)

• Destruction of family cultures increases unrighteousness (1.40)Destruction of family cultures increases unrighteousness (1.40)

• Increase in unrighteousness causes impurity in women (1.41)Increase in unrighteousness causes impurity in women (1.41)

• Impurity in women causes admixture of castes (1.41)Impurity in women causes admixture of castes (1.41)

• Admixture of castes results in fall in family traditions – failure to offer Admixture of castes results in fall in family traditions – failure to offer food and water (1.42)food and water (1.42)

• Fall in family values destroys the community (1.43)Fall in family values destroys the community (1.43)

• Destruction of family values brings hell (1.44)Destruction of family values brings hell (1.44)

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Arjuna’s rationale for not fighting the war

WarWar

Destruction of familyDestruction of family

Destruction of family culture and valuesDestruction of family culture and values

Increases unrighteousnessIncreases unrighteousness

Impurity in womenImpurity in women

Admixture of castesAdmixture of castes

Fall in family traditionsFall in family traditions

Destroys communitiesDestroys communities

Leads us to hellLeads us to hell

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Exercise #1 – Debate on Arjuna’s Rationale

Is Gita instigating ‘war’ and ‘violence’?

Would Krishna’s response been any different if it was not the

‘battle scene’?

Is there an ‘absolute’ truth or is everything relative to the context?

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Key Messages

Look from multiple angles – context determines action

Reactions to ‘stressful’ situations

Turning excuses into resolutions and actions

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Key Messages of Chapter 1

Contrast between ‘external’ battle and ‘internal’ battle

Physical & Mental reactions when you are under ‘stress’

Look from multiple angles – context determines action

Practical Tips:

How to face a stressful or difficult situation

• Escape

• Suffer

• Change (yourself not your surroundings)

Turning excuses into resolutions