New Study Of Gita Nov 11 Dr Shriniwas J Kashalikar

NEW STUDY OF BHAGAVAD GITA

DR. SHRINIWAS JANARDAN KASHALIKAR

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STUDY OF

GITA

Dr. Shriniwas KashalikarDR. SHRINIWAS JANARDAN KASHALIKAR

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Nov 11, 2009, 10:00 am

Can the study of Gita allay various anxieties?

One of the most interesting things I learnt from Gita; and also got thoroughly convinced in the course of time from the practice of NAMASMARAN; is the fact that everyone is moving towards the same goal and the same destination.

This fact usually remains concealed and one gets impatient to “teach others”, “for their welfare”! Alternatively one may desperate to learn from someone! This impatience though natural can create condescending attitude and develop subtle expectations such as publicity and growth of your (otherwise selfless) mission! The desperation to learn can lead to slavishness and/or deception. This can take away your peace and mar the quality of your behavior.

When we appreciate this fact; that we all are going in the same direction and towards the same goal, then true love (probably more than that evident amongst the pilgrims) emerges and blossoms. That is the greatest hallmark of world culture.

Once I get convinced and clear about this fact, then the acts of impatience and ignorance (whether committed by me or others) do not disturb me any more to a significant extent.

It is matter of great privilege for us; to realize; (deep


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experience) this love; especially amongst family members, relatives, colleagues, coworkers, people of our country, people from world and latter; even the enemies!

Even as this revelation of love is magnificent; it may not manifest in the mind of the student of Gita at all times and in all persons. It is natural therefore (and hence need not be despised) that; at various stages of development even the students of Gita can be seen frantically advising, admonishing, preaching and also expect the results; from themselves and from others. But Gita surely frees the students Gita from this in the course of time and lets us enjoy the sublime love hitherto hidden or masked by superficiality!

One of the difficulties in the study of Gita is that; it can develop a doubt; “Why truth has to be shown by some one else?” or “Why should I follow the ancestors?”

As the study proceeds, however; you gradually realize that the thought that “somebody else showing the truth”, is because of erroneous image of “self” and the “other”. It is also because of the faulty images of “following” and “ancestors”. The learning or accepting knowledge should never depend on who gives it and whether it comes from your ancestors or contemporary peers.

The knowledge or enlightenment or revelation or objective truth is like Sun. Sun does not belong to the window


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through which His rays enter! The “truth”, which is omniscient and omnipotent and omnipresent, does not “belong” to any one! So it is illusory to think that it belongs to some one else who “shows” you and you follow!

From another angle, the idea “somebody else” is a relative idea. If we look at ourselves objectively, then we learn to look “me” and “somebody else” as two individuals with no specific preference. There is no good or bad feeling irrespective of about who is learning from whom! This is because the ego of petty self dissolves; as one studies Gita with persistence. So no one is superior or inferior irrespective of whether he/she learns or teaches. These are only roles the individuals play!

From yet another point of view, even the idea; of ancestors and decedents is relative; if we could look at it by going beyond the framework of time. Just as right and left depend on how we stand, similarly past and present lose meaning if we stand beyond the framework of time. Hence the hollow superiority or false inferiority disappears; when; through the study of Gita we learn to see more objectively! Hence, it is also erroneous to think that it “belongs” to your ancestors and you are an inferior descendent to “receive” it from them or other way round that you great because you are teaching it to your descendent.!“Truth” or “self” is beyond time and it is absurd and


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baseless to be captive of superiority or inferiority complexes (developed because of petty identity), which come in he way realization of truth!

Isn’t it possible to develop pride about our learning blow our trumpet?

It is quite likely to be proud in the early stages. But as we come to know that there were, there are and there will be millions of students of Gita learning her!

Also, gradually during study we realize that if “I” learn Gita; it is neither a matter of pride (if acclaimed by people respecting Gita); nor a matter of pity (if ridiculed by people, who look down upon Gita). This is because, from philosophical and therefore realistic point of view, I am not the owner of what all capabilities, which I have; as I have not created them! It is simply a matter of being happy to blossom together!

What is the relevance of virtues; described in Gita; today?

In Gita, there is a reference to virtues in many places; including 16th and 18th chapters.

One of them is “truth”.

In everyday practice, there is always a conflict between


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loyal description of facts (which can either prove stupid and invite difficulties; or wise at produce profits) and concealing or misrepresenting the facts, (which also can engender punishment or yield gains). Hence there is ongoing conflict in every mind about the virtue viz. truth and Gita provides the answer to it.

I began to appreciate the ‘true’ meaning of ‘truth’ gradually and distinguish it from “mere narration of apparent facts; even if done with 100%; loyalty and fidelity”.

I began to understand that realization of “truth”; is a process and it leads to expression of appropriate behavior, conducive to blossoming of everyone and realization of truth!

For this (rising above the criminal lies and gullible truths and living effectively to reach the truth) to happen; there are many precepts which ought to be followed from childhood, but the most important and universally practicable in every condition and situation is NAMASMARAN.

What is the meaning of the verse in 6th chapter; (UDDHARET ATMANATMANAM NATMANAM AVASADAYET ATMAIVA HYATMANO BANDHUH ATMAIVA RIPURATMANA) which is very famous? How one is enemy of oneself?


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I began to understand this; by correlating it with the previous reference to the self. Lord Krishna elucidates the nature of real self to Arjuna in the 2nd and 3rd chapters. He then advises Arjuna in 6th chapter, in this verse; to rescue and uplift the other part of his consciousness (we can call it lower or actually physical or physiological consciousness; without being derogatory) that has been trapped in body systems; feelings and intellectual framework; and obviously; prevent its further bondage. He further states that if you do this; then you would find that that your lower consciousness is friend of your higher consciousness (you) and if you don’t, then you would find that your lower consciousness is verily the enemy of your higher consciousness (you).

The consciousness trapped in body, mind, ego and/or subjectivity is the enemy if not properly negotiated with and mastered or conquered. This consciousness becomes our friend, close friend once negotiated with and conquered, or shall we say brought in harmony with ourselves. This activity of winning part of our own consciousness, without being repulsive or escapist is YOGA. It is said (by those who have achieved this MAHAYOGA), that NAMASMARAN makes this possible.

How to accept a bloody war as an opportunity?


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When I began the study, it used to appear strange that in 2nd

chapter Lord Krishna has referred the war as great opportunity.

I used to find this strange and not acceptable, because of my erroneous concepts and feelings about the violence. I used to think that war is devilish, vicious, and avoidable and hence should be avoided.

Later, I used to partly agree that “this war as opportunity” but rather reluctantly, because I used to think that Lord Krishna justified this war because it was imposed on them even as he had tried to avert the war through maximum possible negotiations!

But now I realize that the upholding of war as an opportunity; refers to the option (which no other living being has) to emancipate the lower consciousness by participating in the war to conquer all physiological conflicts inside and social contradictions; outside!

In my view this war of rescuing and emancipating the consciousness trapped in senses is described in HATHAYOGA texts as KUDALINI JAGRUTI. Hence HATHAYOGA practices (described in 6th chapter of Gita and Dnyaneshavari or Jnaneshvari) and intellectual exploration as through the SANKHY YOGA (also described in 2nd chapter of Gita and Jnaneshvari) are perfectly complementary and reach you to the same destination, viz. individual and global blossoming!


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The heavenly beauty and bounty of Gita is that she takes you beyond petty “love and hate” relationships. She reveals to you; how the love and hatred; in as much as the sense of fear and animosity; are born in your consciousness trapped in your senses and how rescuing the same would free you from all subjectivity and all pettiness. I seem to understand now, that this; if realized by us; can make our personal relationships far more pleasant than one can ever imagine! Our relationships can become sublime and can go beyond any distance, any time and even death, through Gita and hence Gita is a super romantic cosmic poetry. Every single step in this direction is more precious than the entire world, even if mountains of drawbacks and oceans of adversities within or outside us; try to drag us back!

I have written an article entitled “Worshiping Sex” and unknowingly or not being fully aware, I have highlighted in it; this process of lovingly rescuing “part” of “your consciousness” (making it your friend) from the “physiological prisons”, rather than hating it. I can appreciate now, the feeling of respect and adoring, towards; sexual attraction in the universe; at the root of which, there is motherhood and fatherhood and why it is worshipped as Goddess Kundalini (and various Goddesses); who merges with the true self; when appropriate.


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New Study Of Gita Nov 11 Dr Shriniwas J Kashalikar