The Bhagavad Gita
Upon the reading of chapters 1-6 of the Great Scripture of Hinduism, The Bhagavad Gita (the "Lord's Song"), I am completely and utterly fascinated. The story's emphasis on selfless acts, devotion, and meditation is like no other I have ever encountered before. Through the narration of Sanjaya and the conversation of Sri Krishna (Vishnu incarnate) and Prince Arjuna, the principles of Hinduism are eloquently illustrated. In this story, the Lord Vishnu, whose duty it is to protect the universe from corruptive forces, takes the bodily form of Sri Krishna. He then lowers himself, out of love, and takes the humble position of charioteer to Prince Arjuna, a reluctant warrior. The battle is over a kingdom, one that will be, according to Price Arjuna, "fruitless" if it is won by the spilling of his relatives' blood. Arjuna initially believes that "when a family declines, ancient traditions are destroyed" (Ch 1, 40-41). Though a noble belief, Sri Krishna tells him that he is incorrect. Krishna then begins to set Prince Arjuna on his "path to salvation," teaching him the ways of
a selfless life. The most amazing aspect of all of this, I find, is that throughout the entire story - through all of Prince Arjuna's reluctance and stubborn beliefs - Krishna, the deity, never abandons him. This love and devotion, shown by a deity for a subject, is amazing. It is a kind of two-way worship that I admire greatly. The discussion of Karma, also, caught my attention. As I had understood it, karma was that every action will have a result...and those results will determine one's destiny. Sri Krishna, within The Bhagavad Gita, teaches Prince Arjuna of a "way out" of the cycle. Apparently, if one works selflessly and does not think of obtaining a reward, he or she will rise above karma and have obtained life's ultimate goal. This seems to deviate from the standard in other religions studied thus far. My impression of Hinduism, thus far, is that this is a religion full of grace and sacredness. I find the primary beliefs to be beautiful and naturalistic and unlike any others I have observed before. On a personal note, I was mildly surprised to find
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 729
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)
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