Bhagavad Gita

   So, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the Gita has been an easy read, especially with the explanations before each chapter. Also, there is apparently a lot of really cool artwork to pick from about the Gita on Google images, like the one above. For some reason, I expected Arjuna to be depicted as younger...
   But I digress. The Gita was an interesting twist on Just War that we've learned about in a couple of our other BIC classes, if that's the perspective you want to take on the Gita. Like it's mentioned, the entire story about Arjuna fighting against the corrupt side of his family and friends could just be one giant metaphor for the internal war within the Self. Arjuna needing to fight against the corruption of the city can be seen as a metaphor for the necessity of fighting any corruption within the pure Self, no matter how hard it might be. Whichever way you see the story, literal or metaphorical, through the interaction between Arjuna and Krishna, you get an old and lasting perspective on the soul, reincarnation, and Vishnu depicted as the sole all-powerful God of the universe. Vishnu, along with his already long list of capabilities that would put any resume to shame, sends down incarnations of himself to bring order back to the world anytime chaos and corruption begins to emerge. Therefore, he plays a big part in guiding Arjuna onto the right path.
   A big part of this, I feel, is Vishnu's form, power, and role in the universe. As explained throughout several chapters, Vishnu is the creator of all life, everything. Every living thing in existence has a piece of Vishnu within them as their soul, and the goal of each soul (or Self) is to reunite and become one with Vishnu for all eternity. If not, it's not the end of the world. It's kind of like playing a video game. If you die, it's not an eternal game over. You just start over and try to play again, and keep trying until you finally win. In the Gita, and the religion revolving around it, reincarnation is a very real thing, which has always been a fascinating idea to me. Instead of just being evaluated and sent to heaven or hell or wherever as soon as you die, you're just evaluated and sent onward into the next life to see if the soul can become closer to achieving enlightenment the next time around. You're given a constant cycle of chances until you hopefully eventually are able to become one with Vishnu. Along the way, Vishnu is taking the form of all kinds of great beings and keeping a careful watch over everything that happens. I found it funny that some of the class saw Krishna's explanation of his true form and powers as being very haughty. I can kind of see where they're coming from, since Krishna is basically saying, "This is why I'm awesome and why you should worship and swear eternal devotion to only me, the reason why you even exist." But, hey, he's a God, all-knowing and all-powerful, so...you know. The concept of Vishnu is really cool, though, I have to say. The depiction of him in the Gita is like giving an unseeable and important life energy all around and inside of us a central form of origin, if that makes sense.
   True enlightenment and union with Vishnu is a very difficult thing to achieve, however. In all honesty, I'm not sure what exactly to think about the sheer amount of control and detachment one has to achieve and maintain for it. From my perspective, it feels like it wouldn't really be worth it, as if detachment will take away from the full experience of things in life, be they sad or happy. However, that's just how I personally feel about it, since I don't know how people who actively practice detachment feel. They might be perfectly happy in that state and perfectly fulfilled in their devotion to their God, and want nothing more. It's just something I don't completely understand but can respect, I guess. If it makes you happy and doesn't hurt others, then why not? The things that the religion and Krishna talks about are good things as well, such as not letting yourself get too swept up in your emotions, not letting material things rule your life, not being an egotistical jerk, and simply being respectful towards and happy for others. Whether you're religious or not, there are a lot of good teachings in religions such as this one. I don't believe in good and bad karma, but I do like the reminder (or even warning) that your action do have consequences, and you or others you care about might not like those consequences if you're not careful.
   Some of the topics the Gita covers evokes some interesting thoughts and questions (as seen through our class discussions that tend to get kind of carried away). I already mentioned this in a previous blog, but the claim in chapter 8 that what you're thinking about (what's most important to you) at the moment of your death is what directs the soul afterwards is something I thought was rather cool. In the end, the point being made was that one should be thinking of and remaining devoted to Vishnu in their last moments. Therefore, one should ensure it happens by starting early - practicing worship of Vishnu and bringing yourself closer to samadhi. It was simply the idea of, along with what happens in your lifespan affecting what happens to your soul afterwards, your last moments and true thoughts are also critical. It makes me wonder what all people are thinking of in their last moments (those who don't die immediately or unexpectedly and have the time to think about things before death), and if that kind of thing really does matter. This idea plays into another idea that chapter 13 sort of brings up. When Vishnu is talking about the "field" being both the body and the mind, it's brought up in the explanation that, essentially, what we are is a result of what we've thought (what we think, we become). This, to me, further explains what chapter 8 was getting at when talking about the importance of what you're thinking about before death. What you think about and believe in influences everything you do and affects your very Self, and it influences what happens to your soul when it is time for it to move on after you pass away. It's applicable to the Christian belief that what you think and believe, and thus how you act, affects what happens to you after death (without the belief in reincarnation). Whether you believe in this kind of idea or not, in a way it can still work as an interesting warning to always be careful in life about what you think and believe and what you do as a result.
   However, one chapter specifically that I didn't agree with and that kind of irritated me was the chapter about how atheists, immoral people, and demons are all lumped together into the same box. Honestly, it just irritated me because it's basically the same prejudice that I've heard re-hashed about atheists over and over again by some religions, most of it completely unfounded and ridiculous. I just don't like it in general when beliefs of any kind are unfairly attacked and stereotyped. In this chapter, alongside completely immoral people and demons, atheists are depicted as utterly sinful, lustful, immoral, and conceited. It's basically showing a total lack of faith in humanity on its own and in humanity's innate ability to empathize by saying that humans are completely morally inept without the guiding hand of God. To me, it's ridiculous to think that if you don't believe in God then that instantly means you only think about you and what's good for you, and that you're only going to do immoral things. I've met people of all kinds of beliefs: Atheist, Agnostic, Christian, Islamic, etc. that were great people, and I've seen that you don't need a written religious code to be a normal, good and empathetic human being that cares about others and wants to do the right thing, though what might be considered "right" is subjective to them. I've also met people that believed in God(s) and knew there was a written moral code (and maybe even tried to follow it to an extent) but were still very hypocritical, conceited, or prejudiced - contrary to what this chapter in the Gita seems to be implying about people who are spiritual and believe in God. There are some very immoral people out there in the world, and then just some people with occasional tendencies to be hypocritical or selfish, that's true (I've definitely had my own fair share of moments like those that I've had to learn from); I just don't like it when religious works like this start making assumptions and accusations towards opposing beliefs. Didn't mean for this to turn into a bit of a rant (and I might just be reading into it too much); this chapter just got to me a little bit.
   Other than that single chapter, though, I did enjoy the Gita and what it had to teach. I like learning and am always open to other beliefs and cultures. During the summer, in a class taught by Dr. Tatum, I was able to learn a lot about the Middle East and the rich and complex culture and religion behind it all, and I really enjoyed it. I feel the same way about this class and what it is teaching me, especially through the various readings like the Gita. The Gita only briefly mentions yoga a few times, but the main purpose is obviously to teach about the Self and the spiritual side that one is supposed to focus on while actively practicing through yoga and good service. It teaches about the emotional and mental state you need to develop, the three gunas that you need to be aware of and make sure not to lose yourself in, and detachment from material objects and earthly desires. They're all good life lessons in their own way, regardless of your belief, to help make yourself a better person and the world a better place.