Gita is/isn't sacred

[ratikala]

dear divine kala ,

and stumbled over the revelation that only certain sects (primarily Vaishnava) view the Gita as a sacred text.

there is a very simple answer to this question , firstly without any wish to be sectarian but simply to illucidate on the question in hand .......

the bhagavad gita being the discourse between bhagavan sri krsna and arjuna , is not only the hitorical account of the conversation on the battle feild at kurukshetra , but is the divine revelation spoken by sri bhagavan and his deciple .
thus it constitutes to all vaisnava the spoken word of the lord , therefore all who recognise sri krsna as bhagavan , concider sri krsna to be visnu , and concider both visnu and krsna to be the supreme ,

bhagavad gita .... v , 10 ...ch , 8

I am the origin of all ; fom me all things evolve . the wise knowing this worship me with all their heart . swami nikhilananda

I am the source of all the spiritual and material worlds . every thing eminates from me . the wise who perfectly know this engage in my devotional service and worship me with all their hearts . srila phrabhupada

recognising the word of the lord to be synonomous with the lord a vaisnava will hold the bhagavad gita to be a manifestation of the lord therefore sacred .

This is a huge weight of my shoulders! As a Shakta I have always felt guilty that I can't finish the Gita; I get quickly bored and most commentaries infuriate me (primarily As it Is, women are not what Prabhupada calls us!). It is such a relief to find that I don't have to consider it a sacred text!

may I make the most polite suggestion ,read the gita again prehaps in the context of the mahabharata the copy I quoted from swami nikhilananda , I do not know if it is still available ? but it gives a breif synopsis of the mahabharata and very little by way of explanatory notes only where nececary for understanding .
but should you choose to read it again read it in its entirity without any extra text or purport , read simply the words of the lord and just concidder it a blessing to be hering the words of the lord , leting it speak to you and reveal as it will its divine truths .

I have never felt close to Krisna, I did try to cultivate a loving relationship with Him at one time but I have always had a much closer relationship with Shiva and Devi. (I've never felt close to Ganesha, either, and only started keeping Him on the altar after a satsanga I attended.) After all, it is not Krisna who fills my dreams and pulls me back on tract, but Shiva and Devi (they are quite insistent!).

automatic closeness to krsna is not necicary , after many years of service (as a vaisnava) I do not feel closeness to krsna in the way that I initaly thought one should . but have found that there are many levels of attraction , some inexplicably subtle .

but again if you read the gita and listen simply to the song of the lord you I hope will hear the sweet words of the supreme who says clearly that he is the source of all ,
in particular read chapter 10 ...."listen to my supreme word, which I from a great desire for your well being will impart to you ......neither the hosts of gods nor the great sages knows my origin ; for in all respects I am the source of the gods and the sages . ..............
.........of the adityas I am visnu , of lights I am the radient sun I am marichi of the maruts , and among the orbs of night I am the moon .....

I can totally understand seeing the Gita as sacred, by the way, and I respect other devotees views, but it is a relief for me that I do not have to.

prehaps if you can see it again in a fresh light , without the aspects which tainted your veiw , seeing that those aspects only pertain to the individual practices of different sampradaya ....you will be able to see the sacred element is the eternal word of the lord .

but of course in your own time .

namaskars :namaste ratikala

 

[ratikala]

I agree with others when they say that translation makes the book.

jai jai !

EDIT: On a side note, it is interesting and cool to note that in a direct translation, there is a verse (I dont remember which) where Krishna says "Of the Rudras, I am Shiva."

which continues the recomendations to read chapter 10 .....

verse , 23 ......of the rudras I am siva , of the yakshas and rakshasas I am kuvera . of the vasus I am fire (agni)andofmountains I am meru .

and ends with verse , 42 .....but what ned is there of your aquiring such detailed knowledge , O Arjuna ? as with a single fragment of myself I stand supporting the whole universe .

thus he explains the enormity of his being ,is it any wonder that we stand bewildered ?

Likewise though, I have not felt a connection to Krishna. I also have always felt a pull towards Shiva, and also Ganesh.

but by study of the above one sees that all eminates fron the one divine source , as is said ...of the rudras I am siva ...

then by worshiping siva one worships that aspect of the supreme , and if it is that aspect which attracts you there is a conection for a specific reason , there is inteligence that atracts any one of us to an aspect which prehaps embodies a particular quality that we need to accomplish

we should know that each has its function and that ultimately all lead to one .

gitopanisaid ki jai

namaskars :namaste ratikala

 

[Vinayaka]

I can think of no other book that has so many translations. (I mean all from one language to another language, in this case from Sanskrit to English) What does that say? For me it says, "I can do better than that other guy."

Does anyone know how ISKCON does translations into say, Japanese? Is it Sanskrit to Japanese, or Sanskrit to English, and then to Japanese? It would seem to me the more languages its filtered through the greater the likelihood of really messing up the intent.

The original thought in this thread was that it isn't necessary to read it at all, just like lots of scripture. Hinduism just is not a scripture based religion, like some others are. Experience, and common sense derived out of experience are just as, if not more valuable.

But different paths for different folks. Just as some regular temple goers have never read any scripture, some regular scripture readers have never set foot in a Hindu temple, yet both are fine.

 

[Wannabe Yogi]

But different paths for different folks. Just as some regular temple goers have never read any scripture, some regular scripture readers have never set foot in a Hindu temple, yet both are fine.

I agree, scripture is just a map so you know your going in the correct direction.

 

[Gaura Priya]

I agree, scripture is just a map so you know your going in the correct direction.

And I will quote from Srila Prabhupada's translation of the Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.5.11:

"That literature which is full of descriptions of the transcendental glories of the name, fame, forms, pastimes, etc., of the unlimited Supreme Lord is a different creation, full of transcendental words directed toward bringing about a revolution in the impious lives of this world's misdirected civilisation. Such transcendental literatures, even though imperfectly composed, are heard, sung and accepted by purified men who are thoroughly honest."

 

[illykitty]

I have the Mahabharata, Ramayana, Bhagavad Gita and Upanishads by Eknath Easwaran.

I haven't read the rest but I really loved the Bhagavad Gita by him, he made it really easy to understand! I really enjoyed the book and personally, I'd consider it sacred. Krishna is my ideal God!

 

[zenzero]

Friends,
Personal understanding of what is SACRED is that when the writer writer is able to bring the reader to that MOMENT in time where he becomes conscious of Timelessness. Those who gets to taste such nectar always thirsts for such moments at all times and so likes to read such books over and over again till one masters a path to be able to reach that state at all times reading, eating, sleeping etc.

Love & rgds

 

[Jainarayan]

I haven't read the rest but I really loved the Bhagavad Gita by him, he made it really easy to understand! I really enjoyed the book and personally, I'd consider it sacred. Krishna is my ideal God!

Jai Sri Krishna!

 

[Akhilesh]

I read bhagvad gita it is the best book of philosophy and religion .when we read sanskrit it gives soul pleasure

 

[ratikala]

dear akhilesh ,

I read bhagvad gita it is the best book of philosophy and religion .when we read sanskrit it gives soul pleasure

you will be pleased to know , that "the song of the lord" is in it self powerfull enough to stand translation , as for my self I can confirm allso that when read in english , it similarly gives pleasure to the soul .

 

[ratikala]

Friends,
Personal understanding of what is SACRED is that when the writer writer is able to bring the reader to that MOMENT in time where he becomes conscious of Timelessness. Those who gets to taste such nectar always thirsts for such moments at all times and so likes to read such books over and over again till one masters a path to be able to reach that state at all times reading, eating, sleeping etc.

Love & rgds

jai jai