Sri Bhagavad Gita .

[ratikala]

namaskaram :namaste

to many the gita is a central text but I would be interested to hear how the gita is regarded and studied by other traditions ?

many times recently there has been reference to the sri bhagavad gita , some traditions are regarding the gita as smriti rather than sruti , as it was revealed after the classic sruti texts , the rig , yagur , sama and atharva veda's . others regard the gita as being equaly of divine origin.


what importance do you place opon the gita ?

 

[StarryNightshade]

I place great importance on the Gita, but it is not the central text in my tradition...manly because I haven't really found one yet. I am leaning towards non-duality Shaivism, though.

I also place importance on the Sutras, the Dhamapada and the Tibetan Book of the Dead.

 

[Vinayaka]

I often get myself into trouble with this one, Ratikala, so I hope you are more tolerant than some I have encountered. Actually, its a very good question, and I trust you will understand, as you always do.

I admire and respect all Hindu scriptures, some more than others. Being a Saiva, the Gita is not my primary scripture, and I`ve actually never read it, other than in a condensed version within the Mahabharata many years ago. That said, I support all my Hindu brethen, and all Hindu scriptures, but obviously some more than others. The Manu Smrti is probably on the far end of the use spectrum.

I get flak in some places for this too, where Smartas who believe they are Saivas (because of the ishta choice) think it IS a Saiva scripture. But for pure Saivas, it really isn`t.

If I asked you what you think of the Tirumantiram or Periya Peranam or even Tirukkural, that would be the same question, but in reverse, so perhaps reflecting on how you would answer that will give you insight.

One problem I have with it isn`t to do with the scripture itself, but rather how some people have used it, and that is as a justification for war. (prematurely) I don`t think for a minute that that`s how it was intended, but there have been cases where people back up philosophically their ideas for violence with a literal interpretation of the Gita.

I think most people would agree that that isn`t the primary intent, if an intent at all.

I generally totally agree with any selected quotes I have read.

 

[Fireside_Hindu]

My first introduction to the Gita was in College in a very secular environment. I bring this up to highlight how the way a script is presented influences greatly how it is perceived by it's audience.

The Gita was presented as a charming myth in a college literary course, with a little exploration into a few philosophical points, but the spiritual aspect of the Gita was completely ignored. Because of this, I treated it like I treated any other myth I'd read about - interesting, an intriguing window in to the mind of an entire culture at the time it was written, but nothing more. I swiftly forgot about it.

Fast forward to today. I have reread the Gita and now finally see some of the spiritual lessons and meaning inside it. I can appreciate it in a new way. But because I was introduced to it in a secular way, I am capable of perceiving it in that way too.

I find comfort in it's passages, but I wouldn't call it central to my devotion.

:camp:

 

[Poeticus]

One problem I have with it isn`t to do with the scripture itself, but rather how some people have used it, and that is as a justification for war.

Namaste,

For real? Who?

..

And, Bhaginī-ji, to me, leaving my Shrautin aside, the Shri Gita is a wondrous text of great philosophical importance. It also signifies the Bhaktic approach when it comes to venerating Lord Shri Krishna, and to other Hindus with their respective Shakha (sect/division) Hindu Gods.

M.V.

 

[Vinayaka]

Namaste,

For real? Who?

.

Here's one example ... Does the Gita (Bhagavad Gita) Justify War? by Lesler Smith but if you search on 'Does Gita justify war?" you will find more, and of course that whole debate itself.

For me it's a resounding "No."

 

[Poeticus]

Here's one example ... Does the Gita (Bhagavad Gita) Justify War? by Lesler Smith but if you search on 'Does Gita justify war?" you will find more, and of course that whole debate itself.

For me it's a resounding "No."

Namaste,

Darn Theosophists!

Why do they do this to us?

M.V.

 

[Vinayaka]

Namaste,

Darn Theosophists!

Why do they do this to us?

M.V.

Search, my friend. It's more than that. I'll leave it at that.

 

[Poeticus]

Search, my friend. It's more than that. I'll leave it at that.

Namaste,

I guess its subjective, brother, to what one believes as spiritual or literal. When I typed it into Google Search, a majority of the articles stated that it justifies a spiritual, inner-self, struggle, taking a pronounced metaphorical approach. Only a few, outnumbered, articles stated that it does justify literal war.

But, one can always apply Shruti to straighten this out.

If they believe that the Holy Shri Gita encourages (literal) war (whatever their warped notions may be)...they can find a great opposition in the following:

"Come together, talk together / Let our minds be in harmony.
Common be our prayer / Common be our end,
Common be our purpose / Common be our deliberations,
Common be our desires / United be our hearts,
United be our intentions / Perfect be the union among us." (R.V.10.191.2)
- - - - - - - - -
M.V.

 

[Jainarayan]

For me it's a resounding "No."

I think the same way. I believe it's an allegory for the war within ourselves.

 

[Sumit]

namaskaram :namaste

to many the gita is a central text but I would be interested to hear how the gita is regarded and studied by other traditions ?

many times recently there has been reference to the sri bhagavad gita , some traditions are regarding the gita as smriti rather than sruti , as it was revealed after the classic sruti texts , the rig , yagur , sama and atharva veda's . others regard the gita as being equaly of divine origin.


what importance do you place opon the gita ?

Gita is an important text for me and whenever I read Gita I get more out of it. Gita contains huge knowledge and even if you read 1000 times still you will find something new each time. However Gita is not a Shruti text.

 

[ratikala]

namaskaram vinayaka ji :namaste

I often get myself into trouble with this one, Ratikala, so I hope you are more tolerant than some I have encountered. Actually, its a very good question, and I trust you will understand, as you always do.

this I hope is not a thread for trouble but prehaps we can all learn something :namaste

I admire and respect all Hindu scriptures, some more than others. Being a Saiva, the Gita is not my primary scripture, and I`ve actually never read it, other than in a condensed version within the Mahabharata many years ago. That said, I support all my Hindu brethen, and all Hindu scriptures, but obviously some more than others. The Manu Smrti is probably on the far end of the use spectrum.

similarly there is much I have not read either , the Tirukkural I have only read in small portions and would love to read it in full

If I asked you what you think of the Tirumantiram or Periya Peranam or even Tirukkural, that would be the same question, but in reverse, so perhaps reflecting on how you would answer that will give you insight.

what I have read makes me wish to read more , but I realy enjoy to listen to a text being recited and taught upon by one who realy loves and understands it .

One problem I have with it isn`t to do with the scripture itself, but rather how some people have used it, and that is as a justification for war. (prematurely) I don`t think for a minute that that`s how it was intended, but there have been cases where people back up philosophically their ideas for violence with a literal interpretation of the Gita.

yes there can sometines be a problem with people using quotes to back an argument whish is prehaps not the best way to use it as it is often out of its true context

I think most people would agree that that isn`t the primary intent, if an intent at all.

no , I think that we all have different levels of understanding of any text and it is not intentional to quote out of context .

I generally totally agree with any selected quotes I have read.

do you have a favorite verse ? if so why ? what does it inspire for you ?

 

[Vinayaka]

do you have a favorite verse ? if so why ? what does it inspire for you ?

No. I have no favorite verse. Do you?

Here's one I liked, especially as it relates to desire.
"The man who rejects the words of the scriptures and follows the impulse of desire attains neither his perfection, nor joy, nor the Path supreme. Let the scriptures be, therefore, thy authority as to what is right and what is not right."

 

[Poeticus]

"The man who rejects the words of the scriptures and follows the impulse of desire attains neither his perfection, nor joy, nor the Path supreme. Let the scriptures be, therefore, thy authority as to what is right and what is not right."

Namaste,

Sorry to interrupt, Vinayaka-ji. What do the underlined portions mean to you? Of which scriptures is Lord Shri Krishna speaking of, in your opinion?

M.V.

 

[ratikala]

I beg your pardon I missed dont know how I missed this .....

One problem I have with it isn`t to do with the scripture itself, but rather how some people have used it, and that is as a justification for war. (prematurely) I don`t think for a minute that that`s how it was intended, but there have been cases where people back up philosophically their ideas for violence with a literal interpretation of the Gita.

this is prehaps the biggest stumbling block , it is not so much a discourse on war but a discourse on duty , this is the reason I think it is best taught by an experienced devotee thus I like it when it is refered to as an upanishad ;.. sit down at the feet (of a master)and listen ... he will give you the right context in which to understand .

I think most people would agree that that isn`t the primary intent, if an intent at all.

now I am understanding exactly what you meant
my appologies for missreading first time :namaste

 

[Vinayaka]

Namaste,

Sorry to interrupt, Vinayaka-ji. What do the underlined portions mean to you? Of which scriptures is Lord Shri Krishna speaking of, in your opinion?

M.V.

I have no opinion. Sorry, Prabhu.

Mystics don't argue.

 

[Poeticus]

I have no opinion. Sorry, Prabhu.

Mystics don't argue.

Namaste,

Hehehehe. It wasn't a trap for debate, brah! Hehe.

M.V.

 

[Vinayaka]

this is prehaps the biggest stumbling block , it is not so much a discourse on war but a discourse on duty , this is the reason I think it is best taught by an experienced devotee thus I like it when it is refered to as an upanishad ;.. sit down at the feet (of a master)and listen ... he will give you the right context in which to understand .

Yes. That would help.

 

[ratikala]

No. I have no favorite verse. Do you?

too many , but in particular , ....

''Being freed from attatchment fear and anger , being fully absorbed in me , taking refuge in me , many persons in the past became purified by knowledge of me , and thus they atained trancendental love for me '' ch 4 ...v 10 :namaste

probably it struck a real chord with me bacause of buddhist refuge , it was the first verse that I realy fell in love with .

'

Here's one I liked, especially as it relates to desire.
"The man who rejects the words of the scriptures and follows the impulse of desire attains neither his perfection, nor joy, nor the Path supreme. Let the scriptures be, therefore, thy authority as to what is right and what is not right."

jai jai , ......any one who gives up ' sastra vidhim ' spiritual rules or law , and acts according to his own desire (whim) never atains peace or happiness nor the supremestate ' param gatim' ....therefore one should understand what is duty and what is not duty from knowing the regulations of scripture , .....

jai jai , yes this is good for any one of any tradition :namaste

 

[ratikala]

namaskaram sumit ji :namaste

Gita is an important text for me and whenever I read Gita I get more out of it. Gita contains huge knowledge and even if you read 1000 times still you will find something new each time. However Gita is not a Shruti text.

yes , even after many years of reading I am still seeing some new way to aply it to my thinking , because as our thinking changes we are seeing new layers of meaning ,
. sometimes I just like to open at a random page and read what it wants to tell me instead of picking what I think I want to read ,

do you have a favirite verse ?