Chapter 2 has some of the most famous lines in the Gita, but it seems to me that it doesn't yet have the most sophisticated theology. Krishna is just warming Arjuna up before he takes him to the highest truths.
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"If you think that this Self can kill or think that it can be killed, you do not well understand reality's subtle ways." [2:19]
In this passage, Krishna explains to Prince Arjuna why he need not fear killing the great men with whom his is about to engage in battle. Krishna explains that the Self is not something that dies with the body. Rather, the Self merely moves on and is reborn again into the world. He is referring to reincarnation of the soul. What I have inferred is that what we call the soul is basically the same as the "Self." The Self has never not existed and never dies or ceases to exist. Thus, should Prince Arjuna kill or be killed, it is not their inner Self that dies, but merely their human outer shell.
2.20- "It never was born; coming to be, it will never not be. Birthless, primordial, it does not die when the body dies."
in this section of chapter two, Krishna is explaining to Arjuna the reality in killing. Krishna explains that killing a person does not kill their 'self' or their internal essence. this is what Krishna says justifies killing a person. Krishna says that when a person is killed their self just moves on to it's next body. in a way, if Arjuna kills a person in this war, he is just fulfilling fate, and nothing more. Krishna says that Arjuna shouldn't grieve killing a teacher or a mentor because that person's self will still exist. i understand this concept and i think that it fits perfectly well with the belief or reincarnation that Hindus have.
2.71 "For the man who forsakes all desires and abandons all pride of possession and of self reaches the goal of peace supreme."
In this verse, Krishna is answering Arjuna’s question about what a “man of tranquil wisdom” is like (2.54). Krishna explains that the man does not answer to the desires of his body because he finds strength and peace in the Supreme. Krishna also teaches that wise men stray away from desire because passion and anger accompany desire; therefore, Krishna urges Arjuna to keep “the senses in harmony” (2.64). Krishna also instructs Arjuna to not work for himself or for reward but instead “do thy work in the peace of Yoga and, free from selfish desires” (2.48). I liked reading Krishna’s instructions because I like the concept of the teaching – the way to reach the Supreme is to get past your want of Earthly things.
2.14 "Physical sensations - cold and heat, pleasure and pain- are transient: they come and go; so bear them patiently, Arjuna."
In this verse, Krishna is explaining to Arjuna about bearing all of the problems and issues that he is facing at that moment because later on they will not be there to affect him. He is explaining that the “physical sensations” have both their ups and their downs, so just try and get through it because they will pass. Krishna is saying that eventually these problems will work themselves out as long as you "bear" with them and just get through that hard time. So therefore he is telling Arjuna to not worry about the pain that he is going through and get through it and do what he has to do.
2.68 "And so, Arjuna, when someone is able to withdraw his senses from every object of sensation, that man is a man of firm wisdom."
Krishna repeatedly teachs Arjuna that the man who has steadfast knowledge is the man who refuses to acknowledge his senses, the man who is contented in the "Self by the Self." Krishna reaffirms that in this passage but this time using the words senses and sensation. This theology all seems well and good, certainly one should be content with ones Self but our Senses seem are an amazing character that humans have. Why would anyone want to ignore something that seems like such a blessing?
"Abandon all desires, acting without crave,free from all thoughts of "I" or "mine," that man finds utter peace."
Krishna enlightens Arjuna about the importance of finding peace and the process in which he will have to pursue to find it. Krishna basically states that if Arjuna keeps concentrating on himself he won't find peace; reason being, he will be too caught up with his pleas and start to be obsessive with these pleas that are confusing him in his decision making.So, Krishna encourage him to attain peace because if he doesn't fight he will be neglecting his dharma; then things that he tried to avoid will eventually catch up on him, destruction.
"It is called the Inconceivable, the Unmanifest, the Unchanging. If you understand it in this way, you have no reason for your sorrow."
Krishna tells Arjuna not to worry about death because his soul will live on forever and so will the souls of his enemies. Krishna reminds him of this life's insignificance in the whole scheme of things to comfort him. Arjuna is worried about the battle, so Krishna takes his focus away from the worldly matter to keep him calm. He provides him with some stability and perspective.
ccd (again) has an interesting comment, but I think she misses the real goal: to be at peace in the midst of the ups and downs (not to be patient because they will pass). The ups and downs never pass, I think.
"When your understanding has passed beyond the thicket of delusions, there is nothing you need to learn from even the most sacred scripture." 2.52 Krishna tells Arjuna several times in chapter 2 that once the soul has reached enlightenment, even the scriptures are unnecessary. Once someone has "seen the truth" (2.46),through darsham, their knowledge is so great that they already know everything the scriptures could possibly tell them, and more. This is because, as the Upanishads famously state, "Tat Tvam Asi." The person who has reached ultimate knowledge by letting their inner god (autman)outshine and defeat their ego(aham), the "thicket of delusions" refered to in the passage, is literally one with God, and therefore has all the knowledge of God.
"Indifferent to gain or loss, to victory or defeat, prepare yourself for the battle and do not succumb to sin. This is hte philosophy's wisdom; now hear the wisdom of yoga." [2.38-39] Krishna is teaching Arjuna about the mindset for which you must have to successfully use the yoga of action. He is saying that the obejective should not be about the outcome of the event whither it be defeat or victory, for these are sensual objectives, but it should be just to act when action is required of you. An interesting note also is that to some Hindus, committing sin is not acting when you are supposed to act.
"If a man keeps dwelling on sense-objects, attachment to them arises: from attachment, desire flares up: from desire, anger is born" 2.62 This line says that there is no need for emotions like anger because anger is caused by concentrating too much on what is happening in the world and what one is detecting with one's senses instead of focusing on God. It says that you can only attain serenity if one ignores the things in the world that causes one to feel angry. One should be neutral towards the world and neither love it too much and get caught up in greed nor should they hate it too much.
2.14 " Physical sensations - cold and heat, pleasure and pain- are transient: they come and go; so bear them patiently Arjuna."
In this chapter, Krishna is talking to Arjuna about the sorrows he is dealing with. Arjuna is torn over having to kill the people he most admires. He looks to Krishna for quidance and Krishna speaks these words. I like this quote becuase it is true, not only to the situation in the Gita, but in real life. Like Krishna said, physical sensations are only temporary. Though you the feelings may effect you for a little while, they will pass. Krishna is directing Arjuna not to dwell on his feelings but accept them as reality and move on to do his duties in battle. It is interesting becuase as true in life, you cant get hung up on something that upset you. Life must continue and you have to fight through the pain, beacause in time, it will pass.
"Nothing can never be; being can never not be. Both these statements are obvious to those who have seen the truth." In this quote Krishna basically states that there is no such thing as nothing although it's used so frequently the word represents an idea not a physical state. I found this statement interresting because I've always believed this same idea and my past friends/girlfriends can testify that I hate the answer "nothing". There is always something even if we can't see it and that's a reference to God being everywhere all the time even thoough it's not always in plain sight.
2.37-"If you are killed, you gain heaven; triumph, and you gain the earth. Therefore stand up, Arjuna; steady your mind to fight." Krishna makes a great point here in this line when he is telling Arjuna which path to take. Although the situation that Arjuna is put into is awful, battling friends, family and teachers, reincarnation is part of Hinduism. If Arjuna is killed, he gains several things such as: heaven, victory and respect. But, if he does not fight, all of the people that look up to him will be dissappointed since he did not fight with them. So, Krishna tells Arjuna to stand up and fight, because if he dies, he will go to heaven and be reborn.
2.13 "just as, in this body, the Self passes through childhood, youth, and old age, so after death it passes to another body." Arjuna does not want to fight because he thinks killing the soldiers would be right. Krishna advices Arjuna that it is the soldier’s fate to die at that moment they are killed. It is how they are supposed to die. They are not expected to live. It is how their life was expected to end. Krishna says the spirit will pass to another body to live. Krishna seems very wise telling Arjuna to fight and kill because it is the opposing soldier’s destiny to die. It also seems like a motivational speech also. She is inspiring him to be great on the battlefield.
2.22 "Just as you throw out used clothes and put on other clothes, new ones, the Self discards its used bodies and puts on others that are new" Here Krishna talks to Arjuna about the so called Self or soul of a human body. He emphasizes that this is the only thing you are never able to kill in a human being, because it changes bodies just like we change our clothes. Krishna says that it will keeep on passing to the next body no matter what you do to its prior body. So Krishna relates in this part to the passing on of your soul or Karma after your death into your next life or body. It keeps living on until you achieve a perfect soul.
"He whose mind is untroubled by any misfortune, whose craving for pleasures has disappeared, who is free for greed, fear, anger, who is unattached to all things, who neither greives nor rejoices if good or ir bad things happen- that man is a man of firm wisdom." (2.56, 2.57)
The concept of unattatchment to all things, to the path which lacks senses, is a very interesting point that Krishna makes. What makes one succumb to corruption? The senses caused by greed, power, love, and sorrow are 4 that we see men over taken by. I feel the concept here is trying to explain that without having any senses to act upon, one is left with the time to devote to god. Many hindus feel the only reason to live on earth is to be free from earths portal and reunite with god. With this concept, why would one care about possessions when they would gain nothing but to satisfy their own delusions?
If you only studied religious scriptures, you would think that very few people on earth would care much about material possessions. Jesus says, "Blessed are the poor."
"foolish men talk of religion in cheap, sentimental wordas, leaning on the scripture: "God speakshere, and here alone." This is an interesting passage because I find it different than alot of religions. I wish their universal acceptance of others beliefs as there is in this passage. Unfortuntenly their is not. The idea of not being able to justify or critize someone elses actions through a scripture is wonderful. Relgion often breaks the world into peices. If only everyone could beleive as this passage states.
"As unnecessary as a well is to a village on the banks of a river, so unnecessary are all scriptures to someone who has seen the truth." Gita 2:43
In this sentence, Krishna states that scriptures are irrelevant for those who are true Hindu believers. From this, Krishna also implies that the Baghavad Gita is irrelevant for the truly enlightened. This idea sharply contrasts with the more western religions such as Christianity or Islam. After all, it would be deemed strange to suggest that the Bible is ultimately irrelevant to someone who has accepted Jesus. Essentially in a single line, Krishna distinguishes Hinduism from all the other world religions.
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"If you think that this Self can kill
or think that it can be killed,
you do not well understand
reality's subtle ways." [2:19]
In this passage, Krishna explains to Prince Arjuna why he need not fear killing the great men with whom his is about to engage in battle. Krishna explains that the Self is not something that dies with the body. Rather, the Self merely moves on and is reborn again into the world.
He is referring to reincarnation of the soul. What I have inferred is that what we call the soul is basically the same as the "Self." The Self has never not existed and never dies or ceases to exist. Thus, should Prince Arjuna kill or be killed, it is not their inner Self that dies, but merely their human outer shell.
2.20- "It never was born; coming to be, it will never not be. Birthless, primordial, it does not die when the body dies."
in this section of chapter two, Krishna is explaining to Arjuna the reality in killing. Krishna explains that killing a person does not kill their 'self' or their internal essence. this is what Krishna says justifies killing a person. Krishna says that when a person is killed their self just moves on to it's next body. in a way, if Arjuna kills a person in this war, he is just fulfilling fate, and nothing more. Krishna says that Arjuna shouldn't grieve killing a teacher or a mentor because that person's self will still exist. i understand this concept and i think that it fits perfectly well with the belief or reincarnation that Hindus have.
2.71 "For the man who forsakes all desires and abandons all pride of possession and of self reaches the goal of peace supreme."
In this verse, Krishna is answering Arjuna’s question about what a “man of tranquil wisdom” is like (2.54). Krishna explains that the man does not answer to the desires of his body because he finds strength and peace in the Supreme. Krishna also teaches that wise men stray away from desire because passion and anger accompany desire; therefore, Krishna urges Arjuna to keep “the senses in harmony” (2.64). Krishna also instructs Arjuna to not work for himself or for reward but instead “do thy work in the peace of Yoga and, free from selfish desires” (2.48). I liked reading Krishna’s instructions because I like the concept of the teaching – the way to reach the Supreme is to get past your want of Earthly things.
2.14 "Physical sensations - cold and heat, pleasure and pain- are transient: they come and go; so bear them patiently, Arjuna."
In this verse, Krishna is explaining to Arjuna about bearing all of the problems and issues that he is facing at that moment because later on they will not be there to affect him. He is explaining that the “physical sensations” have both their ups and their downs, so just try and get through it because they will pass. Krishna is saying that eventually these problems will work themselves out as long as you "bear" with them and just get through that hard time. So therefore he is telling Arjuna to not worry about the pain that he is going through and get through it and do what he has to do.
2.68 "And so, Arjuna, when someone is able to withdraw his senses from every object of sensation, that man is a man of firm wisdom."
Krishna repeatedly teachs Arjuna that the man who has steadfast knowledge is the man who refuses to acknowledge his senses, the man who is contented in the "Self by the Self." Krishna reaffirms that in this passage but this time using the words senses and sensation. This theology all seems well and good, certainly one should be content with ones Self but our Senses seem are an amazing character that humans have. Why would anyone want to ignore something that seems like such a blessing?
"Abandon all desires, acting without crave,free from all thoughts of "I" or "mine," that man finds utter peace."
Krishna enlightens Arjuna about the importance of finding peace and the process in which he will have to pursue to find it. Krishna basically states that if Arjuna keeps concentrating on himself he won't find peace; reason being, he will be too caught up with his pleas and start to be obsessive with these pleas that are confusing him in his decision making.So, Krishna encourage him to attain peace because if he doesn't fight he will be neglecting his dharma; then things that he tried to avoid will eventually catch up on him, destruction.
"It is called the Inconceivable,
the Unmanifest, the Unchanging.
If you understand it in this way,
you have no reason for your sorrow."
Krishna tells Arjuna not to worry about death because his soul will live on forever and so will the souls of his enemies. Krishna reminds him of this life's insignificance in the whole scheme of things to comfort him. Arjuna is worried about the battle, so Krishna takes his focus away from the worldly matter to keep him calm. He provides him with some stability and perspective.
ccd (again) has an interesting comment, but I think she misses the real goal: to be at peace in the midst of the ups and downs (not to be patient because they will pass). The ups and downs never pass, I think.
jbf has an interesting comment: Are we to ignore the senses and be pudding-like blobs? How boring! Is this what Krishna means?
"When your understanding has passed
beyond the thicket of delusions,
there is nothing you need to learn
from even the most sacred scripture." 2.52
Krishna tells Arjuna several times in chapter 2 that once the soul has reached enlightenment, even the scriptures are unnecessary. Once someone has "seen the truth" (2.46),through darsham, their knowledge is so great that they already know everything the scriptures could possibly tell them, and more. This is because, as the Upanishads famously state, "Tat Tvam Asi." The person who has reached ultimate knowledge by letting their inner god (autman)outshine and defeat their ego(aham), the "thicket of delusions" refered to in the passage, is literally one with God, and therefore has all the knowledge of God.
"Indifferent to gain or loss, to victory or defeat, prepare yourself for the battle and do not succumb to sin. This is hte philosophy's wisdom; now hear the wisdom of yoga." [2.38-39]
Krishna is teaching Arjuna about the mindset for which you must have to successfully use the yoga of action. He is saying that the obejective should not be about the outcome of the event whither it be defeat or victory, for these are sensual objectives, but it should be just to act when action is required of you. An interesting note also is that to some Hindus, committing sin is not acting when you are supposed to act.
"If a man keeps dwelling on sense-objects, attachment to them arises: from attachment, desire flares up: from desire, anger is born" 2.62 This line says that there is no need for emotions like anger because anger is caused by concentrating too much on what is happening in the world and what one is detecting with one's senses instead of focusing on God. It says that you can only attain serenity if one ignores the things in the world that causes one to feel angry. One should be neutral towards the world and neither love it too much and get caught up in greed nor should they hate it too much.
So, dmc, we should ignore the world in order to feel serenity? Yet isn't Krishna telling Arjuna to stand up and get back to real life?
2.14 " Physical sensations - cold and heat, pleasure and pain- are transient: they come and go; so bear them patiently Arjuna."
In this chapter, Krishna is talking to Arjuna about the sorrows he is dealing with. Arjuna is torn over having to kill the people he most admires. He looks to Krishna for quidance and Krishna speaks these words. I like this quote becuase it is true, not only to the situation in the Gita, but in real life. Like Krishna said, physical sensations are only temporary. Though you the feelings may effect you for a little while, they will pass. Krishna is directing Arjuna not to dwell on his feelings but accept them as reality and move on to do his duties in battle. It is interesting becuase as true in life, you cant get hung up on something that upset you. Life must continue and you have to fight through the pain, beacause in time, it will pass.
"Nothing can never be; being can never not be. Both these statements are obvious to those who have seen the truth."
In this quote Krishna basically states that there is no such thing as nothing although it's used so frequently the word represents an idea not a physical state. I found this statement interresting because I've always believed this same idea and my past friends/girlfriends can testify that I hate the answer "nothing". There is always something even if we can't see it and that's a reference to God being everywhere all the time even thoough it's not always in plain sight.
2.37-"If you are killed, you gain heaven; triumph, and you gain the earth. Therefore stand up, Arjuna; steady your mind to fight."
Krishna makes a great point here in this line when he is telling Arjuna which path to take. Although the situation that Arjuna is put into is awful, battling friends, family and teachers, reincarnation is part of Hinduism. If Arjuna is killed, he gains several things such as: heaven, victory and respect. But, if he does not fight, all of the people that look up to him will be dissappointed since he did not fight with them. So, Krishna tells Arjuna to stand up and fight, because if he dies, he will go to heaven and be reborn.
2.13 "just as, in this body, the Self passes through childhood, youth, and old age, so after death it passes to another body."
Arjuna does not want to fight because he thinks killing the soldiers would be right. Krishna advices Arjuna that it is the soldier’s fate to die at that moment they are killed. It is how they are supposed to die. They are not expected to live. It is how their life was expected to end. Krishna says the spirit will pass to another body to live. Krishna seems very wise telling Arjuna to fight and kill because it is the opposing soldier’s destiny to die. It also seems like a motivational speech also. She is inspiring him to be great on the battlefield.
2.22 "Just as you throw out used clothes and put on other clothes, new ones, the Self discards its used bodies and puts on others that are new"
Here Krishna talks to Arjuna about the so called Self or soul of a human body. He emphasizes that this is the only thing you are never able to kill in a human being, because it changes bodies just like we change our clothes. Krishna says that it will keeep on passing to the next body no matter what you do to its prior body. So Krishna relates in this part to the passing on of your soul or Karma after your death into your next life or body. It keeps living on until you achieve a perfect soul.
"He whose mind is untroubled by any misfortune, whose craving for pleasures has disappeared, who is free for greed, fear, anger, who is unattached to all things, who neither greives nor rejoices if good or ir bad things happen- that man is a man of firm wisdom."
(2.56, 2.57)
The concept of unattatchment to all things, to the path which lacks senses, is a very interesting point that Krishna makes. What makes one succumb to corruption? The senses caused by greed, power, love, and sorrow are 4 that we see men over taken by. I feel the concept here is trying to explain that without having any senses to act upon, one is left with the time to devote to god. Many hindus feel the only reason to live on earth is to be free from earths portal and reunite with god. With this concept, why would one care about possessions when they would gain nothing but to satisfy their own delusions?
Felicia,
If you only studied religious scriptures, you would think that very few people on earth would care much about material possessions. Jesus says, "Blessed are the poor."
"foolish men talk of religion in cheap, sentimental wordas, leaning on the scripture: "God speakshere, and here alone." This is an interesting passage because I find it different than alot of religions. I wish their universal acceptance of others beliefs as there is in this passage. Unfortuntenly their is not. The idea of not being able to justify or critize someone elses actions through a scripture is wonderful. Relgion often breaks the world into peices. If only everyone could beleive as this passage states.
"As unnecessary as a well is to a village on the banks of a river, so unnecessary are all scriptures to someone who has seen the truth." Gita 2:43
In this sentence, Krishna states that scriptures are irrelevant for those who are true Hindu believers. From this, Krishna also implies that the Baghavad Gita is irrelevant for the truly enlightened. This idea sharply contrasts with the more western religions such as Christianity or Islam. After all, it would be deemed strange to suggest that the Bible is ultimately irrelevant to someone who has accepted Jesus.
Essentially in a single line, Krishna distinguishes Hinduism from all the other world religions.
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