I thought that the lines “both paths lead to the Self; both lead to selfless action” were interesting because of the way they distinguish Self from self. These lines show that the Self is a much bigger thing than just one person because they show that the Self and selflessness are associated. The lines emphasize how finding the Self really just means finding the God in you, the part of you that is connected to all others. I guess these lines are trying to say that once people find the Self within themselves, they will realize that they are a small part of something much greater so they will start to care about others more and not just act upon selfish desires. I also think the lines, “they do not rejoice in good fortune; they do not lament at bad fortune” are interesting. I think that it being wise to not lament at bad fortune makes since if a person wants to feel more at peace, but I think it is harder to understand why it is wiser to not rejoice in good fortune.
Offering his actions to God, he is free of all action; sin rolls off him, as drops of water roll off a lotus leaf.
Initially, what draws me to this segment is the visual of a lotus leaf. The lotus is one of my favorite flowers, and its interesting because it’s the popular flower in the east like the rose in the west. Krishna is describing sin in a weird way: Sin as a small, obvious, almost insignificant and inevitable thing. Something that everyone is expected to have but something they’re also expected to spend quite a bit of time letting go of. Obviously, this thing, this action, this sin is difficult to let go of, but in an ideal world, it should be as graceful as a water droplet rolling off of a leaf.
“Fools say that knowledge and yoga are separate, but the wise do not. When you practice one of them deeply, you gain the rewards of both”
If yoga is described as the path to god, then that process requires serious commitment and intelligence. You can practice studies and become very intelligent, or you can continue worshipping and performing rituals and in turn gain intelligence and means to communicate with god. These lines say that fools believe yoga and intelligence are different, but they are actually the same because they both lead to knowledge of some kind. The lines might be saying that practicing one will result in the knowledge of god, but I don’t feel like this is the case because knowledge is different from knowledge of god.
Wise men regard all beings As equal: a learned priest A cow, an elephant, a rat, Or a filthy, rat-eating outcaste.
In the above passage, Krishna is telling Arjuna of a common philosophy among many Hindus, that everything in existence is god, or part of god, for god made all. In the process of becoming wise, a person must see the world and everything in as a different form god’s existence. The passage says a wise man is equal to a rat-eating outcaste, although very different people, they are both on a road leading to god.
Knowing me as the enjoyer of all worship, the Lord of all worlds, the dearest friend of all beings, that man gains perfect peace.
While there are innumerable Hindu gods and goddesses, there still seems to be an underlying theme of monotheism for most Hindus. All of the varying types of worships that are specific to the individual Hindu gods are actually a collection of specialized worship to the single God that is represented by all others. Once a Hindu can understand and appreciate the entirety that is the concept of God he can reach the state of becoming god, being in the presence of god, or simply eternal bliss depending on which Hindu you ask.
"The man of yoga who is able to overcome, here on earth, the turmoil of desire and anger- that man is truly happy."
In chapter 3, Krishna says that desire and anger is what drives a man to do evil actions. Here he states that a man who can free his mind and let go of all results is happy. For a man of yoga has gained perfect peace once he has gotten rid of all the desire and anger. Krishna then explains that with freeing the mind, one can realize the Self and feel God close. Also with desire and anger gone, Krishna explains that once man has found "peace and joy and radiance with himself- that man becomes one with God and vanishes into God's bliss."
“they can act Impartially toward all beings, since to them all beings are the same.”
These lines seem to be a pretty accurate representation of the open-minded nature of Hinduism, in which different people and different beliefs are all accepted. Krishna goes as far as to say that all beings, even animals, should be treated as equals. This accepting view comes from the Hindus belief that all beings have an atman, soul, or a piece of god inside them. If all beings have god in them, then it makes sense for Hindus to respect all beings.
“The resolute to yoga surrender results, and gain perfect peace; the irresolute, attached to results, are bound by everything they do.”
What this passage means to me is that if you surrender to what you are doing and try your hardest, you will succeed. This is the same with reaching God. If you surrender to God’s will and love him then you will achieve moksha; however, if you simply want to reach moksha to fulfill your goal then you will never succeed.
This also reminds me of the monk who talked to us in 10th grade and said that he had been clinging to the pieces of a sinking ship during dreams in his meditations. At first he believed it to be images of a past life, but he realized that it was he mind telling him that he was holding onto his worldly goods and was too attached to his physical being.
“Contemplating That, inspired and rooted and absorbed in That, men reach the state of true freedom from which there is no rebirth.” This quote concerning the complete destroying of ignorance echoes a constantly repeated theme that the ultimate enemy to the Self is ignorance. I think this is a beautiful image showing that ignorance is almost like a chain keeping one in the cycle and preventing them from reaching “moksha.” Krishna paints an elegant picture of what life is like after “samsara,” and further gives detail to the theme of ignorance is evil. While the path to the endless cycle is neither short nor easy, the idea behind it that one must conquer ignorance is not a complex lesson. True freedom is release from the endless cycle and arrival at an “imperishable joy.”
A man unattached to sensations, who finds fulfillment in the Self, whose mind has become pure freedom, attains an imperishable joy.
This is a brand of an idea I read about frequently when reading about Hinduism and Buddhism. The idea that when one detaches oneself from all worldly desires to achieve balance and to be one with god is fascinating and appealing. To be rid of all the human wants and greed would be something I could strive for. However when put in this context with the word sensations rather than desires, it takes on a much less appealing meaning to me. Even most the gods and goddesses in Hinduism have significant other or at least loves. We learned to day about Krishna's sex-ridden teenage years. I believe that to be free from all desires is appealing, but many sensations are what were are put on this Earth to feel. Without being able to feel the cleaning water when we swim or the air we breathe, or the deep love when we find someone we want to be with life seems rather pointless. Maybe it's a wrong translations, or maybe I'm misinterpreting the connotation of sensations in this passage, but the idea of feeling no sensations doesn't seem like i would give me imperishable joy.
"He who finds peace and joy and radiance within himself-- that man becomes one with God and vanishes into God's bliss" This line explains how we will never be one with God until we find internal happiness. The man that rids himself of all worries and lets God take over is the man that has reached happiness in his life. We cannot worry about aspects of life we cannot control. Those are the times when we let things be and accept the situation knowing God is in control. If we put our faith into God the situation will be resloved. Until we reach peace within, the situation will only become more stressful and we will never truly see God's bliss.
“It is hard to renounce all action without engaging in action: the sage, wholehearted in the yoga of action, soon attains freedom.” (5.6)
Admittedly it is impossible to “renounce all action/ without engaging in action” because you must take action to renounce action. Therefore, what could Krishna mean? As many Hindus believe and as Krishna states in the Bhagavad Gita, to come into God’s grace, you can reach the final destination by letting go of feeling. On the different paths to this destination, many Hindus think you must continue with actions that help the people. Krishna states that by reaching the ultimate destination you have completed your duty of action. Krishna though continues to take action, in the form of yoga, because she influences so many Hindus who need to continue taking action. To many Hindus, action is a duty one must take on the path until he finally “attains freedom”.
“But when ignorance is completely destroyed, then the light of wisdom shines like the midday sun and illumines what is supreme.”
Why were Adam and Eve different from us? They could see God. This annihilates all dualisms (time and eternity or male and female). They were what Joseph Campbell would call “enlightened”. To be enlightened is to like taking your glasses off and seeing the world for what it really is and God in it. So when the ignorance is completely destroyed you become enlightened and see God ( the light).
Love your comments. Virginia has a good question about sensations, and I do think she misunderstands Krishna. Would we enjoy sensations more or less if we were able to let go? I think more.
He controls his senses and his mind, Intent upon liberation; When desire, fear and anger have left him, That man is forever free
I wrote an article about Confucius little bit in chapter 3 board. I mentioned that Confucius was completely free from four things, and it makes him to avoid desire, fear, and anger. Here, Bhagavad Gita, it says that when desire, fear and anger have left him, that man is free. I realized that both religions are related and I guess that one of it could affect another, because Hinduism is a religion that mixes various religions. Also, both began in Asia, so it could be related. Anyway, I think for Bhagavad Gita avoiding desire, fear and anger is one of the most important things, because it is the way that man can be free.
"Wholehearted, purified, mastering / body and mind, his self / becomes the self of all beings; / he is unstained by anything he does." These lines express the idea that an individuals sensory experience in their temporal body is meaningless in the context of the universe as a single Self, that all beings are of one Atman, and that one's actions are only meaningful if they are in the pursuit of wisdom and truth. By this token, one is "unstained" by their actions if they surrender themselves as individuals to the greater consciousness, and this is how Krishna describes one who is sage in the way to God.
“Wise men regard all beings / as equal: a learned priest, / a cow, an elephant, a rat, / or a filthy, rat-eating outcaste.” – 5.18 I wonder how this statement fits into the caste system. Krishna says earlier that “I founded the four-caste system” (4.13), which essentially assigns values and ranks to people. Yet here he claims that all beings are equal. Somehow the contradiction makes me think of the caste system as a sort of challenge, a rigid and oppressive structure that encourages people to break free by its very nature. When people discover their Self, they can become content in their total and complete equality and achieve the ability break free of the cycles of death and rebirth.
5.10 "Offering his actions to God, he is free of all action; sin rolls off him, as drops of water roll off a lotus leaf."
When I first read this passage, I wasn't sure what exactly it meant. The first explanation I came up with was that once you have realized that you are "not the doer," you could pass any sinful action off as "sense-objects acting on the senses" and would therefore be free of the results of your sin. However, when I read further, I noticed I was wrong. Now I think that this passage means that once someone have "seen the truth," they have no desire to do sinful things and even as sin is rained down all around them, they are not affected by it at all.
He who ontrols his mind and has cut off desire and anger realizes the Self; he knows that God's bliss is nearer than near.
The passage is a just another way to help us understnad that in order to know thy self you have to be able to control your mind. When a person has control over the mind then he understands more things he gains all wisdom and begins to understand God and know that he is near. The theme of being about to control the mind comes up alot in chatper 5.The reason is simply because the mind is the most important tool of the body. When a person has mastered the controling of their mind then they are one step closer to understanding God.
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I thought that the lines “both paths lead to the Self; both lead to selfless action” were interesting because of the way they distinguish Self from self. These lines show that the Self is a much bigger thing than just one person because they show that the Self and selflessness are associated. The lines emphasize how finding the Self really just means finding the God in you, the part of you that is connected to all others. I guess these lines are trying to say that once people find the Self within themselves, they will realize that they are a small part of something much greater so they will start to care about others more and not just act upon selfish desires. I also think the lines, “they do not rejoice in good fortune; they do not lament at bad fortune” are interesting. I think that it being wise to not lament at bad fortune makes since if a person wants to feel more at peace, but I think it is harder to understand why it is wiser to not rejoice in good fortune.
Offering his actions to God,
he is free of all action; sin
rolls off him, as drops of water
roll off a lotus leaf.
Initially, what draws me to this segment is the visual of a lotus leaf. The lotus is one of my favorite flowers, and its interesting because it’s the popular flower in the east like the rose in the west. Krishna is describing sin in a weird way: Sin as a small, obvious, almost insignificant and inevitable thing. Something that everyone is expected to have but something they’re also expected to spend quite a bit of time letting go of. Obviously, this thing, this action, this sin is difficult to let go of, but in an ideal world, it should be as graceful as a water droplet rolling off of a leaf.
“Fools say that knowledge and yoga are separate, but the wise do not. When you practice one of them deeply, you gain the rewards of both”
If yoga is described as the path to god, then that process requires serious commitment and intelligence. You can practice studies and become very intelligent, or you can continue worshipping and performing rituals and in turn gain intelligence and means to communicate with god. These lines say that fools believe yoga and intelligence are different, but they are actually the same because they both lead to knowledge of some kind. The lines might be saying that practicing one will result in the knowledge of god, but I don’t feel like this is the case because knowledge is different from knowledge of god.
Wise men regard all beings
As equal: a learned priest
A cow, an elephant, a rat,
Or a filthy, rat-eating outcaste.
In the above passage, Krishna is telling Arjuna of a common philosophy among many Hindus, that everything in existence is god, or part of god, for god made all. In the process of becoming wise, a person must see the world and everything in as a different form god’s existence. The passage says a wise man is equal to a rat-eating outcaste, although very different people, they are both on a road leading to god.
Knowing me as the enjoyer
of all worship, the Lord of all worlds,
the dearest friend of all beings,
that man gains perfect peace.
While there are innumerable Hindu gods and goddesses, there still seems to be an underlying theme of monotheism for most Hindus. All of the varying types of worships that are specific to the individual Hindu gods are actually a collection of specialized worship to the single God that is represented by all others. Once a Hindu can understand and appreciate the entirety that is the concept of God he can reach the state of becoming god, being in the presence of god, or simply eternal bliss depending on which Hindu you ask.
"The man of yoga who is able
to overcome, here on earth,
the turmoil of desire and anger-
that man is truly happy."
In chapter 3, Krishna says that desire and anger is what drives a man to do evil actions. Here he states that a man who can free his mind and let go of all results is happy. For a man of yoga has gained perfect peace once he has gotten rid of all the desire and anger. Krishna then explains that with freeing the mind, one can realize the Self and feel God close. Also with desire and anger gone, Krishna explains that once man has found "peace and joy and radiance with himself- that man becomes one with God and vanishes into God's bliss."
“they can act
Impartially toward all beings,
since to them all beings are the same.”
These lines seem to be a pretty accurate representation of the open-minded nature of Hinduism, in which different people and different beliefs are all accepted. Krishna goes as far as to say that all beings, even animals, should be treated as equals. This accepting view comes from the Hindus belief that all beings have an atman, soul, or a piece of god inside them. If all beings have god in them, then it makes sense for Hindus to respect all beings.
“The resolute to yoga surrender
results, and gain perfect peace;
the irresolute, attached to results,
are bound by everything they do.”
What this passage means to me is that if you surrender to what you are doing and try your hardest, you will succeed. This is the same with reaching God. If you surrender to God’s will and love him then you will achieve moksha; however, if you simply want to reach moksha to fulfill your goal then you will never succeed.
This also reminds me of the monk who talked to us in 10th grade and said that he had been clinging to the pieces of a sinking ship during dreams in his meditations. At first he believed it to be images of a past life, but he realized that it was he mind telling him that he was holding onto his worldly goods and was too attached to his physical being.
“Contemplating That, inspired and rooted and absorbed in That, men reach the state of true freedom from which there is no rebirth.”
This quote concerning the complete destroying of ignorance echoes a constantly repeated theme that the ultimate enemy to the Self is ignorance. I think this is a beautiful image showing that ignorance is almost like a chain keeping one in the cycle and preventing them from reaching “moksha.” Krishna paints an elegant picture of what life is like after “samsara,” and further gives detail to the theme of ignorance is evil. While the path to the endless cycle is neither short nor easy, the idea behind it that one must conquer ignorance is not a complex lesson. True freedom is release from the endless cycle and arrival at an “imperishable joy.”
A man unattached to sensations,
who finds fulfillment in the Self,
whose mind has become pure freedom,
attains an imperishable joy.
This is a brand of an idea I read about frequently when reading about Hinduism and Buddhism. The idea that when one detaches oneself from all worldly desires to achieve balance and to be one with god is fascinating and appealing. To be rid of all the human wants and greed would be something I could strive for. However when put in this context with the word sensations rather than desires, it takes on a much less appealing meaning to me. Even most the gods and goddesses in Hinduism have significant other or at least loves. We learned to day about Krishna's sex-ridden teenage years. I believe that to be free from all desires is appealing, but many sensations are what were are put on this Earth to feel. Without being able to feel the cleaning water when we swim or the air we breathe, or the deep love when we find someone we want to be with life seems rather pointless. Maybe it's a wrong translations, or maybe I'm misinterpreting the connotation of sensations in this passage, but the idea of feeling no sensations doesn't seem like i would give me imperishable joy.
"He who finds peace and joy and radiance within himself-- that man becomes one with God and vanishes into God's bliss"
This line explains how we will never be one with God until we find internal happiness. The man that rids himself of all worries and lets God take over is the man that has reached happiness in his life. We cannot worry about aspects of life we cannot control. Those are the times when we let things be and accept the situation knowing God is in control. If we put our faith into God the situation will be resloved. Until we reach peace within, the situation will only become more stressful and we will never truly see God's bliss.
“It is hard to renounce all action
without engaging in action:
the sage, wholehearted in the yoga
of action, soon attains freedom.” (5.6)
Admittedly it is impossible to “renounce all action/ without engaging in action” because you must take action to renounce action. Therefore, what could Krishna mean? As many Hindus believe and as Krishna states in the Bhagavad Gita, to come into God’s grace, you can reach the final destination by letting go of feeling. On the different paths to this destination, many Hindus think you must continue with actions that help the people. Krishna states that by reaching the ultimate destination you have completed your duty of action. Krishna though continues to take action, in the form of yoga, because she influences so many Hindus who need to continue taking action. To many Hindus, action is a duty one must take on the path until he finally “attains freedom”.
“But when ignorance is completely
destroyed, then the light of wisdom
shines like the midday sun
and illumines what is supreme.”
Why were Adam and Eve different from us? They could see God. This annihilates all dualisms (time and eternity or male and female). They were what Joseph Campbell would call “enlightened”. To be enlightened is to like taking your glasses off and seeing the world for what it really is and God in it. So when the ignorance is completely destroyed you become enlightened and see God ( the light).
Love your comments. Virginia has a good question about sensations, and I do think she misunderstands Krishna. Would we enjoy sensations more or less if we were able to let go? I think more.
Krishna, by the way, is a guy.
He controls his senses and his mind,
Intent upon liberation;
When desire, fear and anger have left him,
That man is forever free
I wrote an article about Confucius little bit in chapter 3 board. I mentioned that Confucius was completely free from four things, and it makes him to avoid desire, fear, and anger. Here, Bhagavad Gita, it says that when desire, fear and anger have left him, that man is free. I realized that both religions are related and I guess that one of it could affect another, because Hinduism is a religion that mixes various religions. Also, both began in Asia, so it could be related. Anyway, I think for Bhagavad Gita avoiding desire, fear and anger is one of the most important things, because it is the way that man can be free.
"Wholehearted, purified, mastering / body and mind, his self / becomes the self of all beings; / he is unstained by anything he does."
These lines express the idea that an individuals sensory experience in their temporal body is meaningless in the context of the universe as a single Self, that all beings are of one Atman, and that one's actions are only meaningful if they are in the pursuit of wisdom and truth. By this token, one is "unstained" by their actions if they surrender themselves as individuals to the greater consciousness, and this is how Krishna describes one who is sage in the way to God.
“Wise men regard all beings / as equal: a learned priest, / a cow, an elephant, a rat, / or a filthy, rat-eating outcaste.” – 5.18
I wonder how this statement fits into the caste system. Krishna says earlier that “I founded the four-caste system” (4.13), which essentially assigns values and ranks to people. Yet here he claims that all beings are equal. Somehow the contradiction makes me think of the caste system as a sort of challenge, a rigid and oppressive structure that encourages people to break free by its very nature. When people discover their Self, they can become content in their total and complete equality and achieve the ability break free of the cycles of death and rebirth.
5.10
"Offering his actions to God,
he is free of all action; sin
rolls off him, as drops of water
roll off a lotus leaf."
When I first read this passage, I wasn't sure what exactly it meant. The first explanation I came up with was that once you have realized that you are "not the doer," you could pass any sinful action off as "sense-objects acting on the senses" and would therefore be free of the results of your sin. However, when I read further, I noticed I was wrong. Now I think that this passage means that once someone have "seen the truth," they have no desire to do sinful things and even as sin is rained down all around them, they are not affected by it at all.
He who ontrols his mind and has cut off desire and anger realizes the Self; he knows that God's bliss is nearer than near.
The passage is a just another way to help us understnad that in order to know thy self you have to be able to control your mind. When a person has control over the mind then he understands more things he gains all wisdom and begins to understand God and know that he is near. The theme of being about to control the mind comes up alot in chatper 5.The reason is simply because the mind is the most important tool of the body. When a person has mastered the controling of their mind then they are one step closer to understanding God.
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