BhagVad Geeta - 1st Chapter (2nd Lesson).

All memorable speeches start with a bang!

And so are movies, stories, and dramas.

The same principle is used in Bhagavad Gita. The first chapter opens the Geeta with a bang!

Huge armies on both sides are facing each other, almost about to begin the attack. Arjuna requests his chariot to bring between two armies and looks at his teacher and grandfather.

Arjuna has panic attack, anxiety-neurosis, or nervous breakdowns.

And a most revered warrior refuses to fight!

Try to visualize this, quite a drama!

Geeta's first chapter starts with all this drama.

Some nuggets from the first chapter.

1.       Sanskrit text's first letters/Stanza are carefully crafted. Geeta begins with the word "Dharma". Though the rough translation is religion. But Swami Chinmay Ananda suggests that it's neither religion nor righteousness. It is much more than that. Here it means, "that makes a thing what it is". It is the "essential nature of anything". So essential that without it can not retain its independent existence (Ref 1).  (1.1)

2.       The first stanza is the only stanza in the whole of Geeta that is uttered by Dhritrashtra (धृतराष्ट्र). (1.1)

3.       Hrishikesha is translated by commentators as “Hrishika + isha” (lord of senses) or even as “Hrishi + Kesha” -having short hairs. Commentators Swami Chinmaya Ananda, as well as Lokmanya Tilak, commented on this (Ref 1, 2). (1.15)

4.       Only a few words (Half of the stanza) are spoken by Krishna in the first chapter (1.25)

5.       Symptoms of mental illness or Anxiety-neurosis or panic attack are listed as Sad talk, trembling limbs, dry mouth, spinning head, and depression for commonly liked things (1.27 to 1.30). (Ref. 1).

6.       Then Arjuna goes about rationalizing his decision to not fight a war.

7.       He talks from a personal point of view, individual loss/sacrifice (power/wealth), and family issues, then he talks about breaking a family unit leading to loss of values and finally how women will fall in disgrace.

1^st Chapter creates a drama, arouses readers' interest, and develops a context for the rest of the chapters.

Ref. 1: The Holy Geeta – Swami Chinamay Anand.

Ref. 2: Geeta Rahasya – Lokmanya Tilak. 

 

Why did I decide to read/Study Gita?

 

                                               (Image Source: Google). 

For long BhagVadGita proved to be elusive.

1.       When I was in college, my mother – a typical housewife, who wouldn’t read much – learned Gita by heart. She used to attend “Swadhyay Parivar” and she learned to Chant Gita. She never learned Sanskrit neither I saw her reading any Gita commentary.  I tried to learn but in vain. It made me curious how come?

2.       Unfamiliarity with Sanskrit – also kept me away from Gita. When I used to see others Chanting or reading or speaking on Gita authoritatively, I was amused. It made me curious how come?

3.       Often saw quotes/comments by eminent people on Gita. I read APJ Kalam, our past president mentioned he used to read, whenever he was in Dilemma. It made me curious – how such a scientific and modern bent of mind found solace in Gita.

4.       As a part of my doctoral journey, I did a seminar course on Karma Yoga. (Today I find it funny😀 ). And in hindsight, I can see that it was superficial. I did all the work – without even touching Gita. Karma Yoga is a core of the Gita (At least as presented in GitaRahasya by Bal Gangadhar Tilak). And It's laughable that I tried Karma Yoga without reading Gita. It made me further curious – to read in the original what's said about Karma Yoga in Gita.

5.       Last year I read a colossal biography of Mahatma Gandhi by Ram Guha (close to 1600 pages). Gandhiji gave a lot of credit to Gita. He called it "Eternal Mother" and "Spiritual reference book". I am curious – what made him call Gita so?

6.       Recently I was at a friend's place and he spoke about Vinoba Bhave and how his lectures on Gita delivered in prison were written down by another stalwart Sane Guruji. Vinoba Bhave called the book – Geetai. And translated it into lyrical Marathi.

7.       How these towering personalities – credit their strength to Gita. I am curious about it.

8.       I often face dilemmas even in mundane issues. And curious will Gita help me overcome it? 

Particularly in the light of what Mahatma Said, 

"

I confess to you that, when doubts haunt me, when disappointments stare me in the face, and when I see not one ray of light on the horizon, I run to the Bhagavad Gita and find a verse to comfort me, and I immediately begin to smile in the midst of overwhelming sorrow.”

I think I kept it away for too long. No more. I know unfamiliarity with Sanskrit should not be a reason to shun Gita. So this year, Gita is on the anvil.

I decided to read Gita in English this year.

Have gathered a few like minded friends, who will support in this endeavour. 

will keep posting as I travel along. 

A Year of Gita: Self-Study Group

 

(Image: Sourced from Google Search).

I was planning to study Gita from Gita Jayanti on 3^rd Dec 2022

(Details in the previous blog post here: http://hr-universe.blogspot.com/2022/10/studying-gita-step-by-step.html).  

We faced some difficulties, hence we re-planned everything and we are starting on 1^st January 2023.

One reason, things starting on 1^st January has a positive effect on aspirational behavior. There is some research-based evidence from social science for that- called the "Fresh Start Effect". (Or  Check here -  https://pubsonline.informs.org/doi/10.1287/mnsc.2014.1901 )

 

Another big reason is – it's Kalp-Taru day on 1^st January and divine blessings are certain.

 

 We have gathered a small serious group of readers to accompany/support each other.

 We have simplified things.

1.       We will follow Chinmaya Mission Syllabus. 

       This is available here.

2.       Essentially, we will study one lesson from this syllabus over 15 days. 

       There will be 30 lessons. However, feel free to read at your own pace. 

       We may post a prompt once a fortnight for discussion. You may go faster or slower as you wish.

3.       However please respond to the discussion prompt once over a fortnight

4.       Read from the book of your choice. I am thinking of following two books after some deliberations.

a.       Universal Message of Bhagavat-Gita – By Swami Ranganathananda – 3 Volumes (Amazon link, however, you can buy from Center of Ramkrishna Math)

b.       Holy Gita – By Swami Chinmayananda

5.       You do need not to join Chinmaya Mission Course for taking part in the group. (I have joined the course. And anyone can join. It's possible to get financial support in case you need it. The online portal has audio, and video lessons along with text-based pdf. And a dedicated discussion group is also available with the portal.)

6.       This fortnightly lesson is approximately 15 to 20 pages. It's possible to read the lesson in 15 days.

7.       If feasible, this course’s fortnightly lessons (Only PDF) will be posted for reading.   

8.       WhatsApp group will have messages only related to Bhagavad-Gita. Other posts are barred. 

9.       If time permits, we may plan some meetings/gatherings or talks.

10.   We wish to restrict the group to sincere and serious readers. 

       Few more attractions are in pipeline, but will be declared once finalized. 

      Let's celebrate the year as a Gita-Study-Year! 

Studying Gita - Step by Step!

 

Bhagavad Gita (referred as Gita). 

A sincere sadhak Vinba Bhave had referred to it as Gitai (Gita + AAI – Mother Gita – AAI is a mother in Marathi).

I always had a longing to study it.

Even I bought a couple of editions – including explanations, etc. in English. Even have three-volume sets of Swami Ranganathananda’s writings on Gita. 

But somehow, I never had an appetite to read it. 

Then I worked on a seminar course (during my doctorate) on Karma Yoga.

Again, I felt the deep need to at least read and get the crux of what Gita is. [Karma Yoga origins are in Gita]

But it always sounds monumental task and slipped away.

Moreover, I don't have any Sanskrit background. I feel it is a handicap.

I think such Everest may be conquered with some structure.

And I came across the Chinmaya Mission course on Gita. 

It's 30 sessions spread over 15 months, each month two lessons. Details are available here:  https://chinfo.org/home/course/bhagavad-gita-course-online/9  .

It is written for beginners and thoroughly in English.

I have decided to take it up.

I plan to start on the Gita Jayanti on 3^rd Dec.  [Suggested by Fellow reader]

Long back -while in college I did Chinmaya Mission’s basic Vedanta course developed by Swami Chinmayananda. Not only I enjoyed that course in the pre-internet era (lessons used to come by post – a snail mail), but I learned systematically the basic building blocks of Vedanta.

Making it easy for me to approach other spiritual literature & discussions with confidence. [Incidentally, a friend who did the same program, became a monk and pursued spiritual life] 

Hence it makes sense to look at the Gita course – also developed by the same Institution.

I am certain - structure and chapter-wise lessons will help me to take learning steps slowly but confidently. 

You can find the detailed syllabus here: https://chinfo.org/uploads/include_files/course_9_Bhagavad%20Gita_Syllabus.pdf 

Though the course is paid, if someone has difficulty paying, then you can write to homestudycourses@chinfo.org to make your case and get funding/help. 

Any long or short journey becomes enjoyable if you have companions on the path.

Fortunately, few friends are willing to join the journey with me. 

( If you are also interested in joining this study group – do let me know.)

As of today, we have decided that - learners/readers

1.       Will join this Chinmaya Mission Course mentioned above. Subscribe/buy or get access to it before 3^rd December.

2.       Will read and study. The guideline says one lesson in 15 days. Sample lessons are available online. Please take a look. It shall be comfortable to study one lesson in 15 days.

3.       We have a WhatsApp group, but the group will be strictly used to talk about the readings on Gita and nothing else.

4.       We may schedule group discussions. 

5.       If the number of group members increases, we may think of scheduling additional activities related to Gita Study.

Do connect!

Thanks!