Learning about the Bhagavad Gita

Life in itself is action, but you have to know how to live it. Just as to act does not mean to undertake anything, so living does not mean to live by any means.

The Bhagavad Gita begins on the battlefield: the armies of the Pandavas and the Kuravas are lined up at Kurukshetra. Both are equally numerous and powerful and the outcome of the battle is uncertain. In the middle, between the two armies, is Arjuna on his chariot driven by Krishna. In Arjuna's hands is a bow, and the first arrow shot will mean the beginning of the battle. However, Arjuna looks at both armies and in each of them he sees familiar faces, members of his family, childhood friends, playmates, teachers... And, instead of firing an arrow, he slumps to the bottom of his chariot, throws away his bow, and cries out desperately to Krishna for help and advice. Why should he fight? No amount of fame or kingdom is reason enough to destroy what is part of his life. Arjuna does not want to fight…

Thus begins the conversation between a god and a man on the field of Kurukshetri: a fainting warrior overcome with doubts asks, and the Supreme answers...

The psychological interpretation of the Bhagavad Gita is linked to symbols that are a continuation of the Mahabharata. These are Arjuna, Krishna, the field of Kurukshetra, two branches of the Bharata family and Hastinapura, for which the warring parties are fighting. However, precisely because we are talking about symbols, their external form in which they are presented in the epic takes on a significantly different meaning in a psychological key.

That is why Indian teachings say that one of the first great tasks of man is to distinguish between the impulses of his dual nature, to recognize his own Pandavas and Kuravas, and only then to follow or not to follow their call. Precisely because of his dual nature, man is a being that is constantly torn by inner turmoil, because these two sides are constantly in conflict. But, it is natural, say Indian teachings, and it will happen like this until man is completely freed from all attachments to the earthly.

You can read the entire article on the Nova Akropola website.

The text is taken from the Nova Akropola magazine: https://nova-akropola.com/kulture-i-civilizacije/religije-i-kultovi/bhagavad-gita/