The Bhagavad Gita: Krishna’s three paths of yoga
Whoever studies this sacred dialogue, by him I shall have been worshipped with the wisdom sacrifice; such is my conviction. Even one who hears it with faith and free from malice, he also, liberated, shall attain the happy worlds of those whose actions are pure.
— Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita, 18.70-71
In this class we will be reading and discussing the Bhagavad Gita, one of the most widely read and translated religious texts in human history. The Bhagavad Gita is a conversation between Krishna, one of the avatars (incarnations) of the God Vishnu, and his friend Arjuna, a young prince and master archer. Their conversation is embedded within a much longer epic called the Mahabharata, a sprawling story of family conflict, betrayal, and battle that is read and performed throughout India to this day.
As the conversation begins, Arjuna and Krishna stand on the edge of a battlefield as war is about to begin. Arjuna’s cousins have stolen the kingdom that rightfully belongs to him and his brothers. Although he and his brothers have tried everything possible to maintain family honor and connection in the face of this betrayal, they have been forced into open warfare. In this moment of despair and almost certain death, Arjuna turns to Krishna for help. He receives teachings not only on how to face the looming battle, but on the nature of the Self and ultimate reality.
Required Assignments:
Read Chapter 2 of the Bhagavad Gita.
Read this article by Sally Kempton: A former swami and author of Meditation for the Love of It discusses the meaning of the Sanskrit term dharma.
Contemplate the question: what is my dharma? You can engage this contemplation from all three of the perspectives that Sally Kempton suggests: dharma as duty or ethical imperative, dharma as personal life calling, and dharma as spiritual path. Use your journal to help you uncover what your own understanding of dharma is.
Download a printable version of the Bhagavad Gita assignment.
If you are interested in learning more about the Bhagavad Gita:
Read this excerpt from Poised for Grace by Douglas Brooks: In this commentary, a contemporary scholar/practitioner offers insights on the Bhagavad Gita from a tantric (i.e. world-valuing) perspective.
Watch the movie Mahabharata.
Watch the movie The Legend of Bagger Vance, a modern re-write of the plot of the Bhagavad Gita.
For a real treat, read William Buck’s Mahabharata over Thanksgiving or winter break!
Thou Art That 