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The Bhagavad Gita I

The Bhagavad Gita I. Asian Religions Berger. The Status of the Bhagavad Gita. 6 th chapter of the epic Mahabharata Two Divisions of Scriptural Texts sruti (“heard’): direct perception of divine truth smrti (“remembered”): handed on through tradition

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The Bhagavad Gita I

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  1. The Bhagavad Gita I Asian Religions Berger

  2. The Status of the Bhagavad Gita • 6th chapter of the epic Mahabharata • Two Divisions of Scriptural Texts • sruti (“heard’): direct perception of divine truth • smrti (“remembered”): handed on through tradition • Gita predominantly considered smrti text, but is accorded sruti status by some groups such as the Krishna Consciousness movement of Bengal (16th century)

  3. Synthetic Tendencies of Gita • Gita’s Attempt to Harmonize Stands of Religion • Ancient Brahminism and new Devotionalism (bhakti) • Upanisadic doctrines with new theism • Ideals of caste society and renunciation Gita’s form of theism -- henotheism (istadeva): preferred divinity -- brings together brahman and personhood

  4. Genealogy of the Epic War • Prasara / Satyavati – Vyasa (author of narrative) • Vyasa / daughters of Santanu • Dhritarastra – Duryodana (Kauravas: “bad guys”) • Pandu – Yudhisthira, Arjuna (Pandavas: “good guys)\ • Krishna (incarnation of Vishnu) assists Kauravas but advises Pandavas

  5. Arjuna’s Arguments against War • Duties to the Family (p.35) • Intimacy and laws of kula-dharma • Destruction of Society (p.35) • Destroying family will destroy castes and society • Arjuna’s Moral Standards • Consequences that will result from actions are the basis upon which acts are judged moral or immoral

  6. Krishna’s Arguments for War I • The Immortality of the Soul (pp. 36, 43, 44) • The need to distinguish body from true self • The Responsibility of Castes (pp. 37, 39, 40) • The superiority of caste to family duty • Non-attachment to consequences (pp. 37, 38-39) • Karma accrues based on intention, not “fruits” • Krishna’s Moral Standards • Correct mystical/metaphysical knowledge • Intentional, not consequential, standards of moral judgement

  7. Reading for Next Class • Yoga (pp. 51-52, 59-68)

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