My Gita

by Devdutt Pattanaik

The first is the Indus phase, then come the Vedic phase, the Upanishadic phase, the Buddhist phase, the Puranic phase, the Bhakti phase, the Orientalist phase and finally the modern phase.

five phases of hindu evolutipn

pivotal role of The Gita in Hindu history. The Vedic phase began 4,000 years ago, the Upanishadic phase 3,000 years ago, the Buddhist phase 2,500 years ago, the Puranic

In its final form, the Bhagavad Gita had 700 verses, split into 18 chapters, of which 574 are spoken by Krishna, 84 by Arjuna, 41 by Sanjaya and 1 by Dhritarashtra. There are suggestions that the Bhagavad Gita originally had 745 verses.

In Jainism and Buddhism, the world of rebirths is called samsara, propelled by action (karma) and memories of past actions (samskara).

Imagination helps us create concepts, which filter our sensory inputs and ultimately impact our emotional experience. Thus, we can imagine a rock or river to be a deity and so condition ourselves to feel joyful whenever we encounter that rock or river. Our emotional experiences can also inform and shape our concepts. So, when a rock or river gives us joy in some way, we declare it must be a deity. Concepts therefore help us rationalize emotions; emotions help us rationalize concepts—it is a two-way process.

Arjuna, immerse your mind in me and I will uplift you from the ocean of recurring death. If you cannot do that, then practise yoga and work on your mind. If you cannot do that, then do your work as if it is my work. If you cannot do that, then make yourself my instrument and do as I say. If you cannot do that, then simply do your job and leave the results to me.—Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 12, verses 6 to 11 (paraphrased).

rules (niti) and traditions (riti),

Krishna points to rajas guna for all desires (kama) and anger (krodha); tamas guna for all laziness and confusion; sattva guna for a balanced, responsible view.

guns break up

Things matter more than thoughts.

Property becomes a substitute for feelings. Hence the purpose of life has become all about acquiring more and more Narayani.

Arjuna, the wise look at a learned man, an outcaste, a cow, an elephant or a dog with an equal eye. A person who sees equality in all, and is equanimous in all pleasant and unpleasant situations, has realized the divine for the divine is impartial too.—Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 5, verses 18 to 20 (paraphrased).

tendencies is born desire in the senses, in the heart and the head. Desire is insatiable and if not indulged can result in rage. Desire and rage can block all wisdom, as smoke masks fire, dust masks mirrors and the womb masks a baby.—Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 3, verses 37 to 40 (paraphrased).

Depending on its guna, a tree bears mango fruit; this is not ambition or desire, it is simply realization of potential. If we expect a mango tree to bear apples, then problems start. We do not respect guna. A human being can become a king, a warrior, a merchant, a servant or a poet, depending on his qualities and potential. If we try to change a warrior into a poet because we are revolted by war or attracted to poetry, then we cause tension and suffering. Hinduism therefore does not talk of conversion, only realization of potential. To let our potential be realized without deriving our identity from it, or without denying its existence, is the hallmark of wisdom.

to follow ,especially for kushagra

Humans can violate another human by attacking their social body (kshetra) without even touching their physical body (deha). The pain is felt in the mind.

Moksha is liberation from fear. Arjuna,

In a yagna, a svaha can be either dakshina, bhiksha or daan.

Loving is its own reward, the ultimate human possibility.

Arjuna, he who is always aware of the divine, and unites with the divine, within and without, will always be at peace and blissful.—Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 6, Verse