Bhagavad Gita, Chap 2

[Guest guest]

The Blessed Lord said (to Arjuna): While speaking learned words, you

are mourning for what is not worthy of grief. Those who are wise

lament neither for the living nor the dead.

 

PURPORT

The Lord at once took the position of the teacher and chastised the

student, calling him, indirectly, a fool. The Lord said, " You are

talking like a learned man, but you do not know that one who is

learned--one who knows what is body and what is soul--does not lament

for any stage of the body, neither in the living nor in the dead

condition. " As it will be explained in later chapters, it will be

clear that knowledge means to know matter and spirit and the

controller of both. Arjuna argued that religious principles should be

given more importance than politics or sociology, but he did not know

that knowledge of matter, soul and the Supreme is even more important

than religious formularies. And, because he was lacking in that

knowledge, he should not have posed himself as a very learned man. As

he did not happen to be a very learned man, he was consequently

lamenting for something which was unworthy of lamentation. The body is

born and is destined to be vanquished today or tomorrow; therefore the

body is not as important as the soul. One who knows this is actually

learned, and for him there is no cause for lamentation, regardless of

the condition of the material body.

 

sacred-objects , Jay Munshi <jaymunshi wrote:

>

> Dear Richard,

>

> In my understanding Nationalism is an ideology and political

movement standing its ground on ethnical and cultural achievements. In

todays age of nations fused of different cultures and languages it is

very synonymous to Patriotism and often in regular parlance are

interchangeble and synonymous. Nationalism is an ideology inculcating

the virtue of Patriotism.

>

> While spiritual pursuits are most necessary for personal

(atma's) upliftment Nationalism and spirituality as per the theories

of the Godly Song of Krishna go hand in hand. I am not going into

understanding of the Maya and the Brahm Gyana. These both are far

beyond my capacity as a mortal to comprehend. Though my understanding

of the second chapter of Bhagvad Gita with the most famous lines like

" Tasmad Uthhishtha Kaunteya " are a call on any man standing between

the choices. All choices are internal wars of pleasant over good. With

the death in karma bhoomi sure to bring heaven (as per the chapter ii)

does bring in Nationalistic Pride. The age of Mahabharta has long gone

and evolution takes its course in furthering human civilization. With

once criticised experiments of democracy in small city states

of India (which Chanakya gobbled) and the Glory of Rome today the

Democratic values are fuelled only by Nationalism. And modern

governing methods

> are by far superior than to the fuedal ages...yes even the times of

Mahabharata. Today there are no Karnas, Arjunas and Duryodhanas.

Mahabharata is a epic about tormentted times when not only do people

suffer due to personal prides and interests but bring war upon

civilians for petty things as personal pride.

>

> Patriotism too is a very petty virtue which will stand so till we

grow beyond the boundries and see that Humanity is far mightier goal

to pursue.

>

> Gita being so profound in its philosophy that every time I read it I

find a new facet to the Gem which surprisingly had always missed.

>

> May be I just missed the point entirely in my intellectual

masterbation or perhaps I could make my point is very difficult a

choice to make. I rest my argument here and look forward to reading

threads on the forum.

>

> best regards,

>

> Jay

>

>

>

>

>