Bhagvad Gita – Message of Gita- Josephine Finlay

(Continuing the written papers by the TTC students on Bhagvad Gita
which were seen by our Rev. Swami Gitaprakashananda JI)

What is the Message of Gita, according to you
Josephine Finlay

First of all, I should like to reiterate some of the various interpretations of the true message of the Gita according to some of the learned people and sages who have spent much time studying this stupendous written work. The Gita has certainly inspired many, many people of all ages, and from all ages, ever since Arjuna was first inspired by Lord Krishna’s teachings.

One criticism has said that the Gita is nothing but war-mongering, and its message is to fight, fight, fight! This is because Krishna asks Arjuna to fight against his own kith and kin.

Shankaracharya first brought the story of the Gita out of the Mahabharata. He suggested that the Gita teaches nothing else but to know the nature of Brahma and to make our own life full of Brahma.

Ramanujacharya, Vallabhacharya and other Acharyas suggest that the Gita talks about Bhakti or devotion. They say that the Gita teaches us to devote our lives as a lover of Krishna (Chapter 12), and that this message is carried on throughout the whole book, being mentioned at the end of each chapter: ‘dedicate your life to me’ (Krishna). There is no need for worry in life, no need to follow Dharma either, just devote yourself to Krishna – that is the only thing necessary.

Another source suggests that the message of the Gita is that Krishna says: ‘I shall give you whatever you want – just leave it to me.’ The origin of this comes from the words ‘Yoga kshema.’ ‘Yoga’ means to get something (in this context), and ‘kshema’ means to keep what you already have. So, Lord Krishna is saying just have faith in me, devote yourself to me and I will care of you. We are urged to worship Him and serve Him only. We are told to unite passionately with Krishna, in firm and total devotion, and He will look after everything for us. We should have our minds filled only with thoughts of Lord Krishna. As it says in Chapter 9 and 18 “Man mana bhava” which means: ‘Let your mind become Me.’ Bhakti Yoga, or devotion, is the only message of the Gita in this case.

A man, or sage, called Tilak who lived some time ago, wrote a commentary on the Gita while he was in jail in Mandalay. He said that the message of the Gita is not Brahma, gnana, or bhakti, but Karma! Krishna says ‘Kuru, Kuru’ – Do this, do that! Many times in the Gita. In other words ‘Do your karma! Doing nothing is no good. Doing something is much beter. You have to do!!’. So Tilak is suggesting that the message of the Gita is Karma. Make your Yoga a Karma Yoga. Your work is your prayer and meditation. It is no good just sitting in prayer. Get up and do!! Karma, or work, is the message of the Gita.

Mahatma Gandhiji has suggested that the message of the Gita is ‘do your work without attachment’. This is ‘unasakti’. Repeatedly, Gita says ‘do your work without wanting the results or fruits of your actions’. ‘Your responsibility is to do your work but not to look for the results of your work. Thus Gita says this frequently throughout its length. At the end of Chapter 18, Lord Krishna says “Do all your work for Me”. According to Gandhiji, the message of the Gita is non-attachment in work.

Aurobindoji says that the Gita is not only for gnana, bhakti, or karma, but a synthesis of everything.. He called it integral yoga, a homogenous mix, a harmony between all types of yoga. So we are encouraged to be a gnani, a bhakta, a karma yogi as well as being a yogi in essence. Sri Aurobindo elaborates on this theme in his book “Essays on Gita”. He tells us that the Gita teaches us to look towards the dawn of tomorrow, and not to look back to the noon of yesterday, no matter how glorious it was at the time. So, according to Sri Aurobindo, the message of the Gita is to live in the present and use the Gita to improve your tomorrow.

The Gita is the book of practical life, and contains the message of hope, evolution, progress and of prosperity. For any of this to come about as a result of living according to the Gita, one must have faith, as is mentioned in Chapter 17. Faith is very powerful motive and without it there is no substance in life. Life remains hollow and superficial. “Yo yacchraaddah sa eva sah” – ‘As is your faith so you become’ (Ch.17,v3). Your faith is in accordance with your inner being. So have firm belief in yourself. Think positively. No negative thinking’. Your faith and your inner self are the same.

Perhaps the main topic of the Gita is how to solve the riddle of life, the many problems, challenges and questions that involves. All beings are subject to disease, old age and death, and Gita’s primary aim is to probe into the mystery of the Self. But, the teachings are of such a profound nature that the message is attractive to all types of human character, whether studious, devotional, active or contemplative. The knowledge contained within the writings of the Gita is that which can liberate – complete understanding ultimately brings liberation. Not-knowing, or ignorance, is that which can create fear and misunderstanding which in turn brings about limitations, bondage and restriction.

“As a man thinketh, so he becomes”, and the way in which a person thinks determines how he conducts his life and behaves in general. A modern American songwriter wrote in a popular song: “Its how you think whether you swim or sink”. The underlying message is the same as in the Gita, and just as pertinent today as it was thousands of years ago. Somebody else said: “It is how you do anything that is how you do everything.” So, for me, the message of the Gita is one of transformation. The Gita offers a way for everybody to be able to transform themselves, and their way of thinking, and to ultimately transform their lives no matter which path they may choose. That path may be one of devotion, of work, of study, or of solitary contemplation. Whichever one it is, the Gita offers profound guidance in all of them, as long as the path is followed with faith and determination as well as earnestness. At the same time, however, the chosen path should be followed in a balanced, controlled way, not in any way fanatical or obsessive. The phrase that Sri Indarji often quotes is very appropriate here: ‘Practice, Patience and perseverance’.

This would seem to be the best way to follow and put into practice the teachings of the Gita, for it is only by practical experience that any kind of transformation can come about. There has to be an inner transformation for the way of thinking, and therefore of being to be changed permanently, for the ego to be transcended. The person undergoing such a transformation can also indirectly have a transformative effect on all they come into contact with – including family, friends, associates and their surrounding environment. The Gita is mainly concerned with the transformation of the internal environment, brought about by treating life as a ‘yajna’ or sacrifice to the- powers- that- be embodied in the one Supreme Being.

It is through transformation, that the dross of negative and egotistical qualities are burned away, for the very act of transformation of anything requires ‘fire’ in some form. It is through transformation that one comes to follow ones appropriate path or ‘dharma’ in life, for ‘dharma’ is that course to which one is most suited according to ones natures in present life. One may wish to follow another course of action, or of being, according to ones desires, but this can include more obstacles that have to be overcome.. ‘Dharma’ is the easiest path to follow, the path of least resistance, according to the Law of Nature, and because Nature is far bigger than we are. She is bound to win in the end! So by transformation one comes to live ones ‘dharma’. Finally, it is through the transformation of evolution that we can all eventually come to realise the teachings of the Gita, for that is how the wheel or circle of Life turns.

The message of transformation in the Gita is summarised in the following verse from Chapter 18,v65:

‘Fix your mind on Me; be devoted to Me; sacrifice to Me;
prostrate before Me; so shall you come to Me. This is My
pledge to you, for you are dear to Me.’

We are all very dear to the Lord, and so He will give us all we need, and through the transforming message of the Gita we gradually come to realise that is not necessarily as the same as what we want! However, through following the teachings of the Gita we can come to experience in a practical way that is what our real Self only wants.