In this new series of writings, I will attempt to deliberate on various teachings and concepts as they occur in the Bhagavad Gita. There are many fantastic commentaries on this great scripture; the writings here will not be a translation or commentary based on any one author, but how it relates to my (and the commonality of everyone’s) spiritual path, practices and openings, and a host of concepts as they appear in the Gita.
These include:
*Yoga
*Dharma
*Maya
*Atman
*Brahman
*Karma
*Sacrifice
*Suffering and sin
*Jnana
*Bhakti and surrender
*The ultimate understanding and letting go
When I began reading the Gita as a teenager, it was seen as the quintessential text of karma yoga, with the message, “Do your duty and don’t worry about the fruit of action.” While my main focus at the time was to memorize the verses in Sanskrit for chanting competitions, the deeper I dug, the more intriguing it became, each word placed strategically, flowering with multiple meanings that often pop up in my understanding at unexpected times. With continued study over the last 20 years, I’ve come to see the Gita as the epitome of teachings of Bhakti and Jnana yoga, and the amalgamation of all paths that lead to God.
Before delving in, the background and set-up of the Gita must be understood.. And that will be explained in the next few posts.