Making Gita a Rashtriya Granth may confuse the world
In April this year, I simplified the complex Bhagavad Gita written in Sanskrit to reach a larger audience through just 18 tweets. Known to contain the essence of ancient Vedic thoughts, Gita was put down in writing at a time when Buddhism was on the rise advocating the way of the hermit: renunciation of worldly life and striving for oblivion of identity (nirvana) for complete freedom from suffering (dukka). Gita proposed an idea where liberation (moksha) could be obtained by participating in society and fulfilling our ritual and worldly duties.
Although composed some 2000 years ago, there are several aspects of Gita that are relevant to contemporary times. Gita has 700 verses spread over 18 chapters that approach life emotionally (bhakti), intellectually (gyaan) and practically (karma). This is not to say, it is a rule-book such as the Holy Bible. Instead, Gita is a work of philosophy that provides perspective on the nature of life and the world where we lead this life. It presents a view of the world where all our actions have consequences. It describes why we must take responsibility for our actions and reactions without categorising them as right and wrong or good and bad deeds. As a result, Gita helps us strike a balance between our heart and actions. Most people tend to focus on a particular verse or a set of verses based on their interpretations of the verse and current life situations.
Though Gita can be made a "Rashtriya Granth", it is likely to confuse the world and Indians alike as it is interpreted differently by different people. While Mahatma Gandhi believed Gita provided him the moral basis for non-violence, Bal Gangadhar Tilak believed it provided him with the moral basis for righteous violence. Ambedkar inferred Gita as a text justifying caste oppression. To Aurobindo, Gita captured the essential mystical truth about individuals.
Gita is different from other holy scriptures in many respects. The Bible and Quran speak of a world where we live only one life. Gita on the other hand, views this world as a place where we live many lives. This is the fundamental difference between Gita and other religious texts. Apart from this major ideological difference, The Bible and Quran preach that God is outside human beings, whereas Gita explains why God resides inside every human being. Religious books such as The Bible and Quran propagate "what God wants". However, according to Bhagavad Gita, God always provides several choices in life. These options presented along the journey of life vary with people depending upon their intellectual and emotional capabilities. For every choice that people choose to exercise, there will be a consequence attached and they must take responsibility for not just their actions but also the consequences that follow.
0 #18gita A practical understanding of 18 chapters of Bhagavad Gita follows in 18 tweets
— Devdutt Pattanaik (@devduttmyth) April 15, 20141 #18gita Ur world is a perception based by ur prejudices, shaped by ur fears, fuelled by ur ignorance
— Devdutt Pattanaik (@devduttmyth) April 15, 20142 #18gita The world of those around u is also a perception created by prejudices, fears and ignorance
— Devdutt Pattanaik (@devduttmyth) April 15, 20143 #18gita Wisdom is ability to appreciate ur perceptions and other people’s perceptions with empathy
— Devdutt Pattanaik (@devduttmyth) April 15, 20144 #18gita I, Krishna, appreciate all subjective realities, without judgement, with affection, hence am God
— Devdutt Pattanaik (@devduttmyth) April 15, 20145 #18gita God is eternal, undying, within u; ur self-absorption prevents u from realizing it
— Devdutt Pattanaik (@devduttmyth) April 15, 20146 #18gita Ur reality is limited. So r others’ realities. Break ur limitation and make room for theirs, even if they can’t or don’t.
— Devdutt Pattanaik (@devduttmyth) April 15, 20147 #18gita U seek outcomes to match ur expectations; so u seek control; when control slips away, u r angry, upset, unhappy, frightened.
— Devdutt Pattanaik (@devduttmyth) April 15, 20148 #18gita U avoid action because u cannot control outcome; you rationalize withdrawal with nobility to mask ur helplessness
— Devdutt Pattanaik (@devduttmyth) April 15, 20149 #18gita All outcomes are governed by karma: it is reaction to various inputs, not all urs, many beyond ur control
— Devdutt Pattanaik (@devduttmyth) April 15, 201410 #18gita Ur mind interprets this world as good/right if it favours u and bad/wrong if it does not favour u; nature favours none
— Devdutt Pattanaik (@devduttmyth) April 15, 201411 #18gita What gives u pleasure may cause others pain; when they retaliate, u declare them villains and c urself as victim
— Devdutt Pattanaik (@devduttmyth) April 15, 201412 #18gita Many prefer to let others shape their point of view (tamas guna). This is ignorance, born of inertia.
— Devdutt Pattanaik (@devduttmyth) April 15, 201413 #18gita A few choose to see the world only from their own point of view (rajas guna). This is control, born of fear.
— Devdutt Pattanaik (@devduttmyth) April 15, 201414 #18gita U have the ability to see the world from others points of view (sattva guna). This is wisdom, born of empathy.
— Devdutt Pattanaik (@devduttmyth) April 15, 201415 #18gita When u do your tasks focussing on the input and accepting the output whatever it may be, u are a karma yogi
— Devdutt Pattanaik (@devduttmyth) April 15, 201416 #18gita When u do ur tasks by placing faith in God who will take care of u no matter what, u are a bhakti yogi
— Devdutt Pattanaik (@devduttmyth) April 15, 201417 #18gita When u do your tasks by appreciating there are many forces at work, not all under your control, u are a gyan yogi
— Devdutt Pattanaik (@devduttmyth) April 15, 201418 #18gita Do dharma: don’t grab/dominate as animals do; outgrow ur fears as humans can by observing others struggle with fears & control
— Devdutt Pattanaik (@devduttmyth) April 15, 2014