1. The Hindu epics and Dharma
·
Vishnu the
preserver, protector of dharma: Rama, Krishna
·
Warrior Kings and
sacred dharma: sacrifice, heroism, penance, devotion.
·
Their foes and
adharma, chaos – spiritual victory over evil
2.
The Problem: Arjuna’s dilemma
·
How is Arjuna’s problem everyone’s problem?
·
Must we
abandon our worldly work to attain liberation?
3.
Krishna’s
response:
·
Allows Arjuna to
distinguish between his limited realm of personal and social concerns/larger,
universal order of things
·
Why should
Arjuna focus on the self when he goes into battle?
·
What’s wrong
with sacrifice? So why act at all?
1.
How shall I
act?
2.
How to avoid
karma? Niskamakarma
·
How is
devotion important to attaining liberation?
4.
Summary:
·
Arjuna should
purge his mind of attachments and dedicate the fruits of his actions to
Krishna. This way he can continue to act
in a world of pain without suffering despair.
The core of devotion to Krishna is discipline (yoga), which enables the
warrior to control his passions and become a man of discipline (yogi).
·
The duties of
life can be performed in a new spirit that prevents the acquisition of karma
and makes them a means of liberation rather than bondage.
·
Selfish desire,
not the action itself, binds us to acts and their impurity. Perform your duties
as required and as a service to God, with no desire for personal gain: no
karma, no ties deepened, no rebirth.
·
Metaphysics and
philosophy of the Upanishads adapted to the religious needs of a civil society.