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  • Essay / Reflection on the Bhagavad-gita

    The original Bhagavad-gita was written between 400 and 200 BC. Despite its age, it is still a relevant Hindu text that is studied and experienced today. It can easily be applied to daily life, even for someone who is not Hindu. The text is full of lessons from the Hindu entity, Krishna, when Arjuna, a prince, finds himself confronted with difficult questions about war and life. The Bhagavad-Gita covers Arjuna's dilemma and how Krishna helps him make a decision about it; it's a great example of how a person's worldview can affect the decisions made. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay At the beginning of the Bhagavad-Gita, Arjuna, one of the main characters, presented the dilemma of war and murder of his loved ones. Arjuna is the leader of the small Pandava army which is about to fight the larger army of Duryodhana. The reason Arjuna wants to fight is because King Dhritarashtra is trying to pass the kingdom to Duryodhana while the rightful ruler is Arjuna's brother Yudhishthira. (Miller, 1986, Ch.1, lines 1-20). However, in the first teaching, Arjuna is upset that Duryodhana's army is full of his family: “I do not want to kill them even if I am killed, Krishna; not for the royalty of the three worlds, much less for the earth! (Miller, 1986, Ch.1, line 35). In other words, Arjuna does not want to conquer a kingdom if it means killing his family. He goes on to ask, “How can we ignore the wisdom of turning away from evil when we see the sin of destroying the family, Krishna? (Miller, 1986, Ch.1, line 39). He considers the destruction of the family a sin and wants no part of it. Despite Arjuna's lack of fighting spirit, Krishna insists that he continue to fight. Krishna, an entity fighting Arjuna, is the one who advises him in this dilemma. He convinces Arjuna to fight by speaking of his faith and wisdom. Krishna first declares that Arjuna is a coward and if he turns back he will lose his honor. He says in the second teaching: “Our bodies are known to end, but the embodied self endures…” (Miller, 1986, Ch.2, Line 18). Krishna talks about reincarnation. He basically tells Arjuna that it is okay to kill people in this war because they will simply reincarnate. There are many other lessons that Krishna follows, but one of the most important is that of faith in Krishna and the supreme god. He insists in the seventh teaching: “practice discipline under my protection, with your mind focused on me…” (Miller, 1986, Ch. 7, Line 1). In order to be separated from the material world and have a good life after death, Arjuna must devote his life to Krishna and the Hindu religion. Through these and other lessons, Krishna persuades Arjuna that this battle can take place. The Bhagavad-Gita is a valuable text of the Hindu religion and therefore accurately represents how one worldview can affect decisions. Everyone has their own way of seeing the world. In Arjuna's case, he sees the world through a Hindu view. At first Arjuna did not want to continue the war. However, Krishna, an entity in the Hindu religion, persuaded him otherwise. Arjuna said after all the lessons of Krishna, “Krishna, my illusion is destroyed, and by your grace I have regained my memory; I stand here, my doubts dispelled, ready to act on your words. (Miller, 1986, Ch. 18, Line 73). Arjuna decided to continue the fight because he believed what Krishna said. Other worldviews are exactly like that. People make decisions and act based on their beliefs.,