INTRODUCTION TO GITA

Introduction to Bhagavad Gita

दुर्लभं त्रयमेवैतत् दैवानुग्रहहेतुकम् मनुष्यत्वं मुमुक्षुत्वं महापुरुषसंश्रयः- विवेकचूडामणि durlabhaM trayamevaitat daivaanugrahahetukam manuShyatvaM mumukShutvaM mahaapuruShasaMshrayaH - vivekachUDaamaNi The scriptures describe three blessings, rare and difficult, and obtained by Grace of Bhagavan - a)  the human birth ( manushyatvaM) as it is the only adhikaari-sariram , eligible for pursuing the fourfold pursuits of dharma ( life of Yoga) ,artha ( security) kama  ( happiness) and moksha ( freedom from all limitations).  b)- desire for liberation ( mumukshutvam) and  c) contact with mahatmas or Jnanis (mahApurusha-samshrayaha).  Endowed with a free will (purushaartha) available only in the human birth - one has the ability - to do , not to do or to do things differently as one pursues short term and long term goals in search of  peace, security and happiness in life. The scriptures ( shastras) tell us -' You are That which you are seeking.' Peace , Security and Happiness - is within, hidden like even the underground water, oil in sesame seed or butter in milk. The shastras guide us in tapping into this inner wealth and to discover it by removing the ignorance. The vedas  or the srutis are the primary shastras and original source of all knowledge that was revealed to the sages in deep meditations. The smritis , itihasas andpuraNas are the secondary sources of knowledge.  The Bhagavad Gita is found in the middle of the great epic ( itihasa) Mahabharatam composed of 100,000 verses and narrated by Sage Vyasa. The Gita, even though a smriti, that which is remembered - yet it is the essence of the vedas and enjoys the status of the sruti. This sacred scripture composed of 18 chapters and 700 verses presents the teachings  in the form of a dialogue ( samvaada) between Lord Krishna and His disciple , Arjuna and through Arjuna to the entire humanity. Is the Gita relevant to us today?  The answer is an unequivocalled 'yes'. The current age , yuga, background, characters, situations. languages , socio-cultural conditions etc may be different than those existing 5000 years ago - yet the challenges to be faced in these fast paced modern times, the inner conflicts, the fundamental questions asked by Arjuna regarding decisions and choices - these continue to be the same. The housewife, student, teenager, professional, retired, seeker , sannyasi - the teachings of the Gita can be the guiding Light and turning point for all. The teachings of Bhagavad Gita addresses the emotional growth of the individual in a multidimensional way through values, attitudes and change of lifestyle. A life of karma Yoga  paves the way to understanding the vision of the timeless and spaceless non dual Reality that pervades every aspect of the universe. This is Jnanam , knowledge that frees one from the constant struggle to acquire and preserve and thus from a restless life of becoming. Pujya Swami Dayananda Saraswati says - " Regular and committed study of the Gita brings about a cognitive change based on understanding." The Gita changes the direction of our lives through a reorientation in terms of our value structure , priorities and inner attitudes as we pursue goals in life. Just as even the solution to a jigsaw puzzle is within the puzzle itself,  the threefold sadhana of shravanaM ( listening to scriptures) followed by mananaM ( dwelling upon their content) and nidhidhyasanaM ( owning up the teachings through meditation) satisfies the eternal human quest for Peace , Security and Happiness - here and now , in this very life. Listen in the video below to 15 year young  Jahnavi who says - "Just knowing Bhagavad Gita once can change one's entire life!" http://youtu.be/qlyR9Q-JIKQ Om Tat sat. Om Sri KrishnaarpaNamastu!