The Bhagavad Gita Essay - 861 Words

The Bhagavad Gita as translated by Juan Mascaro is a poem based on ancient Sanskrit literature contained in eighteen chapters. The period of time, around which it was written, although it is merely an educated guess, was approximately 500 BCE. â€Å"†¦there are a few archaic words and expressions, some of the greatest scholars have considered it pre-Buddhistic, i.e. about 500 BC,† (Bhagavad Gita, xxiv). This quote is found in the introduction to the book and further explains that the exact time it was written is undeterminable. Although the words and dialogue are very different than that of the English language to which most are accustomed to, the spiritual messages throughout the entire book are very clear and meaningful. There are two main†¦show more content†¦The contents of the eighteen chapters are very basically the acquisition of the correct knowledge to achieve such a conclusion. The piece of spiritual knowledge that carries the most weight throughout the Bhagavad Gita is the responsibility of the individual. Before one can accept the responsibility of one’s self, one must differentiate between the temporary material body and the eternal spirit soul. Everyone must engage in some sort of activity in this material world, however one’s own actions can do one of two things. They may bind you to this material world, or liberate one from it. By living life selflessly and placing full faith and trust in the Supreme Truth, one will be lead to that higher path. The idea of self-responsibility is not merely being accountable for your faults, but living according to the wants and needs of a higher power. Simply, the responsibility of the individual is to submit fully to the Supreme truth, and live one’s life righteously in the quest for that truth. In trying to explain this Supreme Truth as well as other aspects of life, Krishna appeals to Arjuna in several arguments. Just when Arjuna believes he is headed for the great battle, he falls to his knees in despair, â€Å"Fall not into degrading weakness, for this becomes a man who is not a man. Throw off this ignoble discouragement, and arise like a fire that burns all before it† (Bhagavad Gita, 2). Arjuna is a classicShow MoreRelatedThe Symposium And The Bhagavad Gita Essay1725 Words   |  7 PagesPaper Assignment 2 Prompt 1 When it comes to the subject of love and desire, it would seem that The Symposium and The Bhagavad Gita disagree as to whether those qualities are beneficial to achieving spirituality or detrimental. In the Symposium, Plato states that desire is part of the pathway to achieving spirituality. By contrast, the unnamed author of the Bhagavad Gita seems to state that desire is an obstacle in the pathway to achieving divinity. 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