The Bhagavad Gita and the Bible
Scholarly dated about 500-200 BC[1], [2], [3], the Gita[4] has been an influencing book[5] for our Hindu neighbors. Despite Vedas being a profound foundation for Hinduism, the Gita has been regarded as a summarization[6] of Hindu philosophy. It is one of the most revered and recommended spiritual guidance book.[7] Hindu neighbors also suggest that one must read it once in our life[8].
It is a poem[9], beautifully composed[10] in 700 verses and 18
chapters, which discusses way of knowledge, devotion and karma blended with
practices of yoga in a framework[11] of a battle within a
family for a kingdom. It is actually a conversation between a warrior Arjuna
and a Brahman[12], [13], [14] incarnate[15] chariot Krishna which is believed
to have happened about 5000 years ago[16]. It begins with Arjuna’s
anxiety and his deep concern about his teachers and brothers on Kaurava’s side.
He decides not to battle. Seeing his dilemma and anxiety, Krishna convinces him
that he has to move ahead, kill the oppositions and accomplish his kshatriya[17] duty.[18]
In order to justify the killing as his caste duty[19], Krishna then begins
answering Arjuna’s deep concern about life, death, soul, evil and good, action
and consequences i.e. its kernel is ethical and its teaching is set in the context
of an ethical problem[20].
Throughout the Gita, we read a magnificent philosophical discussion which ends
with Krishna’s request to Arjuna’s submission to him.[21] Krishna teaches about the
essence of fulfilling the duty for attainment of moksha. He explains how must
detach oneself from all sorts of attachments and realize non-duality of entire
universe. He emphasizes on selfless service, action and spiritual discipline to
refrain oneself from six enemies of human: kaam, krodha, lobha, moha, ahankaar
and daaha.[22] Teaching
that root of all suffering is selfishness, he focuses one must be training to
attain an intellectual level and live a meaningful life of profound action and
service[23]. The Gita culminates in Arjuna’s
understanding of the nature of existence, his place in the cosmic order, and
why he has to take part in the coming battle.[24]
Krishna explains him that self is eternal, assuming body after body[25]
in just the same way that individual changes clothes. For as long as it is
contained within the body, the self has to perform its karmic duty.[26]
One has to overcome his/her ignorance and recognize true existence by
differentiating false identity of one’s soul. One needs to recognize his
immortality.[27]
The analysis of the Gita shows that it is a book that has
made an attempt to harmonize[28] Sankhya, Vedanta[29] and Yoga system[30] of philosophies[31] emphasizing on devotion[32]. There are Hindu analysis
that do not take Gita as a Hindu scripture.[33] Some Hindu leaders and
commentators such as Gandhi, Vivekananda[34], [35], etc. take it as an
allegory[36] or metaphor[37] about anyone’s battle
against karma and for liberation from birth-death cycle. The textual criticism
also suggest that it had earlier 84 verse and spoke of Sankhya philosophy[38] which is essentially
atheistic[39]. Although
historicity of Kurukshetra war is affirmed by most of the scholars[40], there are critical
scholarly claim has also been made that there is no way of checking whether
these events actually occurred or if this is pure legend, since we have no
record of the events outside the Gita itself[41]
and there has not been a single manuscript of Bhagavad-Gita before
Shankaracharya.[42] Other
critical examination suggests it borrowing from Christian theology[43] on certain topics like origin
of universe, creator’s nature, law, karma, morality, sin, nature of fallen man,
salvation, grace, death, etc.[44] Theologically, it is
ambiguous[45]
on its theistic position[46], [47]. The scripture has
been said unknown until the time of Shankaracharya.[48] Adding more to it, the
historical development analysis suggest that it might not have been spoken by
Krishna[49] and his position as
Brahman incarnate was also a later interpolation[50]. J N Farquhar notes that
the author of the Gita brought an imaginary conversation about a divine Savior
who would have many things to say about himself[51]. He said Jesus of
Nazareth was historic whereas the Gita depicts an imaginary picture of human
heart crying for a divine guidance[52]. Swami Vivekanand says
that Krishna must have been a real person, a great man to whom imaginary
superhuman attributes were given as it was a normal trend in ancient times for
kings to uplift themselves in preaching Brahma-jnana.[53] Analyzing the Gita, he
says
it was quite probable that the Gita was the scripture of such a sect which had
embodied its high and noble ideas in this sacred book. Sadhu Sundar
Singh analyses that Arjuna seemed more considerate than Krishna. A sinner needs
a Savior. Therefore, it is in Jesus one can find redemption rather than in
Krishna[54]. Regarding the Gita
spoken to Arjuna, the assertion is made that Krishna first spoke Bhagavad Gītā
to the sun-god some hundreds of millions of years ago and he descends to this
planet once every 8,600,000,000 years.[55]
Another point to ponder is that none of the actual Hindu texts themselves,
including the Bhagavad-Gita, can be accurately dated prior to the Twelfth
Century AD. Hence, his words were not recorded for approximately 4200 years
later.[56]
This case seriously gives a red light to trustworthiness of the text itself
regarding Krishna’s teaching.[57]
Unlike the Gita[58], the Bible isn’t a part
of any particular book. It is a documentation of God[59]’s interaction with human
despite of broken relationship. It begins with creation of the world[60] and mankind in his own
image[61] and ends up with a short
prayer to Jesus to return soon[62]. The Bible expresses
human struggle throughout its 66 books in various genre of literature. Its core
concern is separation of humanity from God and God’s infinite love and grace to
become one of us to redeem us from eternal damnation.
Human were to be God’s own people taking care of his
interests and accomplishing his plans on the earth.[63] They had to choose to be
under his rule and be obedience to his directions on their free will. However,
the chaotic environment overwhelmed when they chose to rebel and act
independently on their understanding and survive. By broken fellowship, man’s
status became lower than what they were originally meant to be. He had to live
more a biological life just as usual animals but with natural abilities endowed
with image of God. He lost capacity to relate, communicate, and co-work with
God and became lonely. But God didn’t leave him in despair and promised to
restore back the fellowship and bring him back to his intended status. God
promised of a seed that would soon be coming to take over the enemy and
establish a new race. He became progenitor of a new mankind from the old
-Second Adam. The first was physical and fallen. The second would be guided by
God’s spirit, assuring eternal life and begin a new generation striving to
attain Christ likeness.[64]
Being separated from God, man was incapable to live his own.
He couldn’t understand the purpose of living. He couldn’t act intellectually
and sought God for help and trying to appease him with corrupted mind. They
sought after natural forces and submitted to their powers. They began animistic
worship and idolatry just to fulfil their emptiness. The power of darkness
added more flavor in their own attempts. They began to develop philosophies to
understand human connection with the world and to survive a good life tackling
sufferings and challenges of life.[65] Their own effort and
achievements gave rise to lust, pride greed and all sorts of injustice and
human atrocities. Man, hence became more perverted and uncontrolled than
average animals. All kinds of laws, rules, systems and philosophies failed to
change him and give inner peace and completeness. They brought more chaos to
the world in their fallen state. They become a liability on themselves due to
their fallen nature from which they couldn’t come out. However, God didn’t
leave him paralyzed. He continued to interact. He found people who were willing
to listen and follow him. These encounters were God’s calling to humans. Noah
(judgment and new beginning), Abraham (walking with God), Jacob (to be with
people), Moses (to be a nation), David (to be a kingdom), prophets (to call
back lost) and John the Baptist (to final call for repentance). In all the way
to this journey, they too fell but God carried his plans of making humans
obedience in faith in his ways and time, to live as per his will, to be lawful,
to be ruled by him, to know purpose of life and to accept his kingdom.[66]
Finally, God himself took over the plan of action in a flesh
of a man i.e. Jesus. In him, God established his own rule in this world. He
began with encounter with enemy and began crushing. He had to go through all points
of temptations and yet Satan failed to infect him. He filled people with thirst
for truth, for real life and appetite for fellowship with God. He was to be
taken and trusted upon. He has to come in and be with us permanently. It was
total restoration, reciprocal and inverse function.[67] He was a man of
perfection who fulfilled all laws and earned righteousness for sake of human
misery. He offered peace beyond human understanding[68] and brought right to
become children of God[69]. He came to reclaim the lost
authority over the world under God’s direction. He took He took the eternal
punishment over himself and opened the gate of the eternal life. Hence, he
prepared his kingdom of people for uncorrupt new world eliminating the fallen
world. Christians are those who live looking up as their life is there in
Christ. It is a new beginning and living with Jesus, in Jesus and for Jesus[70] under a reborn spirit. It
is a lifelong commitment and ongoing transformation to be fully realized in
glory when Jesus comes. We have three responsibilities: to demonstrate a life
style against currents of this world, to be the witness of Christ and to enjoy
suffering for Christ and kingdom’s sake. Finally, a new world is soon to
establish where we shall be living with God in a new dimension and in glory
with him. Every sorrows and tears would vanish and the kingdom failed to
establish at Eden will forever be restored eternally. We will reign with Jesus
and our afterlife is beyond our imagination. We all are waiting for that great morning
of a new day.[71]
The books of the Bible have been verified to be trustworthy[72][73] and it is observed that
we have a great hope in Christ. Despite of several textual criticism, Jesus has
been recognized as historic person. As we just covered big picture of the
Bible, we can understand how God never leaves us but he came to us to redeem. People
today may not accept submission to God as it is against their ideology of human
superiority but the Bible itself is a practical book[74] that discusses
relationship between God and man, and between man and man[75]. The Bible isn’t just a
mirror that shows our fallen state but it has a Savior embedded from Genesis to
Revelation whom we need to take in and who can transform us. Jesus left his
glory to bring us in our original status. He took our punishment so that we
could be justified righteous. He became a mediator between God and man.
By reading Arjuna’s anxiety[76] and human inner struggle
expressed in Gita about life, death, good, evil, duty, dharma, etc. it seems to
me that we really need a guide in a life who can help us to know ourselves and
give a better reason to cope with struggle of life in order to enter something
that is coming near where we shall find a rest and relief. We do find this
accomplished in the gospel. Krishna, even if historic[77], has been bounded with
mythologies and uncertainties[78], [79] since it has been
analyzed that the story of Krishna might have been compilation of stories of
different Krishna[80], [81]. Regarding Jesus,
the legends about him was too late to develop due to short time period of New
Testament writings and witnesses alive. There can be few legends about him
(There actually is) but historical analysis points directly to the supernatural
Jesus of our gospels. Krishna, even if didn’t exist, has no effect in Hinduism[82], [83] since his teaching
is considered of more importance. Just opposite, historicity of Jesus is not a
playing dice.
The Gita has emphasized self-duty and renouncing oneself
from attachments by spiritual discipline and action/deed without any concern
with its result/consequences[84]. The Bible, on the other
hand, focuses the need of Christ to know ourselves in God. Holy spirit dwells
in us and his fruits transforms us. Krishna promises to incarnate time to time
to restore dharma[85]
while Jesus only had one-time historic incarnation and will return as a king. In
the Gita, the
soul is immortal[86],
Krishna is saying, and so death[87]
is only an illusion.[88]
This is again in disagreement with the Bible where death is a reality and God
is able to condemn soul[89].
The Gita teaches One must break free of illusion to recognize the truth that
all things observable and unobservable are actually Brahman[90]
whereas the Bible teaches Jesus alone is the Way, the Truth and the Life[91]
who proclaimed victory over power of darkness[92].
Regarding the Gita’s teaching of ultimate destination of humanity is to reunite
back to Brahman, Sadhu Sundar Singh calls it annihilation rather than salvation[93].
The ultimate goal is to achieve Nirvana[94], [95],
to reach the fixed, still state of Brahman which is beyond space and time,
detached from any influence, desires and even every emotion and thought. That’s
the state of highest joy[96]
according to the Gita.[97]
In contrary, our ultimate goal is to enter the eternal rest in God’s kingdom.
In the whole book of the Bhagavad Gita, no mention is made
of brotherly love and all that it includes, like helping our brothers in faith
in their spiritual growth and endeavoring for people that they find the path to
salvation.[98]
Again this isn’t case with the Bible where Jesus teaches to love one another as
we love ourselves.[99]
The Bible practically addresses human struggle of life. It has recorded real
hurdles a man undergoes in life. It doesn’t have any stories of superhuman
lives that makes us demotivated in survival.[100]
The leading idea of the Gita is considered that Krishna is Brahma incarnate[101]
while the leading idea of the Bible is God has a will for humanity to be Christ
like. The flow of the Gita seems to revolve around man’s duty, which if carried
out will bring nothing but sorrow and burden. Meanwhile, the poem also offers a
hope through the way of devotion.[102]
The flow of the Bible has been clarified as how God interacted with his people
and he himself became the way of redemption.
Supreme being in Hinduism is impersonal, a philosophical absolute,
not a personal one. That is why they cannot give a simple answer on god’s
identity and nature i.e. god is one, god is all, god is everything.[103]
But for Christian faith, the Supreme Being is personal and distinct from the
creation. Jesus’ teaching is different from any of other religions but Krishna,
an exception, came the closest to what he taught. Despite of similarity to Jesus
in the solution brought to the problem of the human heart and His philosophical
encouragements to Arjuna, he fell short in what he didn’t say and couldn’t do
but Jesus did.[104]
The alarming message of the Gospel is that we cannot be
righteous until we are first redeemed. It is not rebirth we learn from Jesus,
but a new birth that is made possible by his Holy Spirit.[105]
Sadhu Sundar[106]
says: "With regard to the doctrine of Karma, it is
true that man receives the consequences of his deeds; but the difference
between the teaching of Christ and Hindu teaching is this -- that a Christian
performs deeds because he is saved and a Hindu in
order to be saved."[107] The merit of Krishna’s teaching is that it adapts itself to
the person who is seeking.[108]
He said so many things in so many different ways to enable every person to interpret
it for himself and determine his own level of understanding and teaching.[109]
However, the Bible is clear cut that no one can truly come to God without realizing
spiritual poverty within himself. When a person recognizes and reaches at a
realization that none of his/her goodness and accomplishments amount any value
before God, then only he/she seeks God. Only in this humiliation a person can accept
the new birth Jesus gives. The new birth gives a new hunger for righteousness.
As the man is now born of God by the power of God, he begins a new life for the
glory of God.[110]
Jesus came into the world not to pay a penalty for himself
but to reveal the real horror of sin that separates the human heart from God’s
heart.[111]
He didn’t come to offer any religion, any system of rules, or any paths by
which we can reach destination nor he came to reform the chaotic environment of
the world. He rather came to teach us the culture of heavenly kingdom and to
prepare the way to reach there.[112], [113],
[114]
He himself came to be the way.[115]
He wasn’t a guide but was a rescuer. When Jesus died on the cross for us, the thunder
of the judgment and penalty of the law crushed over him so that only the shadow
of death would pass over us. We still have to face the pain of death, but he has
paid its price.[116]
Jesus will be with us throughout all our sorrows, suffocation, pain, and even
death. He came to show that there is no difference in the human condition as everyone
falls short of the glory of God. In person’s self-attempts to reach God, he
falls short.[117]
It is also true that many people today turn to Krishna in their trials and
troubles because they find him as a guide of life[118]
but the true hope only lies where the reality abides. Christ became man
also that He might learn life by actual experience, and thus be fitted to be
our Saviour, and to sympathize with us in all our experiences of temptation,
struggle, and sorrow. We are sure now, when we come to Christ in any need, that
He understands our condition and knows how to help us.[119] Although Krishna
spoke of sacrifice and he never offered it.[120]
The sacrifice that only Jesus offered to restore the fellowship between God and
Man.[121]
The Gita is concerned more about how a person can attain
moksha by any of the three ways: karma, bhakti and gyaana.[122] It is the fullest expression of
the concept of the means toward self-actualization and liberation which free
the soul from the illusions which cause suffering and reward one with peace in
this life and union with God after death.[123]
The Bible is more about our restoration to God and fellowship with him
through Christ[124].
After we receive Christ, the progress machine starts working in our life. We
wait for his second coming. The Gita can really be a fascinating philosophical
guidance for humanity but the Bible offers the Savior who sacrificed himself
once for all.
Even with a neutral standpoint, the Gita appears to be an
excellent book of guidance on living a life[125] that helps an individual
to reach the state of oneness with Brahman. However, the analysis of its
historical development seems to be stumbling block against a true hope and
assurance for future destination. On the other hand, the Bible is offering us
the historic Savior who doesn’t just guide or show the way to move on but
partake with us in our everyday struggles of life all the way to the ultimate
eternal destination with God. The Bible thus seems stable and assuring in its
ambition and purpose for entire humanity.
[1] https://www.ancient.eu/Bhagavad_Gita/, accessed on 1/20/2021,
11:50 pm
[2]
Rev. Dr, Balkrishna Sharma. Major Religions of the World, a Nepali Perspective.
ITEEN, in partnership with OM Nepal. 2015. Pg. 74.
[3] Eliot Deutsch
in his book The Bhagavadgita says: "The Gita was definitely composed later
than the (early) Upanishads. The period
of the Gita's composition would fall somewhere between the fifth century B.C.
and the second century B.C. The final recension of the work was made sometime
in the Gupta period (fourth to seventh centuries A.D.), and the earliest
manuscript source dates back to Shankara's commentary in the ninth century.
http://www.sakshitimes.net/blog/2008/02/05/bhagavad-gita-and-the-book-of-romans-871/,
accessed on 1/22/2021, 11:00 pm
[4] Here,
the Bhagavad Gita is considered one among several other Gita.
https://gitadevotee.blogspot.com/2017/03/various-types-of-gita-and-their.html?m=1,
accessed on 1/29/2021, 5:05 pm
https://devdutt.com/articles/many-gitas/,
accessed on 1/29/2021, 5:06 pm
[5]
Rev. Dr, Balkrishna Sharma. Major Religions of the World, a Nepali Perspective.
ITEEN, in partnership with OM Nepal. 2015. Pg. 73
[6]
Rev. Dr, Balkrishna Sharma. Major Religions of the World, a Nepali Perspective.
ITEEN, in partnership with OM Nepal. 2015. Pg. 73
The central teaching of the Gîta can be beautifully
summarized in this sentence of Annie Besant: ‘Lt is meant to lift the aspirant
from the lower levels of renunciation, where objects are renounced, to the
loftier heights where desires are dead, and w'here the Yogi dwells in calm and
ceaseless contemplation, while his body and mind are actively employed in
discharging the duties that fall to his lot in life.* The Gita tries to build
up a philosophy of Karma based on Jnâna and supported by Bhakti in a beautiful
manner.
Chandradhar Sharma. Indian Philosophy: A Critical
Survey. Barnes & Noble. Inc. 1962. Pg. 20
[7] https://www.hinduwebsite.com/sacredscripts/gitahistorical.asp, accessed on
1/20/2021, 11:40 pm
Chandradhar Sharma. Indian Philosophy: A Critical
Survey. Barnes & Noble. Inc. 1962. Pg. 20
[8] It is
the concentrated essence of Hinduism. It is the expression of all the highest
hopes, aspirations and ideals of the best Indians that have ever lived. In it
we see the Hindu people longing for God, reaching out after God, expressing the
deepest desires of their religious nature. It is the revelation of the Hindu
people. In reading if we read their inmost thoughts and hear their unutterable prayers.
As such, it is one of the most precious and interesting documents in the whole
world. If anyone wants to understand the Hindu people, let him steep himself in
the thought of the Gita. The book is ' to be read as the spiritual autobiography
of Hinduism. the chief feeling that finds expression in the Gita is the desire
for an incarnate Savior.
J N Farquhar. Gita and Gospel. THE CHRISTIAN LITERATURE
SOCIETY FOR INDIA. 1917. Pg. 31
[9] literally
means ‘The Lord’s Song'.
Chandradhar Sharma. Indian Philosophy: A Critical
Survey. Barnes & Noble. Inc. 1962. Pg. 20
[10] The
author of the Gita was clearly a man of wide and deep culture. He had filled
his mind with the best religious philosophy of his country. He was catholic
rather than critical, more inclined to piece things together than to worry over
the differences between them. Each of the philosophic systems appealed to his
sympathetic mind: he was more impressed with the value of each than with the
distinctions between them.
J N Farquhar. Gita and Gospel. THE CHRISTIAN LITERATURE
SOCIETY FOR INDIA. 1917. Pg. 28
[11] Constance A. Jones and James D. Ryan. Encyclopedia of
Hinduism. Facts On File, Inc. An imprint of Infobase Publishing. 2001. Pg. 73
[12] Rev.
Dr, Balkrishna Sharma. Major Religions of the World, a Nepali Perspective.
ITEEN, in partnership with OM Nepal. 2015. Pg. 45
For the concept of Brahman: https://eseekers.blogspot.com/2021/01/gospel-to-hindu-world-episode-4.html,
accessed on 2/5/2021, 11:14 pm
For detail:
http://library.lol/main/80F29202F0E384ACB052E1E144B33095
[13] The
word is derived from the root *Brh* which means to grow or to evolve. In the
beginning it meant sacrifice, then prayer and then it acquired its present
meaning of ultimate reality which evolves itself as this world. Brahman is that
which spontaneously bursts forth as nature and soul. It is the ultimate cause
of this universe. In the Chhändogya, it is cryptically described as
‘Tajjalân*—as that (tat) from which the world arises (ja), into which it
returns (la), and by which it is supported and it lives (an). In the
Taittiriya, Brahman is defined as that from which all these beings are born, by
which they live, and into which they are reabsorbed.
Chandradhar Sharma. Indian Philosophy: A Critical
Survey. Barnes & Noble. Inc. 1962. Pg. 12
[14] Brahman
is described in two ways in the Upanisads. It is called cosmic,
all-comprehensive, full of all good qualities—Saprapancha, Saguna and
Savishesa. And it is also called acosmic, qualityless, indeterminate,
indescribable—Nisprapancha, Nirguna, Nirvishesa and Anirva- chaniya. This
distinction is the root of the celebrated distinction made by Shankarächärya
between God and the Absolute. The former is called lower Brahman (apara Brahma)
or Ishvara, and the latter higher Brahman (para Brahma) or the Absolute. God is
the personal aspect of the Absolute and the Absolute is the impersonal aspect
of God. Matter, self and God are only manifestations of the Absolute. But
Rämänujä- chärya has challenged this distinction. To him, the Absolute is the
personal and the immanent God, and matter and selves alike form His real body,
He, being the soul of nature and the soul of souls. Ramanuja interprets the
Upanisads in the sense of Brahma-parinama-väda; Brahman really transforms
Himself as the world of matter and of souls. Shankara interprets them in the
sense of Brahma-vivarta-vâda; Brahman unreally appears, through Ignorance, as
the world of matter and of souls. Shankara does not deny the existence of a
personal God. He is the highest appearance admitted by Advaitism.
Chandradhar Sharma. Indian Philosophy: A Critical
Survey. Barnes & Noble. Inc. 1962. Pg. 15
[15]
Rev. Dr, Balkrishna Sharma. Major Religions of the World, a Nepali Perspective.
ITEEN, in partnership with OM Nepal. 2015. Pg. 74
[16] Prof. Gary
Habermas. The Uniqueness of Jesus Christ Among the Major World Religions. 2006.
Pg. 20
[17] one
of the four varnas (social orders) in Hinduism traditionally responsible for
the protection of the political-cosmic order (dharma) and the administration of
society.
https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Kshatriyas,
accessed on 2/7/2021, 12:38 pm
[18]
Also, in: Chandradhar Sharma. Indian Philosophy: A Critical Survey. Barnes
& Noble. Inc. 1962. Pg. 20, 21
[19] Some
people have tried to read in the Gita a ‘cult of murder’. But this simply shows
to what extent a noble work can be misinterpreted. To fight against evil is the
duty of man. To make the situation poignant relatives and beloved friends and
revered elders stand on both sides and Arjuna has to vindicate his claim, he
has to follow his Svabhäva and Svadharma. It is a significant fact that though
Lord Krsna in the beginning repeatedly asks Arjuna to fight, in the end when
the teaching has been imparted to him, the Lord simply says—‘Do as you please.’
Chandradhar Sharma. Indian Philosophy: A Critical
Survey. Barnes & Noble. Inc. 1962. Pg. 21
[20] https://www.hinduwebsite.com/sacredscripts/gitahistorical.asp, accessed on 1/20/2021, 11:40
pm
[21]
Gita 18:64-66
[22]
Rev. Dr, Balkrishna Sharma. Major Religions of the World, a Nepali Perspective.
ITEEN, in partnership with OM Nepal. 2015. Pg. 78-80
[23]
Rev. Dr, Balkrishna Sharma. Major Religions of the World, a Nepali Perspective.
ITEEN, in partnership with OM Nepal. 2015. Pg. 78
[24] https://www.ancient.eu/Bhagavad_Gita/, accessed on 1/20/2021, 11:50 pm
[25] The
soul is indestructible (avinashi), eternal (nitya), unborn (aja), undiminishing
(avyaya), all-pervasive (sarva-gata), immovable (achala), ancient (sanâtana),
unmanifest (avyakta), unthinkable (achintya) and immutable (avikärya). Only
bodies are destroyed, not the soul. It is neither born nor does it die. It is
immortal and everlasting. Not being subject to birth and death, it cannot
perish along with the body. Just as a person casts off worn-out garments and
puts on the new ones, so does the soul cast off worn-out bodies and enters into
others that are new.
Chandradhar Sharma. Indian Philosophy: A Critical
Survey. Barnes & Noble. Inc. 1962. Pg. 21
[26] David
Smith. Hinduism and Modernity. Blackwell Publishing. 2003. Pg. 156
[27]
Rev. Dr, Balkrishna Sharma. Major Religions of the World, a Nepali Perspective.
ITEEN, in partnership with OM Nepal. 2015. Pg. 75
[28] Though before
its advent, Yoga, Jnana, Bhakti, etc. had each its strong adherents, they all
quarrelled among themselves, each claiming superiority for his own chosen path;
no one ever tried to seek for reconciliation among these different paths. It
was the author of the Gita who for the first time tried to harmonise these. He
took the best from what all the sects then existing had to offer and threaded them
in the Gita. But even where Krishna failed to show a complete reconciliation
(Samanvaya) among these warring sects, it was fully accomplished by Ramakrishna
Paramahamsa in this nineteenth century.
https://www.ramakrishnavivekananda.info/vivekananda/volume_4/lectures_and_discourses/thoughts_on_the_gita.htm, accessed on
1/25/2021, 6.20 pm
[29] https://www.hinduwebsite.com/sacredscripts/gitahistorical.asp, accessed on 1/20/2021, 11:40
pm
[30]
Rev. Dr, Balkrishna Sharma. Major Religions of the World, a Nepali Perspective.
ITEEN, in partnership with OM Nepal. 2015. Pg. 73
[31] The
welding of the Sankhya and the yoga systems as Sankhya- Yoga does not occur
earlier than the Atharvan Upanishads.
J N Farquhar. Gita and Gospel. THE CHRISTIAN LITERATURE
SOCIETY FOR INDIA. 1917. Pg. 17
[32] Sadhu Sundar Singh. The Search
After Reality. MACMILLAN AND CO. LIMITED. 1925. Pg. 39
[33] https://www.hinduwebsite.com/sacredscripts/gitahistorical.asp, accessed on 1/20/2021, 11:40
pm
[34] Swami
Vivekananda observed, “How could there be so much discussion about Jnâna,
Bhakti, and Yoga on the battle-field, where the huge army stood in battle array
ready to fight, just waiting for the last signal? And was any shorthand writer
present there to note down every word spoken between Krishna and Arjuna, in the
din and turmoil of the battle-field?
http://www.sakshitimes.net/blog/2008/02/05/bhagavad-gita-and-the-book-of-romans-871/, accessed on
1/22/2021, 11:00 pm
[35] Now to the
third point, bearing on the subject of the Kurukshetra War, no special evidence
in support of it can be adduced. But there is no doubt that there was a war
fought between the Kurus and the Panchâlas. Another thing: how could there be
so much discussion about Jnâna, Bhakti, and Yoga on the battle-field, where the
huge army stood in battle array ready to fight, just waiting for the last
signal? And was any shorthand writer present there to note down every word
spoken between Krishna and Arjuna, in the din and turmoil of the battle-field?
According to some, this Kurukshetra War is only an allegory. When we sum up its
esoteric significance, it means the war which is constantly going on within man
between the tendencies of good and evil. This meaning, too, may not be
irrational.
https://www.ramakrishnavivekananda.info/vivekananda/volume_4/lectures_and_discourses/thoughts_on_the_gita.htm, accessed on
1/25/2021, 6.20 pm
[36]
Rev. Dr, Balkrishna Sharma. Major Religions of the World, a Nepali Perspective.
ITEEN, in partnership with OM Nepal. 2015. Pg. 75
[37] Constance A. Jones and James D.
Ryan. Encyclopedia of Hinduism. Facts On File, Inc. An imprint of Infobase
Publishing. 2001. Pg. 73
[38] http://www.sakshitimes.net/blog/2008/02/05/bhagavad-gita-and-the-book-of-romans-871/, accessed on 1/22/2021, 11:00 pm
[39] J N Farquhar.
Gita and Gospel. THE CHRISTIAN LITERATURE SOCIETY FOR INDIA. 1917. Pg. 3
[40] J N Farquhar. Gita and Gospel.
THE CHRISTIAN LITERATURE SOCIETY FOR INDIA. 1917. Pg. 26
The battle of Kurukshetra took place after the composition
of the hymns of the Rigveda and before the compilation of the Black Yajur Veda.
[pg. 23] At least a thousand years lie between the great battle and the composition
of the great poem. [pg. 24]
[41] http://apologeticspress.org/apPubPage.aspx?pub=1&issue=430&article=499,
accessed on 1/25/2021, 6.07 pm
[42] http://www.sakshitimes.net/blog/2008/02/05/bhagavad-gita-and-the-book-of-romans-871/,
accessed on 1/22/2021, 11:00 pm
[43] Sadhu Sundar Singh. The Search
After Reality. MACMILLAN AND CO. LIMITED. 1925. Pg. 39
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6vtA5O5Ako&list=PL1mr9ZTZb3TVOYpPpjYhTUHXycJrY6P2I&index=3,
3:41 onwards. Accessed on 1/29/2021, 6:27 pm
[44] http://www.sakshitimes.net/blog/2008/02/05/bhagavad-gita-and-the-book-of-romans-871/,
accessed on 1/22/2021, 11:00 pm
[45]
Gita 7:4-5, 15:7, 7:8-9, 6:29-30, 14:3-4, 8:22, 9:19, 13:12, 7:5 and 8:3
[46] Image of God:
Pantheistic and panentheistic view on the one hand and theistic view on the
other hand merged together.
http://www.christiansinindia.in/what-does-the-bhagavad-gita-teach/, accessed on 1/21/2021, 11:14
pm
[47] If we compare
the following two passages it becomes difficult to grasp the conception of God
this book conveys.
It
is I who pour out heat, hold back the rain and send it forth: deathlessness am
I and death, what is and what is not.
tapāmyaham
ahaṁ varṣhaṁ nigṛihṇāmyutsṛijāmi cha
amṛitaṁ
chaiva mṛityuśh cha sad asach chāham arjuna
(Bhagavad
Gita 9:19)
I
will tell you that which should be known: once a man knows it, he attains to
immortality. The highest Brahman it is called,—beginningless,—It is not Being
nor is It Not-Being.
adhyātma-jñāna-nityatvaṁ
tattva-jñānārtha-darśhanam
etaj
jñānam iti proktam ajñānaṁ yad ato ’nyathā
(Bhagavad
Gita 13:12)
http://www.christiansinindia.in/what-does-the-bhagavad-gita-teach/, accessed on 1/21/2021, 11:14
pm
[48] http://www.christiansinindia.in/what-does-the-bhagavad-gita-teach/, accessed on 1/21/2021, 11:14
pm
[49] J N Farquhar. Gita and Gospel.
THE CHRISTIAN LITERATURE SOCIETY FOR INDIA. 1917. Pg. 24
[50] J N Farquhar. Gita and Gospel.
THE CHRISTIAN LITERATURE SOCIETY FOR INDIA. 1917. Pg. 26
[51] J N Farquhar. Gita and Gospel.
THE CHRISTIAN LITERATURE SOCIETY FOR INDIA. 1917. Pg. 80
[52] J N Farquhar. Gita and Gospel.
THE CHRISTIAN LITERATURE SOCIETY FOR INDIA. 1917. Pg. 31
[53]https://www.ramakrishnavivekananda.info/vivekananda/volume_4/lectures_and_discourses/thoughts_on_the_gita.htm, accessed on
1/25/2021, 6.20 pm
[54] Sadhu Sundar Singh. The Search
After Reality. MACMILLAN AND CO. LIMITED. 1925. Pg. 39
[55] Prof.
Gary Habermas. The Uniqueness of Jesus Christ Among the Major World Religions.
2006. Pg. 20
[56] Prof. Gary
Habermas. The Uniqueness of Jesus Christ Among the Major World Religions. 2006.
Pg. 21
[57] Irving
Hexham presents a brief survey of several widespread dates for the actual
writing of the Bhagavad-Gita, that still indicate at least two insurmountable
problems. Any of the dates still necessitates a gap of at least 3300 to 3500
years, which is absolutely huge!
Prof.
Gary Habermas. The Uniqueness of Jesus Christ Among the Major World Religions.
2006. Pg. 21
[58]
It belongs to Bhishma Parva of the great religious work the Mahabharata.
[59] Biblical concept of God: God is spirit, transcendent,
sovereign, self-existence and self-sufficient, infinite, eternal, omnipresent,
omnipotent, and omniscient, immutable, love, holy, righteous and merciful,
gracious, good (Kind, cordial, benevolent, full of goodwill towards men) and
faithful, triune and our Father. The God of the Bible namely I am or
Jehovah/Yahweh is personal, knowable, possess attributes, and one in three
persons. The Bible states that God is the creator and distinct from the creation.
Furthermore, the Bible emphasizes that understanding God and his works is
beyond human mind and understanding.
John 4:24, Isaiah 55:8, 9; 1
Timothy 1:17, 2 Chronicles 20:6; Revelation 19:6; Psalm 59:13, Exodus 3:14;
John 5:26; Acts 17:24-28, Job 42:2; Psalm 115:3, Psalm 90:2; Hebrew 1:12;
Revelation 1:8, Jeremiah 23:23, 24; Psalm 139:7-10, Job 42:2; Genesis 18:14, Acts
15:18; Isaiah 40:28, Malachi 3:6; 1 Samuel 15:29, Romans 5:8; 1 John 4:8, 16, Psalm
99:5, 9; John 17:11, Psalm 11:4-7; John 17:25, Deuteronomy. 4:31; Psalm 62:12, Exodus
34:6; John 1:14; Romans 3:24, Mark 10:18; Matthew 5:45, 1 John 1:19;
Deuteronomy. 7:9, John 1:1; 17:22, 23; Matthew 3:16, 17; 2 Corinthians 13:14, Matthew
6:6-18; Luke 22:42; John 8:41, Exodus 3:14, 15, 1 Kings 8:27, 2 Chronicles 2:6,
Job 37:23, Isaiah 55:8, 9
[60] In
the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. Genesis 1:1 (KJV)
[61] So
God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and
female created he them. Genesis 1:27 KJV
[62]
20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even
so, come, Lord Jesus. 21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
Amen. Revelation 22 KJV
[63] Elder
PA Thomas, God’s eternal plan for man and the world. (Equippers Bible Study
facebook page private group: 28 August, 2019) [Originally posted article]
https://nepalchurch.com/19428/gods-eternal-plan-for-man-and-the-world/,
accessed on 1/30/2021, 3:53 pm
[64] Elder
PA Thomas, God’s eternal plan for man and the world. (Equippers Bible Study
facebook page private group: 28 August, 2019) [Originally posted article]
Genesis 1:26-28; 2:15, 18; 3:15; Romans 5:14; 6:6; 1
Cor. 15:22, 45; John 3:5, 6; 2 Cor. 5:17; Eph. 4:22; Col. 3:9
https://nepalchurch.com/19428/gods-eternal-plan-for-man-and-the-world/,
accessed on 1/30/2021, 3:53 pm
[65]
Rev. Dr, Balkrishna Sharma. Major Religions of the World, a Nepali Perspective.
ITEEN, in partnership with OM Nepal. 2015. Pg. 7-11 [Supporting reference for Elder
PA Thomas, God’s eternal plan for man and the world. (Equippers Bible Study
facebook page private group: 28 August, 2019)] [Originally posted article]
[66]
This paragraph is just a paraphrased version of Elder PA Thomas’ article where
we can really grab a big picture of the Bible. I have also added my few words
but mostly I am indebted to Elder PA Thomas who wrote such a wonderful article.
Gen. 11- Malachi 4; Exodus 3; Psalms 78:70-72; John
1:15-27, 29, 36
[67]
Establishment of total dependence against the independence activated in the
Garden of Eden.
[68]
John 14:27
[69]
John 1:12
[70] https://nepalchurch.com/9059/ख्रीष्टिय-विश्वास-जीवन-र-2/,
accessed on 1/30/2021, 4:22 pm
[71]
This paragraph is also a paraphrased version of Elder PA Thomas’ article where
we can really grab a big picture of the Bible. I have also added my few words
but mostly I am indebted to Elder PA Thomas who wrote such a wonderful article.
John 1:14; Phil. 1:5-11; John 1:4, 3:15-16; 1:12-13;
3:36; 15; Col. 1:12-22; 3:1-3; Romans 12:1-2; Eph. 2:10; Phil. 2:5; Acts 11:26;
26:28; 5:41; 1 Pet. 4:16, Rev. 21 and 22
Also read: https://nepalchurch.com/19345/who-is-jesus/
to know more about Jesus.
[72] http://apologeticspress.org/apPubPage.aspx?pub=1&issue=430&article=499,
and https://www.apologeticspress.org/apcontent.aspx?category=8&article=1410,
accessed on 1/30/2021, 4:42 pm
[73]
For more detail: Myths and Mistakes in New Testament Textual Criticism. Edited
by Elijah Hixson and Peter J. Gurry. Inter Varsity Press. 2019.
[74] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3Tf0mX2Yi8&list=PLoCb_X6V3-pQMIxjBewHOLIoy2l95PZ5F&index=5 and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXir-migWOs&list=PLoCb_X6V3-pQMIxjBewHOLIoy2l95PZ5F&index=6
Accessed
on 1/22/2021, 10:28 pm
[75]
Rev. Dr, Balkrishna Sharma. Major Religions of the World, a Nepali Perspective.
ITEEN, in partnership with OM Nepal. 2015. Pg. 286
[76]
Gita 1; 2:1
[77] J N Farquhar. Gita and Gospel.
THE CHRISTIAN LITERATURE SOCIETY FOR INDIA. 1917. Pg. 26
[78] Such as many Krishnas in
shastras.
The
content has been borrowed and not originally my idea. It is because I agree
with those things that I have rephrased them and presented them.
[79]
Even within Hinduism, one of the greatest Sanskrit and Vedas Scholar - Swami
Dayanand Sarasvati in his book Satyarth Prakash (Light of Truth) he has
written: (Page - 219)
"Does God incarnate or not?
A.- No; because it is said in the Yajur Veda. "He
is unborn." Again "He overspreads all." He is pure, is never
born and never takes on a human form." It is clear from these quotations
that God is never born.
Q. But Krishna says in the Gita, "Whenever there
is decay of virtue, I take on a human form." GITA 4:7. What is your answer
to this?
A.- Being opposed to the Veda (divinely revealed most
highly revered Hindu scriptures) it (Geta) cannot be held to be an
authority............................
Krishna could never be God."
https://eseekers.blogspot.com/2021/01/gospel-to-hindu-world-episode-5.html,
accessed on 2/5/2021, 11:19 pm
[80] Kenneth
R. Samples. God Among Sages. Why Jesus is not just Other Religious Leader.
Baker Books. 2017
[81] World religions
specialist Gerald McDermott observes:
The
avataras, as even Hindu scholars concede, are based less on historical reality
than theological story. The stories about Krishna (stealing butter and having
amorous affairs with cowgirls), for example, seem to have been a conflation of
accounts of several Krishnas in real history, with supernatural elements added
later.
Kenneth R. Samples. God Among Sages. Why Jesus is not just
Other Religious Leader. Baker Books. 2017
[82] The content has been borrowed and not
originally my idea. It is because I agree with those things that I have
rephrased them and presented them.
[83] Kenneth
R. Samples. God Among Sages. Why Jesus is not just Other Religious Leader.
Baker Books. 2017
[84] https://www.hinduwebsite.com/sacredscripts/gitahistorical.asp, accessed on 1/20/2021, 11:40
pm
[85]
“paritrāṇāya sādhūnāṁ vināśhāya cha duṣhkṛitām
dharma-sansthāpanārthāya sambhavāmi yuge yuge”
Gita 4:8
[86]
Gita 2:18-20
[87] Death is
discarding a body that no longer functions but it has nothing to do with the
Higher Self of an individual, the Atman, which is immortal and, once it has
shed the body, will return to its eternal home through union with Brahman.
[88] https://www.ancient.eu/Bhagavad_Gita/, accessed on 1/20/2021, 11:50
pm
[89]
Matthew 10:28 KJV
[90] https://www.ancient.eu/Bhagavad_Gita/, accessed on 1/20/2021, 11:50
pm
[91]
John 14:6 KJV
[92]
Colossians 2:15 KJV
[93] Sadhu Sundar
Singh. The Search After Reality. MACMILLAN AND CO. LIMITED. 1925. Pg. 26
[94] For a Buddhist
it is the highest joy if the self becomes Nirvana. However, they do not speak about
God as a distinct being or absolute entity12 as the Gita does. The Gita then
includes also a monistic13 point of view in the teachings of Krishna. A monist
who identifies the human individual soul with the ground of the whole universe
can find his view presented in chapter 6 for example. “With self-integrated by
spiritual exercise he sees the self in all beings standing, all beings in the
self: the same in everything he sees. Who sees Me everywhere, who sees the All
in Me, for him I am not lost, nor is he lost to Me.” (Bhagavad Gita 6:29–30)
Krishna’s revelations about the origin of the world again
demonstrates how pantheistic and panentheistic ideas on the one hand and
theistic ideas on the other hand are mingled together.
http://www.christiansinindia.in/what-does-the-bhagavad-gita-teach/, accessed on 1/21/2021, 11:14
pm
[95] His joy within,
his bliss within, his light within, the man
who-is-integrated-in-spiritual-exercise becomes Brahman and draws nigh (means:
near) to Nirvana that is Brahman too. (Bhagavad Gita 5:24) In this verse the
Buddhist term “Nirvana” is equated with “Brahman.” On the one hand the Buddhist
Nirvana is the destruction of life as we know it. On the other hand, it is
understood as a state of liberation, an abolishment of individuality. The Gita
though goes even further than this. In the last verse of chapter 5 it says that
by knowing Krishna, which hints at a relationship with him as a personal God,
one can find peace. This is actually a contradiction to the impersonal concept
of Brahman.
http://www.christiansinindia.in/what-does-the-bhagavad-gita-teach/, accessed on 1/21/2021, 11:14
pm
[96]
yo 'ntaḥ-sukho 'ntar-ārāmas tathāntar-jyotir eva yaḥ
sa yogī brahma-nirvāṇaṁ brahma-bhūto 'dhigachchhati
Gita 5:24
[97] http://www.christiansinindia.in/what-does-the-bhagavad-gita-teach/, accessed on
1/21/2021, 11:14 pm
[98] http://www.christiansinindia.in/what-does-the-bhagavad-gita-teach/, accessed on 1/21/2021, 11:14
pm
[99]
John 13:34 KJV
[100] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3Tf0mX2Yi8&list=PLoCb_X6V3-pQMIxjBewHOLIoy2l95PZ5F&index=5 and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXir-migWOs&list=PLoCb_X6V3-pQMIxjBewHOLIoy2l95PZ5F&index=6
Accessed
on 1/22/2021, 10:28 pm
[101] J N
Farquhar. Gita and Gospel. THE CHRISTIAN LITERATURE SOCIETY FOR INDIA. 1917.
Pg. 17
[102] The content has been borrowed
and not originally my idea. It is because I agree with those things that I have
rephrased them and presented them.
[103] The content has been borrowed and not
originally my idea. It is because I agree with those things that I have
rephrased them and presented them.
[104] The content has been borrowed and not
originally my idea. It is because I agree with those things that I have
rephrased them and presented them.
[105] The content has been borrowed and not
originally my idea. It is because I agree with those things that I have
rephrased them and presented them.
[106]
Great followers of Christ have come from India such as Sadhu Sunder Singh,
Bakht Singh, and Pandita Ramabai. They called upon Christ, and were answered.
But they learned that one cannot be righteous until he/she is first redeemed. They
never learned rebirth/reincarnation from Christ but a new birth that is made
possible by holy spirit.
The content has
been borrowed and not originally my idea. It is because I agree with those
things that I have rephrased them and presented them.
[107] https://sites.google.com/site/whoisthisjesus/worldreligions,
accessed on 1/30/2021, 1:09 pm
[108]
Gita 4:11
[109] The content has been borrowed and not
originally my idea. It is because I agree with those things that I have
rephrased them and presented them.
[110] The content has been borrowed and not
originally my idea. It is because I agree with those things that I have
rephrased them and presented them.
[111] The content has been borrowed
and not originally my idea. It is because I agree with those things that I have
rephrased them and presented them.
[112] https://nepalchurch.com/10498/ईश्वर-कहाँबाट-आए/, accessed on
1/30/2021, 4:36 pm
[113] In the book named ‘To Enjoy Him Forever’ written by Malcolm Webber (Strategic Press),
we read on pg. 11 that ‘The purpose of
our redemption was not simply to deliver us from eternal hell, but God desires
fellowship and communion with His man.
[114]
John 14:2-4
[115] In
the book named ‘To Enjoy Him Forever’ written
by Malcolm Webber (Strategic Press), on pg. 14, ‘When Adam sinned, the relationship was destroyed. But Christ went to
the cross to make a way back for man to God; and in so doing He opened once
more the door to fellowship, to intimate relationship. This is what Christian
life is- restoration to fellowship with
our creator- it is nothing less. On pg. 55, the writer draws core
conclusion- He died on the cross to restore you to Himself.
[116] The content has been borrowed
and not originally my idea. It is because I agree with those things that I have
rephrased them and presented them.
[117] The content has been borrowed
and not originally my idea. It is because I agree with those things that I have
rephrased them and presented them.
[118] J N Farquhar. Gita and Gospel.
THE CHRISTIAN LITERATURE SOCIETY FOR INDIA. 1917. Pg. 84
[119] https://sites.google.com/site/whoisthisjesus/incarnation,
accessed on 1/30/2021, 4:56 pm
[120] The content has been borrowed
and not originally my idea. It is because I agree with those things that I have
rephrased them and presented them.
[121]
2 Cor. 18-19
[122] The content has been borrowed
and not originally my idea. It is because I agree with those things that I have
rephrased them and presented them.
[123] https://www.ancient.eu/Bhagavad_Gita/, accessed on 1/20/2021, 11:50
pm
[124] God didn’t want to see us becoming
destroyed eternally (Romans 6:23, Ezekiel 18:4) because he made us in his own
image not to be destroyed but to know him and to have relationship with him.
Watch this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOaX5kx2oiI, accessed on 1/30/2021, 6:53 pm
[125]
Gita 18:78
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