Many Hindu friends/neighbor suggest us that even Christians, once in their life time, must read the Bhagavad Gita. How shall we response to their opinion?
Not a bad suggestion. However, we do not keep our footsteps on two trains whose destination is ultimately different. One hand, we are suggested to read the Gita and the other hand we do have the gospel. The Gita, one of the most preferred spiritual book, has really attracted many hearts even today. Gospel, on the other hand, is the good news that we are granted salvation and the eternal life as a free gift under God’s grace.
I would rather response
that, sure we can study the Gita and no problem in it. It is philosophical,
moral with a science of living an enlightened and intellectual life in order to
attain perfection and ultimately the moksha.
However, in the context of the believers, it may not be necessary to read and follow the Gita once anyone accepts Christ in personal life. Religions try their best to address human problems and provides the way of liberation. What I do consider is that Christ is the fulfillment of such liberation and necessity for every mankind.
An Analysis on the Gita
The Bhagavad Gita has a complex worldview[1], burden of theories[2], instructions[3] and directions[4] that rather add burdens to
mind. There is emphasis on self by focusing the Supreme soul in order to attain
him[5]. Krishna has only shown
ways and direction of spiritual life so that one can attain the supreme abode.[6]
The Gita shows how much burden it is for liberation from all
kinds of distraction to reach the final destination.[7] Whatever, the Gita seems a
fascinating guidance uttered by the Supreme Soul (Para Brahman) himself[8]. However, its historical
and textual analysis is great stumbling block.[9] If Supreme Soul is the
source of everything, is it not also the source of three modes of material
nature (14th Chapter) by which a man gets triggered and needs a
strong dedication and discipline to control one’s mind in devotion focusing the Supreme Soul so that getting
into divine consciousness one can come to Krishna?
Gita has encouraged a person in direction of self-discipline
and self-control. It is more a motivational speech but adds burden to our mind
and if Krishna’s existence is even uncertain[10] what is then hope left?
The concept of God is deep and vast yet ambiguous.[11] Krishna is just directing
with theories and instructions out of which many are impractical as it leads in
non-dualistic perspective.[12] Is this a person who is
of divine consciousness or of passiveness? Is desire root of all evil and
suffering? Is attachment all problem? Gita doesn’t address problem of humanity
clearly. Sin and death aren’t taken seriously.[13]
The Gita is merely a guidance for a good spiritual life and
all philosophies are meant to calm down human anxiety and urges to go with
their duty and responsibilities.[14] Since, attachment with
outcomes leads to distress, worrying and fall[15], Gita urges not to think
about any outcomes[16] in order to reduce the
disturbances of mind and consciousness.
Action and duty without attachment to sense objects and
outcomes are thus encouraged. Gita wants humanity to act wisely rather than in
desire and ignorance. Gita wants humanity to concentrate on Supreme Soul and
attain him by the ways of action, steady devotion and supreme knowledge. By
this, a man can control his mind and quit six enemies and attain the highest
abode.
Krishna is the one who directs, teaches the one who is in
dilemma, despair, trouble, grief and delusion. Jesus, on the other hand, is man
of action who indeed came to rescue humanity and become the way.[17] He doesn’t just direct
and teaches by words, but puts himself to action. Sin and death are taken
seriously otherwise his suffering is meaningless.[18] He addressed human
problems, came with news of repentance[19] and good news of God’s
grace.[20] He didn’t teach non
duality perspective. He didn’t teach any yoga but promised of Holy Spirit. He
came to show our meaning[21], purpose[22] and destination.[23] He reclaimed the
identification that we lost.[24] He focused more on motive
behind desire, actions and outcomes.
When we realize our spiritual depravity, helplessness, we come
to Christ.[25]
He is the way, the truth and the life. He didn’t focus on the knowledge, wisdom
and consciousness but God’s kingdom and righteousness.[26] Holy Spirit helps us and
sanctifies us.[27]
In Jesus, we get transformed to a new creation.[28] Thus, mind, heart,
desire, action that only seeks God and hence inner peace. Our desire is his
desire.[29] God lets us go through
sorrows and suffering to strengthen us, our faith in him, trust in him. He
promises to be with us even in time of darkness.[30]
It is challenging for humanity to control himself but in
Jesus we have fruits of Spirit that operates in us. In Jesus, we are made
children of God. Krishna is under speculation and uncertainty and hence there
seems no hope. Jesus is historic in whom we have eternal life and new world
awaiting soon.
[As a conclusion, for sure, we do not hurt our neighborhood religious groups but we do love them in Christ. We need to pray and reach to them so that God’s light be shone on their life. The Gita can really be a revered spiritual and philosophical book from which we can get wisdom and knowledge but it is the gospel that can transform our life and restore us back to fellowship with God. Finally, Jesus is the one that the world needs. In Him, a loving and redeeming God reveals.
(This article is not written with any
intention to discourage our neighboring religions and their adherents but to
motivate the believers to present the gospel to the people in their daily
life…)]
[1]
Some examples: Gita 7, 11, 13, 14, 16
[2]
Some examples: Gita 8, 13, 14, 16-18
[3]
Gita 6
[4]
Gita 2, 3, 18
[5]
Gita 2:55, 64; 5:24; 6:5-10, 27, 29-30, etc.
[6]
Gita 2
[7]
Focus on Arjuna’s questions and dilemma in every chapters.
[8]
Gita 7, 9, 10, 11
[9] J N
Farquhar. Gita and Gospel. THE CHRISTIAN LITERATURE SOCIETY FOR INDIA. 1917.
Pg. 17
https://www.ramakrishnavivekananda.info/vivekananda/volume_4/lectures_and_discourses/thoughts_on_the_gita.htm, accessed on 1/25/2021, 6.20 pm
http://www.sakshitimes.net/blog/2008/02/05/bhagavad-gita-and-the-book-of-romans-871/, accessed on 1/22/2021, 11:00
pm
[10] J N Farquhar. Gita and Gospel.
THE CHRISTIAN LITERATURE SOCIETY FOR INDIA. 1917. Pg. 24, 26
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) “Krishna could never be God”.
Kenneth R. Samples. God Among Sages. Why Jesus is not just
Other Religious Leader. Baker Books. 2017
[11]
Theistic position is not clear whether the Gita is advocating pantheism,
panentheism, monotheism or henotheism.
[12]
Gita 5; 6:8, 9
[13]
Throughout the Gita, desire and attachment are considered triggering elements.
The death and sins are not in serious and horrible ground. Gita 2; 10:29, 3:13;
4:36; 5:15, 19; 6:41-46 and so on.
[14] J N
Farquhar. Gita and Gospel. THE CHRISTIAN LITERATURE SOCIETY FOR INDIA. 1917.
Pg. 28, 31
Chandradhar Sharma. Indian Philosophy: A Critical
Survey. Barnes & Noble. Inc. 1962. Pg. 20
[15]
Gita 2:62-63
[16] For
example: Gita 18:6, 11
[17]
John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Heb. 9:14; John 1:12, 3:16; 2 Cor. 5:18, 19; 1 Pet. 1:20;
1 John 3:8, etc.
http://www.christianstudents111.com/who-is-jesus-who-he-is-to-me/,
accessed on 6/9/2021, 6:33 pm
[18]
Romans 6:23; 1 Cor. 15:26; John 8:24; Heb. 10:26; Romans 5:8, and so on.
[19]
Matthew 3:2, 4:17; Mark 1:15
[20]
Eph. 2:8-9; John 1:17
[21]
Gen. 1:26-28
[22] 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.
[23]
John 14:2-4, Rev. 21
[24]
Read: http://www.christianstudents111.com/gods-eternal-plan-for-man-and-the-world/,
accessed on 6/9/2021, 6:32 pm
[25]
Luke 5:32
[26]
Matthew 6:33
[27] 1
Cor. 14:33; 2:12; Gal. 3:13-14, 5:5, 22-23; John 14:15-31, 1 Cor. 6:11; Romans
14:17 etc.
[28] 2
Cor. 5:17
[29]
Matthew 6:10, 7:21-23
[30]
Psalms 23, Matthew 28:18-20
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