Philosophy - Bhagavad Gita Flashcards
Main characters from the Bhagavad Gita
- Arjuna
- Krishna
- Dhritarashtra
- Sanjaya
- Pandavas
- Kauravas
- Charriot & Horses
5 lessons from the Bhagavad Gita
- Know Yourself
- Connect to & Follow your Purpose
- Take Action
- Practice & Build Experience
- Tap into the wisdom of yoga & meditation
Main themes of the Bhagavad Gita
- Dharma
- Karma
- Shraddha
- Metaphor of war
- Moksha
- Yoga
Dharma
our life’s purpose, duty
Karma
something that is done or thought, has an effect
Shraddha
that which is placed in the heart, faith
a set of values that governs out thinking, dictates our responses, and shapes our lives
as we think, we become
Metaphor of war
struggle for self-mastery, the war-within
Moksha
liberation, spiritual freedom
Paths of yoga
- Karma
- Bhakti
- Jnana
- Raja
Path of Karma
Selfless Action
Path of Bhakti
Devotion
Path of Jnana
Knowledge
Path of Raja
Methodical practice of meditation
Combination of practice suggested to Arjuna to uncover Moksha
desire-less action, devotion, knowledge, practice
Lessons from the Bhagavad-Gita
Lessons of courage & confidence. Krishna instructs Arjuna in the ways of yoga; giving him a wakeup call from his hopelessness & sadness.
Arjuna
- IS: a great warrior and one of 5 Pandavas, who is in a deep spiritual crisis.
- ROLE: main character
- REPRESENTS: Us as we stand on the battlefield of life facing all the different parts of ourselves that prevent us from realizing our true nature. He is the hero; representing who you really are at your most sincere.
Lord Krishna
- IS: a charioteer of Arjuna and divine teacher (guru)
- ROLE: main character
- REPRESENTS: the ‘higher Self’ or ‘divine love’. Inner wisdom that resides within each of us.
King Dhritarashtra
- IS: a blind king whose mind was clouded by desires & delusion
- ROLE: to whom the story is told
- REPRESENTS: attachment and spiritual blindness. That part or our nature that wants things to work out the way we want.
Sanjaya
- IS: a devoted counsellor of the King and disciple of Vyasa, who has attained some spiritual wisdom.
- ROLE: teller of this story
- REPRESENTS: intuitive knowledge.
That part of us that has attained some real spiritual experiences through wilful practices and surrender.
Pandavas
- IS: Arjuna’s clan
- REPRESENTS: wisdom & righteousness
Kauravas
- IS: enemy clan against Arjuna
- REPRESENTS: desire, attachment, ignorance, and all ego-driven traits
The Bhagavad Gita
- part of the Sanskrit Epic Mahabharata (400 BCE)
- 700 verses in 18 chapters
- traditionally ascribed to the Sage Vyasa
What is The Bhagavad Gita about?
A conversation between Lord Krishna and the warrior Arjuna in the middle of the battlefield just before the start of the Kurukshetra battle.
Faced with moral dilemma and confusion, Arjuna loses his heart and so, Krishna revives him with his wise words of wisdom
The Chariot
- REPRESENTS: our physical body
The Horses
- REPRESENTS: our five senses
