Tuesday, October 13, 2015

How the interaction between the warrior and the God in the Bhagavad Gita present a solid answer in the Hindu faith?

I try to stay away from making general statements. 
However, I don't think it's a stretch to say that for all Hindus the interaction between
warrior and God, Arjuna and Krishna, presents the fundamental basis of religious
expression.  The answer provided is a solid one and is one that has almost daily
reference in the life spirit of Hinduism.


When Arjuna
struggles to accept his task, he turns to Krishna for guidance.  The Lord speaks to him
directly.  Essentially, the Lord tells him to place his doubt, pain, and struggle on his
shoulders and recognize that he is a part of something larger than simply his own agony
at that moment.  It is here where a "solid answer" is given.  There is a choice that
Arjuna faces.  He struggles with having to do what he knows he must do.  He seeks a way
out of the tougher path.  Krishna tells him to simply place his burdens on his divine
shoulders and recognizes that his moment in time is simply that- a moment in a cosmic
stream.  When Arjuna says that he does not understand this, Krishna gives him the sight
of Vishwaroopa, for just a moment, which allows him to see how reality is constructed. 
The sight is too much for him, as he sees Krishna encompassing the entire universe and
everything in the world being a representation of him.  This allows Arjuna to see his
own struggle in its proper context and do what he was previously unwilling to
do.


It is here where there is a "solid" answer presented to
Hindus.  The reality is that human beings are constantly feeling like Arjuna.  We
struggle with choice, and wish to avoid the pain in doing what we know we must.  These
moments of existential angst and agony can help to make one feel alone and forlorn in
the world.  It is precisely at these moments when Krishna tells Arjuna, and human
beings, in general, to place their struggles on his shoulder and in the recognition of
doing what is right regardless of cost, our karma is helped and we move closer to the
realm of the Gods.  It is here where a solid answer is provided.  Hindus recognize that
the counsel that the Lord gives to Arjuna is applicable to their own lives and their own
struggles.  There is little difference between Arjuna and the role of human beings.  It
is for this reason why the power of prayer, meditation, chanting the Lord's name, and
internally fixating on the visage of the Lord is of vital importance to Hindus
everywhere.  It is a major reason why one sees so many temples in India.  It is a major
reason why one sees images of the gods everywhere. In the end, it is this interaction
and the answer provided that establishes the paradigm of Hinduism and represents
something upon which Hindus can hang their "spiritual hat."  Within this, an answer is
received and understood.  Like Arjuna, the image of the Lord is taken with us in our
daily battles.

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