Introduction to Bhagavad-GitaUnderstanding the Mission

Of theHuman Form of Life

““Dhrtarāstra said: O Sañjaya, after Dhrtarāstra said: O Sañjaya, after my sons and the sons of Pāndu my sons and the sons of Pāndu assembled in the place of pilgrimage assembled in the place of pilgrimage at Kuruksetra, desiring to fight, what at Kuruksetra, desiring to fight, what did they do?” (BG 1.1) did they do?” (BG 1.1)

Background of the Bhagavad-Gita

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhxKnys7Ryw&eurl=http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=earthlings&hl=en&sitesearch=#

The Dhrtarastra The Dhrtarastra PrinciplePrinciple

The Drtharastra The Drtharastra PrinciplePrinciple

Earthling-one who inhabits the earth.Earthling-one who inhabits the earth.

There’s no sexism, racism, or specism There’s no sexism, racism, or specism is the term earthlings.is the term earthlings.

It encompasses each and everyone of us, It encompasses each and everyone of us, warm or cold blooded, vertebrae or warm or cold blooded, vertebrae or invertebrate. Bird, reptile, amphibian, fish, invertebrate. Bird, reptile, amphibian, fish, and human alike. and human alike.

Humans, therefore, being not the only species Humans, therefore, being not the only species on the planet, share this world with millions of on the planet, share this world with millions of other creatures, as we all evolve here other creatures, as we all evolve here together. together.

However, it is the human earthling that tends However, it is the human earthling that tends to dominate the earth, often times treating to dominate the earth, often times treating other earthlings and living beings as mere other earthlings and living beings as mere objects. objects.

If a being suffers, there can be no If a being suffers, there can be no moral justification, for refusing to moral justification, for refusing to take that suffering into consideration take that suffering into consideration

No matter what the nature of the being, No matter what the nature of the being, the principle of equality requires that the principle of equality requires that one suffering can be counted equally one suffering can be counted equally with the like suffering of any other being. with the like suffering of any other being.

Racist violate the principle of equality by Racist violate the principle of equality by giving greater weight to the interest of giving greater weight to the interest of people of their own race when there is a people of their own race when there is a clash between their interest and the clash between their interest and the interest of those of another race. interest of those of another race.

Speciest allow the interest of their Speciest allow the interest of their own species to override the interest own species to override the interest of members of other species. of members of other species.

Among the members of the human society Among the members of the human society we recognize the imperative for respect; we recognize the imperative for respect; every human is a somebody not a every human is a somebody not a something. something.

Morally disrespectful treatment occurs Morally disrespectful treatment occurs when the power end of a power relationship when the power end of a power relationship treats the less powerful as if they’re mere treats the less powerful as if they’re mere objects… In each and all such cases, those objects… In each and all such cases, those who have power exploit those who lack it. who have power exploit those who lack it.

Perils of False Perils of False Proprietorship Proprietorship

Encroachment Encroachment Principle of might is right replaces Principle of might is right replaces

moralitymorality Degradation of Character/QualitiesDegradation of Character/Qualities Disparity in relationships ranging Disparity in relationships ranging

from friends to family to community to from friends to family to community to nationsnations

Destruction of peace both internal and Destruction of peace both internal and externalexternal

““As in the paddy field the unnecessary As in the paddy field the unnecessary plants are taken out, so it is expected from plants are taken out, so it is expected from the very beginning of these topics that in the very beginning of these topics that in the religious field of Kuruksetra, where the the religious field of Kuruksetra, where the father of religion, Śrī Krsna, was present, father of religion, Śrī Krsna, was present, the unwanted plants like Dhrtarāstra's son the unwanted plants like Dhrtarāstra's son Duryodhana and others would be wiped out Duryodhana and others would be wiped out and the thoroughly religious persons, and the thoroughly religious persons, headed by Yudhisthira, would be headed by Yudhisthira, would be established by the Lord.” Purport BG 1.1established by the Lord.” Purport BG 1.1

Gita Study versus Academia Gita Study versus Academia StudyStudy

What is the difference between studying What is the difference between studying Bhagavad-Gita and studying material subjects Bhagavad-Gita and studying material subjects in school/colleges?in school/colleges?

Transformation of heart and life and Transformation of heart and life and development of qualities after hearing development of qualities after hearing Bhagavad-Gita!Bhagavad-Gita!

Arjuna was in total dejection in the beginning of Arjuna was in total dejection in the beginning of Bhagavad-Gita, but was completely transformed Bhagavad-Gita, but was completely transformed after hearing Bhagavad-Gita.after hearing Bhagavad-Gita.

Depression is the increasingly growing disease Depression is the increasingly growing disease around the world despite “advancement” of around the world despite “advancement” of civilization. Plenty of information but no civilization. Plenty of information but no transformation.transformation.

The Paradox of Our Time in The Paradox of Our Time in History is…History is…

Taller buildings but shorter Taller buildings but shorter tempers…tempers…

Wider freeways but narrower viewpoints…Wider freeways but narrower viewpoints…

We buy more but We buy more but enjoy less…enjoy less…

More conveniences but less time…More conveniences but less time…

More Medicine but More Medicine but less wellness…less wellness…

We have multiplied our possessions, but We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our valuesreduced our values

We’ve learned how to make a living, but not a life. We’ve learned how to make a living, but not a life. We’ve added years to life, not life to years. We’ve added years to life, not life to years.

We’ve conquered the atom, but not We’ve conquered the atom, but not our prejudice.our prejudice.

We build more computers to hold more We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more than ever, information, to produce more than ever, but we communicate less and less.but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion.slow digestion.

Big men and small Big men and small character…character…

Steeper profits and shallow Steeper profits and shallow relationships…relationships…

These are the days of two incomes and more These are the days of two incomes and more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes.divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes.

These are days of quick trips, disposable These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that stands, overweight bodies, and pills that dodoeverything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill.

Arjuna Before Hearing Arjuna Before Hearing Bhagavad-GitaBhagavad-Gita

Dejected and not able to cope with life’s challenges

Arjuna After Hearing Arjuna After Hearing Bhagavad-GitaBhagavad-Gita

Enthused and ready to deal with the tribulations that life presents

Specialty of the Human Specialty of the Human FormForm

What is the difference between What is the difference between animals and human beings?animals and human beings?

Humans eat-Animals eatHumans eat-Animals eat Humans sleep-Animals sleepHumans sleep-Animals sleep Humans mate-Animals mateHumans mate-Animals mate Human defend-Animals defendHuman defend-Animals defend

EatingEating

SleepingSleeping

MatingMating

DefendingDefending

SO What’s the SO What’s the Difference?Difference?

““The activities of eating, sleeping, The activities of eating, sleeping, mating and defending are common mating and defending are common in animals and human beings. The in animals and human beings. The Human beings are considered Human beings are considered superior only when they inquire superior only when they inquire about the Absolute Truth, otherwise about the Absolute Truth, otherwise they are considered just like they are considered just like animals.” Hitopadesaanimals.” Hitopadesa

The Human MissionThe Human Mission

What is the special prerogative of the What is the special prerogative of the human body?human body?

Athato Brahma jijnasa “Therefore, Athato Brahma jijnasa “Therefore, Inquire into the Absolute Truth.”Inquire into the Absolute Truth.”

The importance of relevant inquires: The importance of relevant inquires: Who am I? Why am I suffering? What Who am I? Why am I suffering? What is the Goal of Life? is the Goal of Life?

These are proper inquiries for the These are proper inquiries for the human mission.human mission.

““The human body, which can award all The human body, which can award all benefit in life, is automatically obtained benefit in life, is automatically obtained by the laws of nature, although it is a by the laws of nature, although it is a very rare achievement. This human body very rare achievement. This human body can be compared to a perfectly can be compared to a perfectly constructed boat, having the spiritual constructed boat, having the spiritual master as the captain and the master as the captain and the instructions of the Personality of Godhead instructions of the Personality of Godhead as favorable winds impelling it on its as favorable winds impelling it on its course. Considering all these advantages, course. Considering all these advantages, a human being who does not utilize his a human being who does not utilize his human life to cross the ocean of material human life to cross the ocean of material existence must be considered the killer of existence must be considered the killer of his own soul.” Bhagavatam 11.20.17his own soul.” Bhagavatam 11.20.17

Working hard in Working hard in material life is like material life is like cleaning cage of the cleaning cage of the bird. We should not bird. We should not neglect the bird neglect the bird inside the cage which inside the cage which is compared to the is compared to the soul inside the body.soul inside the body.