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Bhagavad Gita teaches us to rise above illusions that might deceive us into having faith in the concept of multiplicity. It encourages devotees to transcend the mind and soul in order to see past appearances. It combined the teachings written down in the Vedas and the Upanishads to create a single, cogent vision of faith in a single God and the underlying oneness of all things. The Bhakti Movement was sparked by the Gita, and this movement later encouraged the rise of Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism. Krishna describes the path of unwavering dedication as one of the three ways—the other two being jnana (knowledge) and karma (action)—toward self-actualization, acceptance of the reality of existence, and freedom from the cycle of life and death. The Gita continues to be the primary scripture of the modern Hare Krishna Movement, which is a manifestation of Bhakti.
The Bhagavad Gita has left a permanent mark on the Hindu way of life. When the Pandava prince, Arjuna, faced the battlefield with a disturbed mind contemplating on whether his Dharma was really the correct path to walk on, Lord Krishna urged him to fulfill his warrior’s Dharma and fight in the battle of Kurukshetra. Lord Krishna then explained why his dharma was his salvation, and anything taking him off the course towards his dharma was the illusion that he needed to transcend. All ultimately comprise the essence of the Universe, and we can only start to realize this by first admitting that it is true. The Gita is the most comprehensive representation of this idea of the path to liberation and self-actualization among Hindu writings. It eliminates illusions that might cause anguish to an individual and help them find peace in life, and God’s grace after death. Krishna asserts that since the soul is immortal, death is merely a delusion. Death is the removal of a dead body, but the Atman, a person's higher self, which is everlasting and returns to its abode through union with Brahman after losing the body, is unaffected by death. To understand the reality that all things visible and invisible are essentially Brahman, one must be able to let go of illusion. This pertains to everyone and everything. In Arjuna's position, declining to engage in combat entails declining to carry out his dharma, which entails denying both his obligations and the reality of life. All efforts to reach a peaceful settlement of the problem have failed, so the fight must be waged. Everyone involved has taken decisions that have led them to Kurukshetra and conflict; Arjuna has no choice but to engage in combat at this juncture, even if he doesn't want to. Arjuna feels at peace with what he must do once he realizes this, and the battle starts.
This brings peace to a devotee’s mind as they believe that they can achieve anything because Arjuna had gone through such a huge ordeal. Lord Krishna does not only talk about Dharma, but also about the ways to propagate Divine Love. He reveals that he is the Brahman, but then each and every God in the Hindu Pantheon is just another manifestation of the Brahman. The Lord also goes into details about the Varna system, which allows people to perform a set category of duties without any interference.
FAQS
Q1. What does Lord Krishna say about the future in the Gita?
Lord Krishna asked his devotees not to worry about the future, and concentrate on the present.
Q2. What is reality as portrayed by the Bhagavad Gita?
Brahman is the supreme reality according to the Gita.
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