Another point that I was reflecting on was the impact of actions on "our inner Self". Though Dhṛtarāṣṭra asks, intentionally or not: “what were they doing that would benefit their Self?”, in this case how does this action (or violence) impact the inner self or Ātman.
Does action taken/violence inflicted in the field of battle, even in the pursuit to preserve Dharma, benefit or harm the inner self? Would the Gandhian approach of intentionally bearing suffering in the face of oppression be considered "action"? If so, how does one decide which "action" is appropriate?
Thanks so much for sharing this, Gokul! Loved so many aspects of this analysis. Two things that really stood out for me:
1. The choice of starting the Gita with Dhṛtarāṣṭra, and how his physical blindness mirrors that of the one reading the text (maybe should I say wrestling with the text)
2. The verbal imperative "Kuru" -> "to do". Gita compels us to take a stand, pick a side, and act when the stakes are high
As I'm reading this, I'm pondering on the balance between action and contemplation, and the impacts of doing too much or too little of either or both.
Great start! I know the starting verse by heart, but never realized the significance of “Dharma-kshetre”, “mamaka” (excluding even his own brother’s sons),
and especially “akurvata” - accruing to “them” or deeper to “their Self” - and D’s current ignorance of what he may eventually realize. My jignasa is infinitely piqued, including that you picked the meaning that Sankaracharya and Ramanuja missed, but later found independent authentication by Desikar.
Thanks Jahnabi! Great idea on recording the verses, and I only just discovered that Substack allows for recordings. Maybe I'll post the verses in small chunks (say 10 at a time or so) so that it's easier to listen to and to memorize?
Another point that I was reflecting on was the impact of actions on "our inner Self". Though Dhṛtarāṣṭra asks, intentionally or not: “what were they doing that would benefit their Self?”, in this case how does this action (or violence) impact the inner self or Ātman.
Does action taken/violence inflicted in the field of battle, even in the pursuit to preserve Dharma, benefit or harm the inner self? Would the Gandhian approach of intentionally bearing suffering in the face of oppression be considered "action"? If so, how does one decide which "action" is appropriate?
Thanks so much for sharing this, Gokul! Loved so many aspects of this analysis. Two things that really stood out for me:
1. The choice of starting the Gita with Dhṛtarāṣṭra, and how his physical blindness mirrors that of the one reading the text (maybe should I say wrestling with the text)
2. The verbal imperative "Kuru" -> "to do". Gita compels us to take a stand, pick a side, and act when the stakes are high
As I'm reading this, I'm pondering on the balance between action and contemplation, and the impacts of doing too much or too little of either or both.
Really looking forward to the next one!
Great start! I know the starting verse by heart, but never realized the significance of “Dharma-kshetre”, “mamaka” (excluding even his own brother’s sons),
and especially “akurvata” - accruing to “them” or deeper to “their Self” - and D’s current ignorance of what he may eventually realize. My jignasa is infinitely piqued, including that you picked the meaning that Sankaracharya and Ramanuja missed, but later found independent authentication by Desikar.
Excellent start to the newsletter! Gokul, have you thought about recording yourself reciting the verses?
Thanks Jahnabi! Great idea on recording the verses, and I only just discovered that Substack allows for recordings. Maybe I'll post the verses in small chunks (say 10 at a time or so) so that it's easier to listen to and to memorize?
that sounds great!
Loved the explanation. Awesome 👏.