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NEW STUDY OF BHAGAVAD GITA
DR. SHRINIWAS JANARDAN KASHALIKAR

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NEW STUDY OF BHAGAVAD GITA
STUDY
OF
GITA
Dr.
Shriniwas
Kashalikar
DR. SHRINIWAS JANARDAN KASHALIKAR

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NEW STUDY OF BHAGAVAD GITA
Nov 11, 2009, 10:00 am
Can the study of Gita allay various anxieties?
One of the most interesting things I learnt from Gita; and
also got thoroughly convinced in the course of time from
the practice of NAMASMARAN; is the fact that
everyone is moving towards the same goal and the same
destination.
This fact usually remains concealed and one gets
impatient
to “teach others”, “for their welfare”! Alternatively one
may desperate to learn from someone! This impatience
though natural can create condescending attitude and
develop subtle expectations such as publicity and growth
of your (otherwise selfless) mission! The desperation to
learn can lead to slavishness and/or deception. This can
take away your peace and mar the quality of your
behavior.
When we appreciate this fact; that we all are going in
the same direction and towards the same goal, then
true love (probably more than that evident amongst the
pilgrims) emerges and blossoms. That is the greatest
hallmark of world culture.
Once I get convinced and clear about this fact, then the
acts of impatience and ignorance (whether committed by
DR. SHRINIWAS JANARDAN KASHALIKAR

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me or others) do not disturb me any more to a significant
extent.
It is matter of great privilege for us; to realize; (deep
experience) this love; especially amongst family
members, relatives, colleagues, coworkers, people of our
country, people from world and latter; even the enemies!
Even as this revelation of love is magnificent; it may not
manifest in the mind of the student of Gita at all times
and in all persons. It is natural therefore (and hence need
not be despised) that; at various stages of development
even the students of Gita can be seen frantically advising,
admonishing, preaching and also expect the results; from
themselves and from others. But Gita surely frees the
students Gita from this in the course of time and lets us
enjoy the sublime love hitherto hidden or masked by
superficiality!
One of the difficulties in the study of Gita is that; it
can develop a doubt; “Why truth has to be shown by
some one else?” or “Why should I follow the
ancestors?”
As the study proceeds, however; you gradually realize
that the thought that “somebody else showing the truth”,
is because of erroneous image of “self” and the “other”.
It is also because of the faulty images of “following” and
“ancestors”. The learning or accepting knowledge should
DR. SHRINIWAS JANARDAN KASHALIKAR

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never depend on who gives it and whether it comes from
your ancestors or contemporary peers.
The knowledge or enlightenment or revelation or
objective truth is like Sun. Sun does not belong to the
window
through which His rays enter! The “truth”, which is
omniscient and omnipotent and omnipresent, does not
“belong” to any one! So it is illusory to think that it
belongs to some one else who “shows” you and you
follow!
From another angle, the idea “somebody else” is a
relative idea. If we look at ourselves objectively, then we
learn to look “me” and “somebody else” as two
individuals with no specific preference. There is no good
or bad feeling irrespective of about who is learning from
whom! This is
because the ego of petty self dissolves; as one studies
Gita with persistence. So no one is superior or inferior
irrespective of whether he/she learns or teaches. These
are only roles the individuals play!
From yet another point of view, even the idea; of
ancestors and decedents is relative; if we could look at it
by going beyond the framework of time. Just as right and
left depend on how we stand, similarly past and present
lose meaning if we stand beyond the framework of time.
Hence the hollow superiority or false inferiority
disappears; when; through the study of Gita we learn to
DR. SHRINIWAS JANARDAN KASHALIKAR

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see more objectively! Hence, it is also erroneous to think
that it “belongs” to your ancestors and you are an inferior
descendent to “receive” it from them or other way round
that you great because you are teaching it to your
descendent.
!
“Truth” or “self” is beyond time and it is absurd and
baseless to be captive of superiority or inferiority
complexes (developed because of petty identity), which
come in he way realization of truth!
Isn’t it possible to develop pride about our learning
blow our trumpet?
It is quite likely to be proud in the early stages. But as we
come to know that there were, there are and there will be
millions of students of Gita learning her!
Also, gradually during study we realize that if “I” learn
Gita; it is neither a matter of pride (if acclaimed by
people respecting Gita); nor a matter of pity (if ridiculed
by people, who look down upon Gita). This is because,
from philosophical and therefore realistic point of view, I
am not the owner of what all capabilities, which I have;
as I have not created them! It is simply a matter of being
happy to blossom together!
What is the relevance of virtues; described in Gita;
today?
DR. SHRINIWAS JANARDAN KASHALIKAR

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In Gita, there is a reference to virtues in many places;
including 16th and 18th chapters.
One of them is “truth”.
In everyday practice, there is always a conflict between
loyal description of facts (which can either prove stupid
and invite difficulties; or wise at produce profits) and
concealing or misrepresenting the facts, (which also can
engender punishment or yield gains). Hence there is
ongoing conflict in every mind about the virtue viz. truth
and Gita provides the answer to it.
I began to appreciate the ‘true’ meaning of ‘truth’
gradually and distinguish it from “mere narration of
apparent facts; even if done with 100%; loyalty and
fidelity”.
I began to understand that realization of “truth”; is a
process and it leads to expression of appropriate
behavior, conducive to blossoming of everyone and
realization of truth!
For this (rising above the criminal lies and gullible truths
and living effectively to reach the truth) to happen; there
are many precepts which ought to be followed from
childhood, but the most important and universally
practicable in every condition and situation is
NAMASMARAN.
DR. SHRINIWAS JANARDAN KASHALIKAR

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What is the meaning of the verse in 6th chapter;
(UDDHARET ATMANATMANAM
NATMANAM AVASADAYET ATMAIVA
HYATMANO BANDHUH ATMAIVA
RIPURATMANA) which is very famous? How
one is enemy of oneself?
I began to understand this; by correlating it with the
previous reference to the self. Lord Krishna elucidates
the nature of real self to Arjuna in the 2nd and 3rd
chapters. He then advises Arjuna in 6th chapter, in this
verse; to rescue and uplift the other part of his
consciousness (we can call it lower or actually physical
or physiological consciousness; without being
derogatory) that has been trapped in body systems;
feelings and intellectual framework; and obviously;
prevent its further bondage. He further states that if you
do this; then you would find that that your lower
consciousness is friend of your higher consciousness
(you) and if you don’t, then you would find that your
lower consciousness is verily the enemy of your higher
consciousness (you).
The consciousness trapped in body, mind, ego and/or
subjectivity is the enemy if not properly negotiated with
and mastered or conquered. This consciousness becomes
our friend, close friend once negotiated with and
conquered, or shall we say brought in harmony with
ourselves. This activity of winning part of our own
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consciousness, without being repulsive or escapist is
YOGA. It is said (by those who have achieved this
MAHAYOGA), that NAMASMARAN makes this
possible.
How to accept a bloody war as an opportunity?
When I began the study, it used to appear strange that in
2nd chapter Lord Krishna has referred the war as great
opportunity.
I used to find this strange and not acceptable, because of
my erroneous concepts and feelings about the violence. I
used to think that war is devilish, vicious, and avoidable
and hence should be avoided.
Later, I used to partly agree that “this war as
opportunity”
but rather reluctantly, because I used to think that Lord
Krishna justified this war because it was imposed on
them even as he had tried to avert the war through
maximum possible negotiations!
But now I realize that the upholding of war as an
opportunity; refers to the option (which no other living
being has) to emancipate the lower consciousness by
participating in the war to conquer all physiological
conflicts inside and social contradictions; outside!
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In my view this war of rescuing and emancipating the
consciousness trapped in senses is described in
HATHAYOGA texts as KUDALINI JAGRUTI. Hence
HATHAYOGA practices (described in 6th chapter of
Gita and Dnyaneshavari or Jnaneshvari) and intellectual
exploration as through the SANKHY YOGA (also
described in 2nd chapter of Gita and Jnaneshvari) are
perfectly complementary and reach you to the same
destination, viz. individual and global blossoming!
The heavenly beauty and bounty of Gita is that she takes
you beyond petty “love and hate” relationships. She
reveals to you; how the love and hatred; in as much as
the sense of fear and animosity; are born in your
consciousness trapped in your senses and how rescuing
the same would free you from all subjectivity and all
pettiness. I seem to understand now, that this; if realized
by us; can make our personal relationships far more
pleasant than one can ever imagine!
Our relationships can become sublime and can go
beyond any distance, any time and even death, through
Gita and hence Gita is a super romantic cosmic poetry.
Every single step in this direction is more precious than
the entire world, even if mountains of drawbacks and
oceans of adversities within or outside us; try to drag us
back!
I have written an article entitled “Worshiping Sex” and
unknowingly or not being fully aware, I have highlighted
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in it; this process of lovingly rescuing “part” of “your
consciousness” (making it your friend) from the
“physiological prisons”, rather than hating it. I can
appreciate now, the feeling of respect and adoring,
towards; sexual attraction in the universe; at the root of
which, there is motherhood and fatherhood and why it is
worshipped as Goddess Kundalini (and various
Goddesses); who merges with the true self; when
appropriate.
DR. SHRINIWAS JANARDAN KASHALIKAR