Dr. Shriniwas Kashalikar shares his experiences studying the Bhagavad Gita over 20 years. He initially found contradictions in the text but came to realize the need to contemplate its vast ideas without referring to books. While studying raised questions, it also started an enlightening journey. The Gita deals with principles of individuals, society, and the universe from eternity. A complete understanding is impossible but it empowers one to quit attachments and blossom.

1. STUDY
OF
GITA
Dr.
Shriniwas
Kashalikar

2. November 4, 2009, 10:30 am
GURURBRAHMA GURURVISHNUH
GURURDEVO MAHESHVARAH
GURUH SAKSHAT PARABRAHMA
TASMAISHRI GURAVE NAMAH
I salute my Guru, who is Brahma, Vishnu and
Mahesh called Gunamaya i.e. the penultimate
truth; and the Parabrahma; i.e. the ultimate
truth.
Apparently I wanted to study something world
famous and ultimate in every sense; and hence I
began the study of Gita. But now it appears that there
was much more to it than this. Whether I studied Gita
or Gita herself made me study her, is a moot question
and I feel; the latter may be truer.
When I seriously began to study Gita; about twenty
years ago, I found many contradictions in her.
For example, in 4th chapter, Krishna says in the same
verse, (Chaturvarnayam maya srustam…) that he
created four VARNAs and also he did not create
them. Also, even as Krishna advocates the war
(tasmat uttishtha kaunteya yuddhaya kruta

3. nishchaya…2nd chapter, nirashi nirmamo bhootva
yuddhaya kruta nishchaya.. 3rd chapter), he also
upholds nonviolence and control of mind in most of
the chapters e.g. (ahinsa satyamakrodham.. 16th
chapter, moodhagrahenamatnoyat …17th chapter, ) as
a virtue.
Similarly, Krishna disapproves Arjuna’s arguments
in 1st chapter about VARNA SANKAR, which
means indisciplined and unrestricted marriages
directed by mere attraction; in different groups,
(ashochyana va shochastvam prajnya vadanscha
bhashase.. 2nd chapter.. ) he uses the same argument
(yadi hyaham na varteyam …and utside yurime
lokam… 3rd chapter).
In 2nd chapter his argument (akirtim cha pi
bhutani….and bhayat ranat uparatam… etc) about
“what people would say”, appears to be too
superficial and enlightening or philosophical.
One can quote many such contradictions, but that is
not the purpose of this writing. The purpose of this
writing is; to share my experiences and perceptions
as I went on studying Gita.
Apparently; the reason why I kept on studying and by
hearting inspite of contradictions was; I realized the

4. need to contemplate on the vast canvas of all 700
verses at any given point of time and possibly resolve
the contradictions; even while traveling or walking
and without having to refer a book! But in reality, I
have not quite understood why I kept on reciting and
by hearting Gita, inspite of the contradictions! It
appears now, that the light in Gita consumed my
consciousness, without me being aware of it and kept
on absorbing my being in her!
The persistence inspite of pains and agony of
disagreement, being beyond my desire or voluntary
will, may be because of the roots it has in my
previous birth. All this may be a continuation of what
I had to leave half way in my last birth. You don’t
have to believe in this; but I must not hesitate to state
it! Life is ANUBANDHA and NITYAGA i.e. linked
up and continues; and the continuity is evident in
such phenomena. One may appreciate this or discard
as a flight of imagination! I leave it to one’s own
perceptions and experience!
I had tried to write on Gita about ten to twelve years
back, but later I stopped as I was not quite satisfied
and was not at ease; with my own interpretations.
Now I am convinced that Gita enlightens us for the
journey that beings from ignorance, individuality and

5. timed and mortal existence and heads towards the
self realization; universality and trans-temporal
immortal consciousness respectively!
Gita deals with various physical, instinctual,
emotional and intellectual activities at individual
level, the relationship of these with the universe and
the relationship of all these with past, present and
future; and the all encompassing nature of our cosmic
being.
Gita deals with the principles involved in what
happens in an individual, society, and in universe,
from all eternity to all eternity, which may be termed
cosmic dynamics or cosmic orchestra!
I have realized that I may not understand Gita, I may
misunderstand Gita or I may partially understand
Gita. In any case it is useful; because; that kick starts
the exciting voyage of enlightenment and
blossoming! Complete understanding of Gita is
impossible, because it is trans-intellectual i.e. beyond
the three levels of consciousness (SWPANA,
SUSHUPTI and JAGRUTI) and four modes of
communication (VAACHA viz. PARA,
PASHYANTI, MADHYAMA and VAIKHARI).
However, I have the freedom to keep on studying
Gita and merge with my own cosmic consciousness
and be empowered enough to quit “my” intellectual,

6. instinctual, emotional and instinctual realms, “my”
material possessions and “my” body, at appropriate
time; smoothly and diligently akin to a blossoming
flower that emanates its pleasant fragrance!
Now before I go ahead, I must state here, that
NAMASMARAN enabled the much necessary
paradigm shift for understanding Gita and Gita made
it possible to adhere to apparently meaningless and
unglamorous activity such as NAMASMARAN. But
most importantly it is the cosmic consciousness
(Guru) that has made all this possible for the benefit
of everyone!
I am planning to write on individual chapters as and
when it becomes feasible. But in as much as I don’t
want to keep any copyrights; so that anybody in the
world; could utilize these shared perceptions freely, I
would also like to clarify that; just as well meaning
use of these would aid in universal blossoming; the
plagiarism of this material in any form with vested
interests and mercenary motives; would prove
detrimental to the plagiarists and their readers; and
hence to everyone.
November 4, 2009, 4:30 pm.

7. Amidst the cacophony of needs, wants, passions,
infatuations, goals, dreams and aspirations, which I
was conscious of, there was inexplicable
undercurrent that seemed to give sometimes
incomprehensible twists and turns to my life beyond
my tolerance and forbearance. These twists and turns
seemed to shake and stir me from deep within! Study
of Gita even as it appeared to create turmoil within
my intellectual and emotional framework; I could not
get rid of it, till today. This is why, I feel it has link to
my past life! The cosmic consciousness (guru) i.e. the
field; guides throughout different contingent lives.
It is just in recent times that I have started
appreciating that Gita has the nectar of immortality
that is beyond individual consciousness. But I must
share with you that Gita kills one’s subjectivity,
which is like a dying experience! This is why I felt it
was brutally frightening to study and internalize Gita!
But even then, Gita immersed me herself, which is
why I feel it has link with my past life! Again, you
may not believe this!
Many worship Gita and many condemn it, but
without studying it! They merely use some quotations
from Gita for proving their point! I used to do it as
well; to impress the audience and feel good with

8. myself. But now I know that it is like eating and
either enjoying or hating the skin of the fruit!
The words of Gita are so simple that often they
appeared to be ridiculously simple! I never quite
understood then, why Gita enjoyed such a coveted
position and reigned supremacy in world literature!
In India, Gita is recited, chanted, by hearted by many.
Earlier I thought this was stupidity or slavish
mentality. At times I thought this was blind belief.
But I confess frankly that I was wrong.
Today I feel Gita can benefit all the children in the
world to develop and tone up their central nervous
system (including the speech areas) and enhance their
evolution during this life! This is true not merely for
a child but for any and every person of any age in the
world.
As a student of physiology, I am sure that; by
hearting of certain facts, meaningful hymns,
philosophical or scientific sutras (e.g. those from
Ayurveda, Gita, and Arithmetic), without
questioning; lets the child build; the edifice of
knowledge and then work on it. Up to a certain age
there is no capacity in us to analyze and comprehend
certain aspects of life and hence insistence of

9. clarification should not be encouraged. It can lead to
arrogant and belligerent behavior detrimental to the
building of the edifice of knowledge and grooming of
any individual at any stage.
After studying Gita I realized that questions should
not be discouraged. They should always be asked.
But it must also be clear that all questions may not be
answered and if answered, the answers may not be
understood. Hence respect and patience are very
important. Hidden meanings are not understood by
casual reading and/or egocentric approach under spell
of egalitarian, utopian or any such philosophical
thought. It can not be appreciated by individualistic
trends hidden under the guise of analytical fervor and
scientific temper.
Patience (which is born from honesty, commitment
and readiness to go beyond individual subjectivity
and paradigms of every kind) opens the doors to
enlightenment and blossoming at individual and
global levels!
Now I realize that study of Gita can empower a
serious student of Gita to live with unconditioned
acceptance, love and respect for every moment and
situation, and work in consonance with nature; to
one’s complete fulfillment and greatest satisfaction.

10. Gita enables one to blossom in such a way, that
subjectivity gets shed off smoothly; while global
unity and harmony begin to pulsate in one’s heart!
It is worthwhile to share with you here; that
opportunity to study Gita is the greatest treasure in
my life for me.
November 4, 2009, 9:45 pm.
During my first few years of study of Namasmaran,
Vishnusahasranama and Gita, I was instinctively or
intuitively convinced that the essence of the teachings
of saints and philosophical literature was not in
opposition to the idea of social justice and material
abundance explicit in socialistic and leftist way of
thinking. I felt that inequality and exploitation were
aberrations and not teachings of saints and Hindu
philosophy.
During those days equality meant a lot to me;
because inequality seemed to symbolize exploitation.
But gradually it became clear that being not equal can
mean merely being different and complimentary (and
not necessarily unequal in the sense of constituting
antagonistic relationship of exploiter and exploited)!

11. Hence I was possessed by only one question: How to
show that Hindu philosophy acceptable in the
mainstream society; is in favor of the essence of
socialism and communism in terms of welfare of all?
I was obsessed by only one concern: Showing that
the philosophy of Hindu dharma and teachings of
saints advocated more appropriate, more humane and
more progressive complementarity and so I wrote my
comments or interpretations on all these with this
view in mind.
But as the time passed, I started realizing that my
efforts were honest but were subjective, incomplete
and not absolute.
I was really frustrated because I didn’t quite
understand the subtle difference between subjective
and objective perspectives. I was unable to see how
my efforts; admired by most readers; could make no
impact whatsoever on the society!
My contention however did not dwindle. I still felt
quite strongly that real spiritualism; if it is real; then
must blossom the universe in every possible way.
Gradually I began to realize that it was useless or
counterproductive to simply despise both; my own
short comings as well those present in what ever was
being marketed under the guise of spiritualism;

12. constituting mainly devotional songs, dances and
eating good food. There was no sense in getting
frustrated i.e. blaming myself; or accepting defeat or
blaming the “spiritual” activities, which many times
were tarnished by a variety of accusations and
allegations.
What is required, is blossoming together and
empowering one another; through the study and
practice of NAMASMARAN and Gita. Everyone
would then realize that being “spiritual” in absence of
global blossoming is actually not being really
spiritual but being actually escapist and/or
schizophrenic. This conviction would enable
everyone to grow from within; rather than remaining
in fool’s paradise of so called spiritualism! Such
blossoming would lead to intellectual, emotional,
instinctual and physical actions; in terms of globally
nurturing and blossoming policy making, planning,
administration and implementation would ensue.