Island of Freedom
In the unreal there is no duration and in the real there is no cessation. -- Bhagavad Gita 2.16
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Bhagavad Gita




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Bhagavad Gita
Bhagavadgita: Contents
Bhagavad-Gita


The Song (Gita) of the Lord (Bhagavat) is the most widely read Hindu scripture. The Gita is part of the sixth book of the Maha-bharata, a poem of about 100,000 verses, and is written in Sanskrit. It is a discourse between the Lord Krishna and the warrior Arjuna that takes place in 3138 B.C., setting forth moral and religious doctrines. The story takes place on the battlefield of Kuru, symbolizing the Field of Right (dharma). Two armes face each other, the Kurus and Pandus, and Arjuna notices that the opposing army contains relatives and friends whom he doesn't want to kill, so he lays down his arms. Krishna responds with four reasons for fighting and action in general, of which the chief is that the true self or soul is immortal. The discussion advances to teachings on right and wrong, action and inaction, life and destiny, eternity and God. Krishna is identified as the Supreme Being, Primal God, Highest Abode and Eternal Spirit, who is an Avatar, or a temporal embodiment of God. He affirms that God may be known and served in various ways, through knowledge, works or renunciation, but loving devotion (bhakti) is the best way to him for all.



Excerpts from Bhagavad Gita


1.40 With the destruction of the family the spiritual traditions of the family perish forever; when spiritual values are destroyed then unrighteousness predominates the entire society.

1.44 O Krishna, I have heard from the learned that those persons whose spiritual family traditions have been destroyed, perpetually become residents in hell.

2.15 O noblest of men, that person of wise judgement equipoised in happiness and distress, whom cannot be disturbed by these is certainly eligible for liberation.

2.16 In the unreal there is no duration and in the real there is no cessation; indeed the conclusion between both the two has been analyzed by knowers of the truth.

2.47 You certainly have the right for prescribed activities but never at anytime in their results. You should never be motivated by the results of the actions, nor should there be any attachment in not doing your prescribed activities.

4.7-8 Whenever and wherever a decline of righteousness and predominance of unrighteousness prevails; at that time I manifest Myself personally... For protection of the devotees and the annihilation of the miscreants and to fully establish righteousness, I appear millenium after millenium.

6.9 But more superior is one who with spiritual intelligence acts equally towards natural well-wishers, affectionate well-wishers, enemies, those indifferent to disputes, mediators of disputes, the envious, friends, saintly person as well as the sinful.

13.7-10 Humility, pridelessness, nonviolence, tolerance, rendering service to a bonafide spiritual master cleanliness, steadfastness; self-control, renouncing the desire of the senses, free from false egoism and aware of the distressful inauspiciousness of birth, old age, disease, and death. Being without attachment to son, wife and home, equipoised in all situations, consistent, devoid of elation or disappointment regarding favorable or unfavorable circumstances, preference for solitary places, aversion of mundane society and exclusively performing devotional service unto Me by the unalloyed science of uniting the individual consciousness with the Ultimate Consciousness.

16.8-9 The persons of demoniac nature say, the entire cosmic manifestation is unreal, without a creator, without a supreme controller, without cause, originating from mutual conabitation due only to lust, no more than this. Accepting this vision the demoniac being deficient in spiritual intelligence having lost contact with their soul; degradedly engage in abominable activities to influence the destruction of the universe.