Based on Bhagavad Gita Chapter 01, Text 35: Do we have the courage to question our questions? Sometimes we ask profound philosophical questions and expect prompt answers. But frequently our questions stem from dubious assumptions and downright misconceptions that need to be amended before we can understand the answers. The Bhagavad-gita illustrates how the process of questioning our questions leads to profound wisdom. In its first chapter (01.35) Arjuna asks several rhetorical questions that are meant primarily to justify his views and choices. Krishna responds to Arjuna by questioning those questions. He challenges and counters the presumption that gave birth to those questions: Arjuna’s misidentification with his material body. After showing Arjuna how his materialistic paradigm was fundamentally, fatally flawed, Krishna gives him a new vision of life: its spiritual nature, its divine essence and its devotional purpose. With this fresh vision, Arjuna finds his questions automatically answered, his course of action indubitably clarified and his determination unshakably restored, as he confirms at the end of their momentous conversation. The Gita thus illustrates the pre-requisites for acquiring spiritual wisdom: in addition to the intelligence to ask questions, we also need the courage to question those questions. Without this courage, we will simply attempt to fit the Gita’s spiritual wisdom into a convenient corner in the cupboard of our materialistic preconceptions. We may feel satisfied at having understood the Gita, but we will have deprived ourselves of much of its empowering wisdom. With this courage, we will gradually recognize that Gita wisdom is offering us an entirely new conceptual cupboard. When we revise our preconceptions according to the Gita’s worldview, then we too will experience the dramatic transformation and dynamic empowerment experienced by Arjuna. We will progressively realize our core identity as indestructible spiritual beings and our ultimate destiny as blissful participants in a life of endless love with Krishna. Bhagavad Gita Chapter 01 Text 35: “O maintainer of all living entities, I am not prepared to fight with them even in exchange for the three worlds, let alone this earth. What pleasure will we derive from killing the sons of Dhritarashtra?”
Posted on: Tue, 28 Jan 2014 07:12:35 +0000
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