Nine Main Teachings Of The Bhagavadgita

by Jayaram V

The Bhagavadgita is one of the most popular and revered scriptures of Hinduism, meant for the devotees or servants (Bhagavatas) of God. It is also the most widely read and discussed and debated by people in their homes and at religious congregations. The scripture can be considered a treatise on the ritual and spiritual aspects of Hinduism. Together with Brahma Sutras and the Upanishads, the scripture forms the great triad of liberation (prastana traya).

It is also considered an Upanishad and treatise or teaching on Yoga (Yoga sastra) and the knowledge of Brahman (Brahma Vidya). It is considered an Upanishad or a secret teaching because it brings together many ideas and concepts of the Upanishads, the Vedas and other important scriptures of Hinduism from various schools of philosophy and integrates them into a viable and practicable philosophy.

There is no doubt that the scripture presents the wisdom of all the important theistic approaches to liberation, which were known during the Vedic times, as a coherent teaching in a long conversation between God and his devotee, represented by Krishna and Arjuna respectively. It is mainly meant for the householders who have to pursue the four aims of human life as part of their obligatory duties to ensure the order and regularity of the world as part of their duties towards God, the Creator.

The teachings are presented in a such a manner that they prepare the householders to successfully complete their duties and obligations during the four stages of human life namely, Brahmacharya (celibate student), grihasta (householder), vanaprasta (forest dweller) and Sanyasa (renunciant). The scripture delivers the message in a simple format, without the complexity which is usually the case with many advanced scriptures, so that even common people who are not well versed in the scriptural knowledge may understand it. People may still feel confused by the various yogas which are mentioned in it and wonder which one to follow. Hence, it is better if they also study a few commentaries or attend a few discourses on the scripture to improve their understanding.

The Bhagavadgita strikes a fine balance between the demands of worldly life and the values of spiritual life. You cannot avoid one for the sake of the other. You have to pursue liberation while performing your worldly duties. Do your duty, without forgetting God, without obsessing for results, without overwhelming yourself with moral dilemmas. Believe in God and know that he is your silent, invisible partner. If you seek his help he will reciprocate. These are a few important teachings of the Bhagavadgita. The following are the nine main teachings of the Bhagavadgita.

1. You are an eternal Self, indestructible, transcendental, pure and infinite. Death is for the mind and the body, which the Self wears and discards through numerous lives until it achieves liberation.

2. Actions do not bind you. Desire for the fruit of actions bind you. Therefore, perform your actions without desire for their fruit and offer them to God, who is the source of all actions.

3. True renunciation is renunciation of desire for the fruit of your actions. You should not renounce actions or your obligations, but desires and expectations, which are responsible for your bondage. Perform your actions with detachment, indifference, renunciation, sameness and equanimity so that they do not bind you.

4. Study the scriptures. Acquire the knowledge of the Self to overcome your ignorance and delusion and know your essential, divine nature. Equipped with right knowledge, perform your obligatory duties in the service of God.

5. Death is for the mind and the body, not for the Self. At the time of death, the Self leaves the body and goes either to the ancestral heaven or the eternal heaven, depending upon the spiritual destiny of each individual. Those who go to the ancestral world return to take another birth according to their karma. One should therefore aim for liberation.

6. Each being is a combination of Purusha (Soul) and Prakriti (body). Prakriti is the filed (ksehtra) and Purusha is the lord. Seated in Prakriti, Purusha makes life and creation possible. Nature is made up of several finite realities and the triple gunas, sattva, rajas and tamas. They keep the souls bound to the mortal world. One should know both to work for liberation.

7. God is omnipresent. He pervades the whole creation as well as envelops it. There is nothing other than God. His manifestations are innumerable. The best, the finest, and the most excellent in everything is the expression of God only. Knowing God is in all and all are in God, wise people contemplate upon him and devote their lives in his service.

8. By cultivating purity (sattva) one gains discerning wisdom (buddhi). With purified intelligence one discerns the difference between the lower knowledge and the higher knowledge, the knower and the known, the hidden presence of God in all things, action and inactions, and real Self and physical self. He stabilizes his mind in God and achieves peace. Intelligence is therefore vital to overcome the delusion of duality.

9. The senses are responsible for desires and attachments. Hence, one should withdraw them into the mind and the mind into the Self. By constantly meditating upon him and becoming absorbed in him, one can achieve union with him. By performing actions for God, by devoting one’s life for him, by serving him, contemplating upon him and fixing their mind and intelligence upon him, one becomes free from bondage and mortality.

It is difficult to summarize the entire philosophy of the Bhagavadgita in a few paragraphs. The scripture contains 600 verses, which are further divided into 18 chapters. It may take a few days to complete a full reading of the scripture. The following are a few important essays which are available at Hinduwebsite on the wisdom and the main teachings of the Bhagavadgita.