“He really sees who sees
that all actions are performed
by nature alone and that the self
is not an actor” (p 118)
“When one is free of individuality
and his understanding is untainted
even if he kills these people,
he does not kill and is not bound” (p 145)
The Bhagavad-Gita contains many parallels to what is taught in the Western tradition. The human soul is trying to reach salvation with the help of one immutable God, and though the path may differ slightly the end goal is to reach perfect union with the God and all other creatures of the world. The question also arises of fate versus free will. Krishna tells Arjuna: “When it sustains acts/of mind, breath, and senses/ through discipline without wavering,/ resolve is lucid” (p 147). Lucidity and lucid knowledge, according to Krishna, means that one understands that the infinite spirit and has reached the highest level, and thus salvation. In order to reach salvation, one must have the understanding of the self as separate from the body, and the way to do this is to discipline the body and allow it only the amounts of food, breaths, etc. necessary for basic survival while engaging in contemplation. Each man seems to have the ability to control these actions, though it takes practice and is difficult
The preceding quotes, however, indicate that man has no control over his actions and the wise man is one who merely understands this. The Christian tradition teaches that each man is wholly responsible for his actions, and the fate of their soul rests on these actions. The conventional Western understanding of morality relies on a comprehension of the morality of actions and the ability to freely choose to commit or not commit a certain deed. Is there a morality at stake in this text, then, if people have no agency over there own actions?
The question also arises concerning the individual’s ability to reach the understanding necessary for salvation on their own. In the case of Arjuna, Krishna presents himself and explains how one ought to live his life, and for what reasons. The Christian tradition teaches that God instills grace into the human beings that understand his way and will achieve salvation, but Krishna is not clear about his role in the saving of souls. Can an individual intuitively come to the conclusion that one must meditate in order to understand the truth? Problems arise when a group of people must have access to a certain teaching in order to know the right way of life. Though Krishna says that even the sinner can reach salvation, is there a certainty that all individuals will be given the chance through exposure to Krishna? If an individual cannot control his individual actions, how can he control his salvation? Are certain people simply fated to be saved?
Word Count: 426
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