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The spiritual quest

CHENNAI : The term `Gita' has become synonymous with the Bhagavad Gita even though there are many texts by this name in scriptural literature. The reason for this is primarily due to the teaching of the truth in this text by the Lord Himself during His Krishna incarnation in the world to Arjuna in the battlefield.

Arjuna became despondent when he was confronted by the reality of a fratricidal war in which many of his kith and kin would eventually die. It will be natural to wonder whether the theatre of war was appropriate to impart the profound truths of existence.

In his discourse, Sri K.Srinivasan said only when an individual had worries caused by difficulties in life would he strive for relief from them and in the process deliberate on the existential realities of life. This quest will lead him on until he finds the truth, realisation of which results in eternal bliss. A person embarking on the spiritual quest thus must have some reason to spur him on. If he is happy and blessed with all that he wants then he will not make any effort to redress his situation. Human life in the world is thus an opportunity to better his lot— work for salvation. Thus the spiritual quest is metaphorically described as the striving to realise the totality because human sorrows are but an indication that the individual is not poised in the Self.

The very first verse of the Bhagavad Gita is in the form of a question that King Dhritarashtra asked Sanjaya: "Gathered on the sacred soil of Kurukshtera, eager to fight, what did my sons and the sons of Pandu do?" The Gita thus takes off as Sanjaya's reply as he was blessed with the vision to recount whatever happened in the battlefield.

The Gita is in the form of a dialogue between Krishna and Arjuna and all the chapters reiterate at the end the essence of the teaching emphasising that this is a Yoga scripture thereby underscoring that it is a spiritual text. The term `Yoga' has many meanings and in this context it denotes the preparation that a spiritual aspirant has to make to realise the Self (Atman)— to be released from the cycle of transmigration.

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