BHAGAVAD GITA

Bhagavad Gita

Many may have seen the picture of a chariot with the Hindu God Krishna holding the horses and Arjun, the warrior prince collapsed on the deck. This is the
picturisation on the cover page of Bhagavad-Gita, the Bible and Quran of Hindus.

Does this picture mean any sensible message as per 'Hindu Hieroglyphics'?

Sometimes there are five horses in the picture. Sometimes only four. But all white and strong. Well ornamented and looked after. Horse lovers like Vijay Mallya might be proud to have a few of them to race at Mahalaxmi race course !

What does this picture mean? Or does it mean anything at all? Or is it just that Krishna, the apparently weird, naughty and even crazy God concept of the (abominable) Hindus, who advised his human friend Arjun to kill his teacher and relatives (including grand father !) and he naturally collapsed at the prospect ? Some God these crazy Hindus has found to worship  ?!

We are quite comfortable with an all powerful all knowing God sitting up in the sky. But that God is so kind and majestic that he would shudder to think of
advising someone to kill own guru and grandfather rather than the enemies ! He might not hesitate to punish those who don’t believe in him ! But that is understandable ! But no sensible God can advise someone to kill own teacher, friends and relatives. Hindu God however, advises to kill friends and relatives but simultaneously loves cows ?!

Coming back to the picture of Chariot, Horses, Charioteer Krishna and the fighter Arjun. To understand this one just has to listen....carefully...

The chariot actually represents human body. The two wheels are the two legs. The horses represent the five senses implanted in a human body. Arjun, the warrior prince represents the human mind. Krishna is the intellect reflecting in the mind (Arjun). Understood? Case closed.

If the senses are five, why some pictures show only four horses? This question can only come from the intellect. If you are a Hindu and did not have this question, then
the intellect is not reflecting in you.

The five senses are:

1). Eyes (to see)

2). Nose (to smell)

3). Ears (to hear)

 4).Tongue (to taste) and

5). The skin (to touch).

Now the tongue, being a skin by itself, is sometimes bracketed with the skin sense resulting in just four horses altogether. Further it is easier to draw a horse less. 

The horses are white. Means the senses by it are pure and uncorrupted. The horses are strong. You know the strength of the senses especially when young. No
spectacle or hearing aid required. Think of tasty food - the tongue sense gets active. That horse (tongue sense)
would drag the body (Chariot) to the fridge, kitchen or the favourite restaurant ! Think of a good looking film actor and the eyes want to see him / her NOW ! But
that actor is busy or swarmed by similar eye balls and cant be accessed. The Intellect decides that lets see a movie for now which the actor performed. So the chariot (body) driven by the eye sense horse drags the body not to the
actor's house but to the movie hall.

Now closely watch this whole action in slow motion !

The eye (horse) wants to see an actor (an object). The mind urges the the body chariot to move towards the destination (actor's house).The intellect reflects
in the mind, and indicate the possibilities (Actor may not be accessible). So it takes control of the eye horse and directs the body to the movie hall instead.
After seeing the object it wanted to see, the mind is temporarily satisfied. It lets go off the eye horse to rest.

See the presence of intellect here, which cant literally be seen, as it is no object. What is intellect? It is actually the reflection of the soul (consciousness) in mind. That is the closest one can normally get to know of the
consciousness (also called the soul) in everyday life. When one experiences the intellect, one does not feel time bound or tired or unhappy. Next time your
intellect is active watch it very closely. It is just a light like presence in the dark areas of the mind. Physical light
can be seen. Intellect acts in the mind and can be FELT.

By the way what is mind ? 

Another good question. Again from the intellect only. This is a question the Indian Rishis asked themselves 10000 years ago. Intellect is not related to the brain as modern science claims. Brain is only a control station for the body to act and react to the situations according to the so called pre-recorded animal instincts. Mind is always fluctuating and is not a material like the
brain. It emanates from the consciousness (located at the right chest) and ends at the spot between the eyes. Hindus cool this area by sandalwood paste.

Now to keep the intellect a daily experience, we can engage it in new things or change the (boring) routines. Immediately the intellect would show its presence, understand the new things, adjust to the situation, guide and oversee the proceedings all at one go. If not awakened, the intelligence does not reflect in
mind and the victims may lead clumsy life of the animals by reacting only to the instincts. (By the way these adjectives like clumsy etc are donated by humans and has no relation to the animals. They actually live a majestic life if you care to note. Only the human mind makes the baseless discriminations for day to day life).

Intelligence is not essential for animal life. They live by instincts embedded in their system. If the intellect did not control the eye horse, the chariot would have been
dragged along, gone off the path and could even have crashed (died / accident). So allow Krishna or the intellect to control the sense horses of the body
chariot of us to save the body until its allotted time ! God does not want the body to crash in accidents because of external lures, even as it does not prohibit enjoying the pleasures in a disciplined way without hurting others.

Similar advises can be seen in other religions also. Surrender yourself to God and let the God act through you. This is the essence of all religions. Actually even if you don’t surrender the God acts through you. You think falsely that it is all your merit. It is actually simply on God’s grace. Christians know this !

God is our life energy. It only makes us breathe. It made the universe and the life including the human body. The ego thinks that ‘I’ am the custodian of the body. If we were given the freedom to breathe all by ourselves, we cannot sleep at all ! Because while we sleep we forget to breathe ! So God, the infinite consciousness and energy, does even breathing for us.

Similarly the smelling horse (The destination of Body Chariot can be flowers for example). The hearing horse (The destination can be a music concert).
The touching Horse (The destination can be spa / massage parlour).

All the five senses are always active in a healthy human being (other living things also) and may pull the body chariot to different destinations / directions. Arjun the mind may feel weak and collapse. Krishna the intellect
takes control of the body chariot by controlling the senses for a safe path to realise the sensory pleasures in a disciplined manner (and beyond, which we don’t know as of now).

That was not very difficult to understand, I guess.

Have you seen some body (chariot) lying at the roadside upside down with the legs (wheels) above or in other directions spinning / kicking? Alcohol and drugs make the
intellect lose control over the senses and the body chariot. Without intellect in place, the body chariot will not be in control. The sense horses might drag the body chariot until the senses also fail (body become unconscious). The mind cannot be unconscious as it emanates from consciousness itself. The awareness of the mind about the body gets disconnected during unconsciousness. Ask a person what he felt during his unconsciousness? He might remember some lights or moving images. If he was totally unconscious, then how could he experience the mind during those times ?

When you don’t feel well, the wife advises to remain at home and lie down on bed. Or even drink at home ! An upturned chariot (husband at the gutter with the vomit remains decorating his mouth and face may not be an inspiring sight for the self respecting ladies !

Even that may be acceptable to the self respecting wife ! I mean finding the hubby-chariot in the gutter ! But if the chariot (the husband) proceeds to venture into other female-chariots or get knocked by the policemen-chariots, the scar remains much longer in the society-chariots’ minds, which the wife-chariots are quite aware of !

Never knew so much about my own sense horses and chariot before than my wife !

In Mahabharata, Arjun, the mind collapsed when Krishna (the intellect) advised him to eliminate the enemies who happened to be none other than Arjun's dear
ones ! Why did Krishna advise Arjun to fight and kill the relatives? Call for Hindu Jihad ?!

Understand first. Krishna is not a God located up in the sky. It is the life giving source very much within you, me and everybody else. Every…body ! In this context Krishna represents the human intellect which is nothing but the reflection of the consciousness (soul - also called the God) within to the mind. Arjun is the mind.
The Intellect thus tells the mind to kill the relatives.
Relatives of Arjun, the mind. Who can be the relatives of mind?

Listen carefully. You are nearing the core truth about Hindu mythology.

The relatives of Arjun, the mind, simply cant be real people with flesh and blood. Because Arjun, the mind, is not a real warrior either. These are just picturisations to tell a story or clarify a point, the Hindu-hieroglyphics way.

If  Arjun simply represents the human mind, who can be the relatives of human mind to start with?
Attachments, desires and feelings are the relatives of mind.

The intellect (Krishna) tells the mind (Arjun)  -
KILL THESE RELATIVES OF YOURS !
Translated, it means "remove the attachments, desires and feelings in your mind". Means consciously and purposefully remove all these related issues from your mind!

After killing one's friends and relatives how on earth can anyone be peaceful?

 
Arjun (mind) is advised by Krishna (intellect) to kill. Kill
whom? Or removing what?

In Mahabharata, the mental feelings are characterised by human characters (as a usual practice in Hindu scriptures to clarify a concept).

For example: Shakuni is Arjun's uncle. The Shakuni character actually represents cunningness / treachery
of mind. In Mahabharata, Shakuni uses black magic to make Dharmaputra (the prince of righteousness) lose
the game and hence his kingdom. Such tendency of mind to use unfair means to satisfy a desire is to be nipped in the bud.

Krishna, the intellect advises Arjun, the mind.
"KILL Shakuni" Means eliminate the tendency of treachery and cunningness from mind, even if it
appears to give you short term visible gains. In the long run, such gains might turn out to be heavy burdens and remain a drag in mind.

Arjun, the mind, is agitated ! It whimpers. Shakuni uncle was always like that. How can I kill my uncle even
if he is bad ? After all he is my uncle, you know ! Krishna, the intellect knows better. It has seen all these drama in human minds umpteen times. Human life is
the unending movie that Krishna watches with amusement from his abode at paradise! With lotus eyes meaning eyes which are not attached to the sight, the world. Krishna knows the problem of keeping the Shakuni tendency in mind. It would lead the mind into vicious circles and sins.


So Krishna smiles (because he knows the treachery of minds) at Arjun (who does not know treachery as itself but as his inseparable relative) and advises
him to get rid of Shakuni (the tendency of mind to create traps for unsuspecting innocents). I know you agree to this call from intellect to mind for killing a stinking
habit.

 !
OK. Shakuni can be disposed off. Keeping that tendency creates tension, spoils relations and hurt others at the very least.

Arjun the mind listens to Krishna, the intellect, and nods in agreement to finish off Shakuni uncle, the tendency of mind to con others.

Who is the next in the list to bump off?

Dussasan ! Arjun’s cousin ! The one who disrobed Arjun's wife Panchali in public. The tendency of mind to
do atrocities to women ! Arjun is more than happy to kill him ! In short eliminate the chauvinist tendency of mind to  harass the females.

OK. Dussasan can also be killed. If not killed, the chauvinism would hurt women and make her a slave. Krishna has scored two out of two.

Who is next? This is the assassination session ! Bring them on !

Duryodhan ! The crown prince. Arjun’s co-brother.
The one who refused even a pin point area of land to Arjun, misused his wealth and powers as crown prince and did much harm to others. The tendency of claiming ownership on possessed property and uses muscle power and unfair means to get one's way by
hurting others. The tendency of mind to turn down the rights of others. For argument sake lets admit that this tendency of mind can be eliminated being
bad in nature.  

(If you go by the story of Mahabharata, one would find enough reason to support everyone (except Krishna !). Thus from the Duryodhan's point of view, the
Pandavas are illegitimate children of his father's brother's wife. Not even the children of his father's brother, and thus having no right to the crown. But
that is another story and is at best debatable. There is no time for that debate now).

Krishna has nothing to debate or review and advises Arjun to kill Duryodhan, his co-brother. OK. Arjun, the mind, is getting bolder on getting power from the intellect to bump off his uncle, cousin and co-brother.

Who is next to be killed? Or which tendency of the mind is to be rooted out?...

Dritarashtra, Arjun's father's brother, equivalent to his own father. He is old and blind ! Arjun, the mind fails. Cant think of killing father’s brother, whatever the intellect might say !

Dhrita means 'to embrace'. Rashtra means 'Land' / ‘property’. Arjun is the same old Arjun- the mind.
So one tendency (or relative) of mind is to grab land.
As much as possible !

Do you have this tendency to grab property or amass wealth? Absolutely! This is the Dhrita Rashtra character within you, in your mind to be precise ! It is very strong but BLIND. When this tendency takes over your mind, you cant see others or anything around !

And you thought the land grabbing tendency (Dhritarashtra) existed only in Mahabharata, the ancient book of Hindus? Even now it is very much inside you as long as the life lasts. For your solace,
it is in others also ! Especially with Indian politicians.

Mahabharata discloses the tendencies of human mind. After a million years, the minds would behave just the same, unless corrected and understood. Now what to do with the tendency of mind to embrace land? What to do with a blind aging brother of one’s father?

Krishna has no doubts as always. He smiles and advises Arjun in a soothing voice.  "KILL HIM" !
Krishna, the smiling assassin to Arjun ! Intellect to mind.


"Kill the tendency of mind to grab property" is the advice that Krishna, the intellect gives to Arjun the mind ! If the intellect is not present then Arjun would allow the tendency to continue means Arjun would become an ordinary land owner like you and me, put a boundary wall wire fence on top, keep watchdogs, a retired soldier as security with a bullet less gun and a board
saying "Trespassers will be prosecuted"!

Why should we get rid off this tendency of mind to grab property? Isn't it more reasonable to have some land / property for ourselves for worriless living and
handing over to the next generation? Makes sense to buy land than kill the urge to buy land. Correct me if wrong ! If we don’t acquire or own land, then where would we stay? In the street? Without passport in foreign
countries would land up in jail in most countries except India, the free land for all (those who look like Indians).

Acquire wealth by fair means for a healthy decent life. Shubh labh ! Protect it and look after it.
But just remove the 'attachment' knot that is in your mind to that land. Don’t think that you own the land. You have taken custody for a short time (on behalf of everybody else) to enjoy it, maintain, improve and hand over to the
future generations in a better status. And don’t try to acquire more than what you actually need. That tendency hurts others’ legitimate right to have some land for themselves !

Or go the communist way. The state owns all property. Until the leaders transform into Dhritarashtra monsters, that is.

The problems of owning property ! Get rid off this tendency from mind. Protect land by all means. Just remove that ‘ownership’ notion in the mind.

OK. Dhritarashtra also can be eliminated.

By the way does the above discussed characters exist in our mind? Or were these some fictious characters in some cock and bull story? We may be simple people and traces of all characters may be there. But the real life size ones can be found if you look around. Indian politicians, for example ! They could not kill the tendencies of their minds and instead have given way to the tendencies to flourish. Now the same tendencies would consume them. Just wait and watch !

How could these things be told 10000 years ago by some lonely skinny half starved half naked Rishi mumbling under some tree in a forest with wild animals as company? Don’t ask. Those who get enlightened realise this.

Now what are the other relatives of Arjun, the mind, who are to be killed?

Drona, the teacher of Arjun !

The one who taught him archery and made him the greatest warrior on earth. Arjun was his dearest disciple. Does Krishna want Arjun to kill Drona too? You betcha !

This is unbelievable. So far the relatives of Arjun were fundamentally bad and did hurt Arjun someway so that he could at least think of killing them. But Drona is his dearest teacher who only wanted Arjun to succeed as the greatest warrior on earth. How can Arjun think of killing Drona?

Even if he makes up his mind to kill Drona, being a party to the other eminently disposable relatives, Drona is not a pushover or a sitting duck to get eliminated ! Drona is the Master of Archery from whom even Arjun learned
the skill. Can any disciple beat his Master in his subject?

Weird advise? To understand this we need to understand is what the character Drona stands for.

Drona is indeed Arjun's teacher. But how he decided to make Arjun a world class archer has a story of revenge behind it. It was not a selfless desire towards a disciple to succeed. Parents of young Drona were very poor
who could not even give him a glass of milk. Other rich children made fun of boy Drona by making him believe that a glass of water peppered with rice flour was
milk and he drank it. When others started laughing Drona was ashamed. When he grew up, he studied with prince Drupad and became thick friends. When they grew
up Drona went to see his old friend who was now the king. The King refused to accept him as a friend citing the difference in status. This made Drona seething with revenge. He taught Arjun archery and asked him to capture his enemy, the King Drupad, which Arjun did. Now Drupad wanted to take revenge on Drona. He prayed for a daughter (who can marry Arjun,
thus eliminating his threat) and a son who can win Drona. See how the revenge goes !

Drona represents the tendency of mind to take revenge. This tendency is very dangerous and needs to be eliminated. Krishna knows this and thus can advise Arjun with a smile. KILL YOUR TEACHER ! KILL THE REVENGE TENDENCY IN YOUR MIND !! REMOVE THE TENDENCY TO TAKE REVENGE !!!

That is more understandable, I guess.

Arjun, the mind, is heavily shaken and is almost at the brink of collapsing.

The next is Bhishma - the grandfather who remained a bachelor, who even sacrificed his kingdom and married life to allow his father to marry a young
woman at his old age ! How can anyone even think of killing such a divine selfless character?
This one is too much. Agree a little with killing Drona and others. Those tendencies are to be controlled for sure.
But kill Bhishma Pitamahan?

Apart from being a loving grand father, Bhishma is
also a great warrior. He cannot be defeated by anyone. He had even defeated an incarnation of God named                 "Parashuram" in a duel ! Such is his skill on archery.

In the war, Bhishma had vowed to kill everyone except Arjun and his brothers, being his grand children. Such a magnanimous heart. How can Arjun even think of killing
him?

Arjun, the mind completely collapses.

Krishna (the weird God concept of abominable Hindus ?) instigates Arjun. "KILL BHISHMA, your grand father" !!
What does this mean? If this is not madness, what is !


Remember. There is no human beings in the story. All characters are tendencies (relatives) of mind (Arjun).

Bhishma actually represents 'fear' in mind. One has to eliminate the tendency of fear. Nothing to be feared of than fear itself ! Heard that somewhere else. Never
really understood what it meant!

How does Bhishma represent fear?

He, as the crown prince, should have prevented his aging father from his sudden desire to marry a young woman just young enough to be his son's wife. Instead he inadvertently helped his father to chase hedonic desires and was reason to cause a chain of events leading to misery for many. Because he was afraid of something.
The advise from the Intellect to the mind is "Do not be afraid" of anything. If one’s father does a similar thing, don’t be another Bhishma. Just tell the old man to control himself and take over the Kingdom (household in our
cases) from him. He cant run the kingdom like this anymore by running after females in the neighbourhood !

This tendency of mind to fear also has to be eliminated !

This is the advise of Krishna, the intellect to Arjun, the mind.

Why should Arjun the mind eliminate the relatives of mind namely the wrong tendencies? Once the mind is purified of such tendencies, the mind becomes pure and free. Such minds can merge for ever with the soul. Thus by removing the fear, cunningness, revenge, property grabbing tendency, tendency to harass women etc, the mind gets strong and fearless. Such fearless minds are what the soul needs as friends. Other minds are weak and die out and without reaching the soul.

The story has ended. This is the essence of Bhagavad-Gita, the verses stated to have been made directly by God aimed at purifying the mind and making it free from attachments.
There is no religion in this. Nothing to pray to or worship. The intellect (Krishna) is the direct presence of soul (consciousness, the God) in mind. The mind (Arjun) is also there in everyone. So the God is there in you. Only thing is that you don’t realise it. The mind has all those
tendencies. Eliminate these tendencies to free mind so that it can dissolve into the consciousness and complete the journey.