Dimple Sharma
Almost everyone, whom I interact with regarding Srimad Bhagavad Gita, agrees that one should definitely read this holy scripture, at least once. Many of them do admit that one should also follow the teachings of Gita. But only a handful of them are able to recognise the real purpose of Gita? Why is there more stress on Gita than any other holy book? Of course, there are plenty of other holy scriptures available, especially in the Santana Culture.
Primarily, there are two reasons why you should read, understand and then implement the teachings revealed in Srimad Bhagavad Gita. These are summarised as under:
Srimad Bhagavad Gita is the essence of all the Vedic Knowledge that the Truth Seekers have been able to gather till date or will ever be able to gather in the future, using the faculties of mind and body possessed by human beings. It may sound like a comparatively bold statement to you, but it is true. One is able to understand this statement when one witnesses the Truths revealed in Gita being verified, very often, by modern science.
Srimad Bhagavad Gita teaches you how to handle that knowledge. It not only inculcates in you, the right and unbiased perspective of observing and knowing your own self as well as the entire Creation, but also teaches you how to handle that knowledge acquired through such observance. The beauty of the text is that all this has been done while explaining the narrative between two friends who are at the verge of entering into the most fierce battle of their lifetime.
Srimad Bhagavad Gita is, thus, a compendium of knowledge with detailed description on how to put that knowledge to practical use. It reveals the Absolute Truth and at the same time it discourses you, while treating like a child who is bewildered on receiving a new toy but does not know how to handle that. It does not leave you to discover your own ways to handle and use that knowledge. It does not leave you brainwashed. Chapter by chapter it takes you on a journey to understand the various aspects of this Supreme Knowledge and keeps on narrating how to master them and use them to raise yourself to the highest possible position in life.
Srimad Bhagavad Gita does not even prescribe one particular path or solution for you. Lord Krishna, while speaking as the Brahman itself, promises that your individual faith and choice will be honoured. He will fix your faith and will make you achieve whatever goal you choose for yourself in your life, be it the most demonic or the most divine. He definitely makes it clear that when you actually have the choice to wish for something in life then why run after petty things? Why not wish for the highest seat available in the Creation, the seat of the Brahman? He lovingly invites you to His heavenly abode. It is up to you to decide. He has even elaborated the highest achievable positions, in almost every category, that you can desire for.
Srimad Bhagavad Gita is not only a book of wisdom. It is ‘the Book’ of the Absolute Truth, the Absolute Knowledge appended with a detailed manual on how to use that knowledge for your ascension. The entire Absolute Knowledge is revealed by the Lord in the Second Chapter only. After that he takes on the challenge to satisfy the queries of Arjuna, and makes sure that there is not even an iota of doubt left, in Arjuna, that remains unanswered. He keeps on delivering until Arjuna is convinced that he is ready to take on the world with the Divine Knowledge that he has just received.
It’s high time you also start equipping yourself with the Absolute Knowledge.