Status Updates From Bhagavad-Gita: The Song of God

Reread for book group :)

The penultimate discourse of the Bhagavad Gita describes the three types of faith (Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas). Those who act with goodness (that being Sattva) by eating well, performing duties without expecting rewards, and worshipping the gods will become closer to Krishna, while those who practice Rajastic or Tamastic acts will be separated from him. Only one discourse remains, and I look forward to completing it.

The sixteenth discourse of the Bhagavad Gita focuses on the demonic beings; those who live according to their own desires and pleasures. These beings, Krishna states, will never reach true fulfillment, which can only be obtained by acting in accordance to Vedic law and ceasing attachment. Luckily for Arjuna, Krishna tells him that he is not a demonic beings, but a divine one, and in ceasing desire will be fulfilled.

The fifteenth discourse of the Bhagavad Gita describes the world as impermanent. All things and beings will one day cease to exist, but Krishna will never cease. Through Krishna, beings can live eternally. By detaching oneself from that which is ephemeral and dedicating oneself to Krishna through the inaction within action, one can be freed from Samsara and be together with Krishna eternally.

Among the three gunas, sattva creates wisdom, rajas creates greed, and from tamas, ignorance and neglect are born. While the one who follows sattva rise up, those that manage to push aside all three are able to become one with Krishna and Brahman. While sattva sounds very good, it is better to be indifferent to all, and in that way, one can become eternally linked with Brahman and free from rebirth and reincarnation.