DISCOVER Yourself through Bhagavad Gita

DYS-BG

Syllabus

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Post Covid Era : From ‘First principle’ to ‘Last word’

Post Covid19 era is both a great challenge as well as greater opportunity. The disruptions have forced us to think from the first principle . Lets meet this challenge as a greater opportunity by exploring the time tested wisdom book upto their last words.

The Problem:

Present century is witnessing great awakenings in the field of education be it global or local as the previous century has put question marks on all the three aspects of education -Skill, knowledge and Values. The mismatching of university graduates with real life demands raises eye on Skill education , climate change challenges integrity of our knowledge system and finally the increasing trends in lack of moral and ethical integrity in individuals and society puts a big question mark on the value of our Value education .

Therefore, Output based Education (OBE), Sustainable development and Holistic approach are the key words around which the entire global educational policies are being focussed. AICTE model syllabus summarizes the current situation in quite a sensitive paragraph: Even though developments are taking place with greater production of physical facilities, conflict and strife are increasing in the individual and society. Environmental crisis in the form of climate change is putting life itself in danger. In spite of achieving one’s goals, the individual remains dissatisfied with jobs and positions that are intellectually and mentally unfulfilling, and wealth that breeds problems in family, chaos in society, and imbalance in nature. In fact, the nations and civilizations are increasingly at war. ( Page 135) .

The Solution :

While the global realisations have well acknowledged the problems in education , it's India who has put forth a great solution through its reforms by two special means - Model AICTE syllabus and NEP 2020:

A holistic solution is proposed by changing lifestyle guided by Indian Knowledge Traditions which endorses a higher science - theistic science or yogic science: Holistic lifestyle of yogic science and wisdom capsules in Sanskrit literature are important in modern society with rapid technological advancements and societal disruptions. (Page 134 of AICTE model curriculum) .
The myths are to be replaced by facts : Indigenous models to develop by removing European colonial intended covering.( Page 180 of AICTE model syllabus ) .
The symbiotic relationship is to be reestablished by shifting our approach from hierarchy to holarchy. This includes : Shastra (seed) and parampara, Living traditions rooted in the past, Tradition of pilgrimage, integrated with exploratory studies along with promotion of contemporary networking of Indian culture to reach the foundations of Indian culture. ( Page 133 ) .

Thus it is the time when Shastras are acknowledged as Science and Bhagavad Gita is recognized as a wisdom capsule by our higher educational board. The adoption and recognition of Bhagavad Gita’s importance is upto the extent that one of the subjects offered by AICTE has its entire units only based on certain chapters of Bhagavad Gita. The subject is meant for development of an integrated personality of high character.

Bhagavad Gita, a universal book of wisdom:Finally its an official Panacea

Although Bhagavad Gita has been recognized by many great people of the world as a great wisdom book , its insertion in official curriculum by AICTE / UGC is worth appreciating in recent education reforms. This keeps it free from narrow religious sectarian views and establishes it as a universal book of wisdom. Today when the entire world is looking for a source of inspiration for Universal Human Values, Bhagavad Gita is there to fulfill this dire need:

In an attempt to build the character , even technical students are recommended to pursue the subject of Philosophy of life , where various aspects of Knowledge are dealt with. Knowledge about the self leading to transcendental self and roots of knowledge are traced in Bhagavad Gita : “Knowledge is Power and its related to Self Realization by Bhagavad Gita”. (Page 158) .
For understanding Ecology the main units are dedicated to understand Indian Knowledge Tradition.( Page 206).
Even the reincarnation is being scientifically studied by Scientists (Virginia University ) , therefore AICTE acknowledges it as “Science of Reincarnation.” in its model curriculum.
Today we may see terminologies like Purusharth , vidya – Avidya (Page 157) Personalities like : - Kautilya , Vyas , Bhruthari etc ( 158) and concepts as : Vasudhaiv Kutumbam in mainstream knowledge front.
Secularism is being redefined: The Sacred, the Secular, the Sacred-secular. Dharma as Vasudhaiv Ktumbam (page 174) is offered to explain in its Ecology . (Page 180).
The extent of recognition of Bhagavad Gita is such that one of the subjects offered by AICTE for development of personality has its entire units based on certain verses of Bhagavad Gita. Thus Bhagavad Gita , being the essence of all Vedic Knowledge , has been wholeheartedly recognized by UGC and AICTE as the backbone of Indian knowledge traditions leading to build a true personality .

Bhagavad Gita and its Role in Modern Education

Iskcon Chief , HH Gopal Krishna Goswami ’s discourse in GUNI Campus on 26th Feb 2021

The saint thanked Shri Mahendra Sharma, Pro Chancellor of Ganpat University and University Management for this great initiation about Bhagavad Gita (BG) , before commencing the discourse.

Myth breaking: BG is not a Hindu Literature but a book of wisdom for the entire humanity.

He began the discourse by clarifying the biggest myth about Bhagavad Gita (that its Hindu literature) explaining its non sectarian nature. It’s a book of wisdom. He explained the true meaning of Secularism that one may read any kind of spiritual book as per one’s interest and faith. Spiritual education does not only mean BG but may be Bible or Quran also but he recommended that we should have some kind of spiritual education. He illustrated the Bhagavad Gita’s acceptance in the entire world having more than 70 language translations and being taught throughout the world. Therefore BG is a book for entire humanity. Sril Prabhupada (Founder Acharya of ISKCON) wrote a letter to Mahatma Gandhi in this regard by recommending it to be taught in all the institutes.

Five subject matters of BG: God, Soul, Nature, Time and Karma

He then introduced the brief idea of five subject matters of BG i.e. God, Soul, material Nature, Time and Action one by one. By these elements he established five basic points: 1. we should understand that God is in control.2. We should know our real identity as a Soul which never dies.3. Since we are dependent on material nature for our existence so we should not misuse technology in harming her.4. We should use our time very preciously because ultimately we will have to leave this world soon.5. We should do our Karma or Action as directed by God.

Comparing Modern Education and BG Wisdom:

This was followed by a graphical comparison of modern Education with the knowledge given by Bhagavad Gita .He defined Education in general and then Modern Education in particular with its lacunas. He not only pointed out the chief lacuna of modern education being lack of character, he showed how Bhagavad Gita can fill this big gap very well.

Final Solution:

He expanded the national mission of “Swachh Bharat” to “Svachchha Hraday” through BG education promoting both internal and external cleaning. Finally he concluded the remedy for the drawback of modern education, is adding Spiritual Education to Material Education. It’s like adding the figure 1 to many zeros to make everything precious. He called it as “Balance of Life” by incorporating Spiritual Education to modern education to make it holistic education , Just as “balanced diet” is recommended for a holistic health.

ISKCON Chief once again thanked University management for this great initiation about teachings of Bhagavad Gita.

Atmanirbhar Bharat and Bhagavad Gita

The basic words of “Atma Nirbhar Bharat” i.e. Atma and Bharat are well rooted in Indian culture through Indian knowledge system which evolves around essence of Vedic teachings as Bhagavad Gita followed and appealed by great saints of Bharat. The concept of Atma or the soul as an eternal (Sanatan) part of Supersoul is scientifically explained in BG’s basic teachings in chapter 2 as अजो नित्यः शाश्वतोऽयं पुराणो न हन्यते हन्यमाने शरीरे and conclusively in chapter 15 as ममैवांशो जीवलोके जीवभूतः सनातनः. At the same time, the word Bharat is repeated vividly for 22 times in BG which can be explored exponentially. This second word ‘Bharat’ is explained in terms of duty of a patriotic Indian by one of the great and divinely incarnated saint as: “भारत भूमि ते हैल जन्म यार, जन्म सार्थक करी , कर पर उपकार: One who has taken birth in India , should first make one’s own life successful and then help others to make their life successful.” . - Krishna Chaitanya. This illustrates that that the patriotism of an Indian goes far beyond as the one always takes care of the welfare of others and hence a true global citizen, he is. This leads to the understanding that the entire world is a big family and such patriotism promotes living in cooperation with humanity and nature instead of their exploitation.

Appreciating and distributing Bhagavad Gita by our PM

Although to appreciate the teachings of Bhagavad Gita is like showing earthen lamp to Sun, still we understand to reemphasize its revival considering its past suppression due to multiple reasons and from the point of view of modern need as holistic and sustainable development as well.

Let’s see how our PM envisages the importance of Bhagavad Gita for the holistic development of the entire world. When Shri Narendrabhai , Hon PM of India, gifted the copy of Bhagavad Gita to the emperor of Japan , Mr. Akihito in the east , it inspired the west and Ms. Tulasi Gabbard,then Law minister of US and recently one of the promising US President contestants, gifted her personal copy of Bhagavad Gita to him. Thus he not only spreaded the message of true Indian culture globally but at the same time took out Bhagavad Gita from the “pseudo secular’ tag of Hinduism and presented it as it is – a truly Universal book of humanity to the world. Furthermore, by developing a world culture of gifting Bhagavad Gita , he actually applied Bhagavad Gita’s verse 18.69 in practice where Krishna open heartedly praise the one who gifts Bhagavad Gita’s knowledge to others : न च तस्मान्मनुष्येषु कश्चिन्मे प्रियकृत्तमः । भविता न च मे तस्मादन्यः प्रियतरो भुवि. There is no servant more dear to Me than he , nor there will ever be one more dear. This verse of BG echoed in the Japan, when Shri Narendrabhai uttered following words: “Because I don't think that I have anything more to give and and the world also does not have anything more to get than this message of Bhagavad Gita”.(2014, Japan).

Our PM’s views on Bhagavad Gita :

On the occasion of inaugurating the world’s largest Bhagavad Gita, he explained the usefulness of teachings of Bhagavad Gita for the entire humanity: “While Bhagavad Gita is a spiritual text, it is also a life book. We may belong to any country, or follow any religion, but all of us are surrounded by problems on a daily basis. Whenever we stand on the crossroads of life like Arjuna, then Srimad Bhagavad Gita shows us a solution to these problems through service and dedication. You may be student in a state of indecision, the head of a country, or a yogi looking for liberation, you will find the answer to your every question in Srimad Bhagavad Gita. It is my belief that Geeta is the greatest manual for human life. Our government has always been convinced that in Indian culture, Indian values, and Indian tradition, lies the solution to many problems of the world. Be it violence, family crisis, or environmental crisis, for every challenge faced by the world today, its solution can be found in Indian philosophy” (2019, New Delhi). Again in Mann ki Baat, 2020 His Highness shared “Bhagavad Gita inspires us in every context of life.”

On another occasion he said :When the Bhagavad Gita was born there was conflict and many feel that humanity is passing through conflict , similar challenges are there now.

Emerging India : Atmanirbhar Bharat as spiritual Superpower :

Thus we may see that Bhagavad Gita’s teachings are holistic which makes it universal in its very nature, The message of Bhagavad Gita when understood as it is and implemented whole heartedly, it will make India not only truly Atma Nirbhar Bharat but also internally strong i.e. Spiritual Superpower guiding the entire world for its real welfare . Indeed this is the vision and mission of our PM when he says : “In the long term, only a self-reliant India is in everyone’s interest. At the core of Atma Nirbhar Bharat is to create wealth and values not only for ourselves but for the larger humanity. We believe that an Atmanirbhar Bharat is good for the world,”

Role of Bhagavad Gita in the Lives of 18 Successful and Great People

Concluding the past research and recent trends :

In light of newer educational research and policies , we may conclude that spirituality is seen as a higher science or Yogic Science from a Knowledge point of view. Next is the realization that Bhagavad Gita & Veda are no more to be seen as mere narrow sectarian point of view but as a source of universal human values. Followed by knowledge and realisation , UGC/ AICTE implements it in practice by introducing many mandatory and elective subjects based on Indian Knowledge System. The present course “Discover Yourself through Bhagavad Gita'' is one such in the same spirit , offered by ISKCON International Society for Krishna Consciousness ( ISKCON) .

The Course : Discover Yourself through Bhagavad Gita

The course is a fundamental one in a series of courses offered as “Discover Yourself”.It’s in essence a breakthrough into a joyous journey of life covering a variety of topics from its roots.

The biggest joy in one’s life is when one finds oneself ! Thus the course digs inside us and first solves the biggest mystery of WHO AM I? One who has found oneself, the entire cosmos belongs to the one and at the same time the one belongs to the entire cosmos.

It makes a holistic approach through the time tested spiritual literatures specially the globally acknowledged wisdom book - Bhagavad Gita . This is done without entangling them into narrow religious or sectarian belief and instead adopting their scientific temper as acknowledged by the great people of the world.

This leads not only to the universal appeal of Universal love regardless of cast, creed and nation but also provides the audience a clarity of vision and mission of one’s life .Finally transforming one into a true Indian citizen with real universal human values, who is well set for the joyous journey of life .

Further Scope : Essence of Bhagavad Gita Series

The feast is not over . The prsent coures is just is a foundation for the forthcoming array of courses to learn essence of Bhagavad Gita in a thematic and practical way . All the eighteen chapters are systematically studied in order to have practical benefit in the modern time. One may continue riding this journey to get more and more bliss through the lights of Bhagavad Gita and may get more and more maturity in one’s holistic personality .