The Highest Ideal

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Bhagavad-Gita Second Chapter

Part Two: The Path of the Wise

by Michael Dolan/B.V. Mahayogi

Going back to an earlier point in the conversation, we see that  Arjuna is concerned that he may incur bad karma for his action as a hero. Better avoid the fight. What if he tries but loses?

Kṛṣṇa guides Arjuna’s chariot on the field of battle as he explains the nature of dharma. All of us must follow our dharma. Everywhere there is a fight. It is the law of the jungle. Life is defined by struggle. We cannot control the outcome of any fight, but we must fight. Inaction is not a path for a hero.

And yet even in loss there is no shame. There is no diminution in following this path.[i] Neither is there any dishonor in death or failure. There can be never loss and no harm in following the wisdom path of bhakti. A man is measured by his high ideal. Even one who loses everything in the attempt to reach the highest ideal has lost nothing in the end. He may not achieve riches in this world, but he gains eternal life in the next.

In fact the path of bhakti will save one from the greatest dread. Arjuna need not fear, for the path of divine love and dedication to God frees one from the greatest fear, the fear of self-annihilation.

As Kṛṣṇa has explained the path of karma sanctioned by scripture may provide riches in this life, but leads to rebirth and repeated death on the wheel of karma. The path of renunciation and dry meditation jñāna taken by less fortunate yogis may lead to nirvana, but merging into the oneness of undifferentiated spirit is a kind of self-obliteration. Exploitation and karma is a fearful path: leading to the dark forest of repeated birth and death. Renunciation and scientific analysis leads to spiritual suicide and nihilism--another fearful path. But the path of bhakti, or dedication to God, will free one from all fear.

Kṛṣṇa advises Arjuna, “Let divine love illumined by wisdom-yoga guide your hand. But do not shrink from the fight.”

Arjuna has quoted scripture in defense of his inaction. But Kṛṣṇa tells Arjuna that he should try not to be confused by all the different ideas presented in the scriptures. [ii]

One man’s pill is another man’s poison. Where an expert doctor can understand what medicine to prescribe to his paitent, a spiritual mentor or guru knows how to apply the spiritual medicine of the scriptures in our benefit. Without the help of a mentor or guide, however, we may be lost.

The scriptures are filled with prescriptions, remedies for different spiritual maladies. Since we are all at different levels of spiritual evolution, each of us needs to follow a slightly different dharmic path. While all these different paths should ultimately lead us to the path of wisdom, buddhi-yoga, and ultimately bhakti, according to our advancement, a different course of action may be recommended at a given moment by our guru or guide.

Arjuna has accepted Kṛṣṇa as his guide. Kṛṣṇa not only guides Arjuna’s chariot through the dangerous ranks of soldiers, he helps Arjuna through the mental traps and dangers he faces on the path to enlightenment. He asks Arjuna therefore to leave aside his parochial ideas about religion and duty and fix his mind in yoga. Dedication to the Supreme is the purport of all the scriptural injunctions. Divine love should guide his acts. He must become fixed in that yoga and discover true samādhi.

Arjuna seems to grasp the argument, but wants to hear more from his friend and guide before diving into action. He asks Kṛṣṇa[1]:

“O Kṛṣṇa, then what are the qualities of one who is on the path of wisdom as you have explained it? You have spoken of samādhi, being rightly situated, having fixed intelligence, or steady wisdom. I don’t understand. How does such a wise man speak and act?”

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[1] नेहाभिक्रमनाशोस्ति प्रत्यवायो न विद्यते स्वल्पम् अप्य् अस्य धर्मस्य त्रायते महतो भयात् २.४०

nehābhikramanāśosti pratyavāyo na vidyate

svalpam apy asya dharmasya trāyate mahato bhayāt 2.40अर्जुन उवाच

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[i]  स्थितप्रज्ञस्य का भाषा समाधिस्थस्य केशव

स्थितधीः किं प्रभाषेत किम् आसीत व्रजेत किम् २.५४

arjuna uvāca

sthitaprajñasya kā bhāṣā samādhisthasya keśava

sthitadhīḥ kiṃ prabhāṣeta kim āsīta vrajeta kim 2.54

[ii] श्रुतिविप्रतिपन्ना ते यदा स्थास्यति निश्चला

समाधाव् अचला बुद्धिस् तदा योगम् अवाप्स्यसि २.५३

śrutivipratipannā te yadā sthāsyati niścalā

samādhāv acalā buddhis tadā yogam avāpsyasi 2.53