WHAT

• The Bhagavad Gita is India’s most revered text on yoga (the science of experiencing the divine.)
• Bhagavad Gita means “Song of the Spirit”. It is self-described as “the scripture of yoga and the science of God-realization.”
• It is actually part of a much larger book; it can be found in the 6th of 18 books that make up the Mahabharata, India’s great epic poem
• It is essentially a textbook, a guide to having a spiritual experience while living in the physical world.
• The story:
  • Through the usage of simile and metaphor, it tells the story of a historical battle, which is an allegory of the inner battle of man’s instincts (ego) and his inner desire to find God/nirvana/bliss.
  • Man finds that his “kingdom” (his body and mind) has been overrun by wrong desires, bad habits, ignorance, and unhappiness. The kingdom of body and mind is ruled by King Soul. But King Ego and his army of bad habits/desires have overtaken the throne. The Gita is the story of how King Soul ruled over his kingdom (body/mind), lost and then regained it.
  • Over the course of the book, Lord Krishna is attempting to wake up Arjuna from his ego, so he may realize his ignorance while experiencing the material world, and reclaim his true identity (eternal oneness; Spirit).

WHO

• The Author
  • Authorship is traditionally credited to Vyasa, a sage
• The Main Characters
  • Bhagavan Krishna
    • A king and divine incarnation
    • The Lord of Yoga; the divine teacher of the Gita
    • “Krishna” and “Christ” have similar meanings, representing the illumined state of consciousness
      • Jesus the Christ, and Yadava the Krishna (Yadava is the family name of Krishna)
    • The Guru and teacher of Arjuna
  • Arjuna
    • A prince
    • The cousin of Krishna

WHERE

• The story of the Gita takes place on the battlefield of Kurukshetra; this is a metaphor to the human body
  • In particular, the spinal column and the seven chakras

WHY

• The Bhagavad Gita is explaining how each of the paths of yoga work together to the real goal of yoga: union with the divine. (“God-Realization”)
  • The book is explaining the process through which man can raise his consciousness beyond his mortal self and find his true self, the soul, the immortal infinite Spirit.
  • It explains how to live a balanced life
• In this metaphorical battle of good vs. evil, the intent of the Gita is for man to align his will on the side of dharma (righteousness)