The Bahgavad Gita (which means " Song of God") is the conversation between Krishna, who is God in human form come to guide and protect righteous, and Arjuna, who is the rest of us in Human form, confused about what the right course of action in life is and sickened by the horror we see in the world around us.
The Gita, as most Hindus call it, actually consists of eighteen short chapters lifted right out of the Mahabratha. It is the most loved holy book in Hinduism. Many Hindus can recite the entire Gita from memory. Most have memorized at least a few lines.
Krishna has already explained that in the battle against evil, when all peaceful options are exhausted, men of good conscience must get up and fight. Control of the world cannot be handed over the evil men by good people too weak-willed to stand against them.
Now, in the face of death and catastrophe, Krishna urges Arjuna to look at the Big picture. everyone dies: From the perspective of eternity, these men are dead already. Since death is inevitable, why not die nobly, fighting for justice?
During the day, we change clothes several times. Death, Krishna says, is when the soul changes its clothes. It takes off a body that's worn out or damaged and puts on a new one. But the inner self never dies. It is wrong to identify ourselves with our perhisable body. We need to realize that we are immortal spirits, ultimately unaffected by death.
Arjuna may win the battle, or he may lose. He may live, or he may die. The outcome of the events ahead is in the hands of God. Krishna advices his friend to not be concerned with how things will turn out. He should focus instead on fighting for truth and justice simply because, under the present tragic circumstances, it's the right thing to do.
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