Exploring the Bhagavad Gita: Philosophy, Structure and Meaning

173 Pages·2016·1.151 MB·English

by  Theodor Ithamar

Exploring the Bhagavad G…t€
Philosophy, Structure and Meaning
Ithamar Theodor
Exploring thE Bhagavad gŸtš
this is potentially one of the most significant books to emerge in recent times on
how to read the G…t€, for it provides a clear way forward to make coherent sense
of one of the most important yet methodologically intractable texts of religious
hinduism. I found this book an illumining experience.
Julius lipner FBA, professor of hinduism and the Comparative Study of
religion and Fellow of Clare hall, University of Cambridge, UK
a fascinating book which throws new light on the G…t€, and should help to make it
more accessible to those who wish to read this great spiritual classic.
Keith Ward FBA, regius professor of Divinity Emeritus and Fellow of Christ
Church College, University of oxford, UK
Ithamar theodor approaches the ancient Bhavadad G…t€ with a modern mind and
finds much in it that deserves our attention. Locating his study within Comparative
theology and identifying the various layers of meaning in the text will help those
unacquainted with it to find their way through this complex classic. Combining the
philosophical-theoretical with the ethical-practical the author shows the universal
relevance of the G…t€’s teaching. Since Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan nobody has
offered as penetrating a study of this classic as Ithamar theodor has done.
Klaus Klostermaier FrSC, Distinguished professor of hinduism and religious
Studies Emeritus, University of Manitoba, Canada
For my beloved daughters;
Inbal J€hnav…, Nili N…la M€dhava dev… and Kamah Kamalin…
Exploring the Bhagavad G…t€
Philosophy, Structure and Meaning
ithAMAr thEoDor
University of haifa, Israel
© ithamar theodor 2010
All rights reserved. no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying,
recording or otherwise without the prior permission of the publisher.
ithamar theodor has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and patents Act, 1988,
to be identified as the author of this work.
published by
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British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
theodor, ithamar, 1959–
Exploring the Bhagavad gita: philosophy, structure and meaning.
1. Bhagavadgita – Criticism, interpretation, etc.
i. title
294.5’924046–dc22
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
theodor, ithamar, 1959–
Exploring the Bhagavad gita: philosophy, structure, and meaning / ithamar theodor.
p. cm.
includes bibliographical references and index.
iSBn 978-0-7546-6658-5 (hardcover: alk. paper) – iSBn 978-1-4094-0260-2 (ebook)
1. Bhagavadgita – Criticism, interpretation, etc. i. title.
Bl1138.66.t48 2009
294.5’924046--dc22
2009040967
iSBn 9780754666585 (hbk)
iSBn 9781409402602 (ebk) IV
Contents
Pronunciation guide vii
Preface ix
acknowledgements xi
general introduction 1
1 Setting the Scene 25
2 the Soul, dharma and liberation 29
3 the path of Enlightened Action – part i 41
4 the Supreme person’s Descent 49
5 the path of Enlightened Action – part ii 55
6 the path of Classical Yoga 61
7 the Vision of the Supreme – part i 69
8 Quitting one’s Body, the Ephemeral and Eternal Worlds 75
9 the Vision of the Supreme – part ii 81
10 Arjuna’s Change of heart and the Divine Manifestations 89
11 the Cosmic revelation 93
12 Stages of Devotion 99
13 the Vision of the Supreme in the heart 103
14 the three guŠas 111
15 the Journey from Bondage to liberation 117
16 the Divine and the Demonic 121
17 the Manifestation of the three guŠas in human life 125
18 Summary and Conclusion: Taking Refuge in KŠa Alone 129
glossary 143
Bibliography 153
Index 155
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Pronunciation Guide
For readers unfamiliar with the subtleties of the Sanskrit alphabet and the
commonly accepted transliteration system, a very brief guide is offered, roughly
exemplifying the pronunciation of the main transliterated characters:
€, …,: g…t€ geetaa
™: s™tra sootra
ai, : vaiya vayshya
au, …: Draupad… Drowpadee
, ˜, €, ‰: a˜€‰ga ashtaanga
Š, : p€Šava paandava
, , Š: KŠa Krishna
c, €: Cekit€na Chekitaana
jñ: jñ€na gyaana
Š: KarŠa Karna
: Avins Ashvins
ˆ: ahaˆk€ra ahankaara (the ˆ may be in most cases translated into
n but before p, ph, b and bh into m)
This page has been left blank intentionally
Preface
there are various possible ways of reading the Bhagavad G…t€; it can be read as a
work of literature or poetry, it can be read as a work in the realm of indology and
examined from the point of view of oriental studies, and it can otherwise be read
as a work of philosophy or theology. As a work of literature or poetry, its literary
and poetical aspects would naturally be highlighted; as such, the verses’ meters,
the particular epithets of Arjuna and KŠa and the corresponding emotions evoked
by their application – these and similar aspects will possibly be looked into. As a
work of indology, its historical and linguistic aspects would be highlighted and,
as such, questions regarding the date of its compilation, the singularity or plurality
of authors, the linguistic structure of the text, and its relation to the context of the
Mah€bh€rata would be naturally considered. As a work of philosophy or theology,
its conceptual structure, its underlying assumptions and its prevailing ideas would
be mainly considered and examined, and this is the thrust of the present edition.
Bhagavad G…t€ scholarship has become somewhat complicated and sophisticated,
so much so that, at times, a gap has appeared, distancing the general readership
from the scholarly analysis of this widely read text. the present work is perhaps
driven by a pedagogical impulse and, as such, has not only a different mood than
the analytical approach, but different aims; as far as the mood, i invite the readers
to relax, to enter into a somewhat contemplative mood as befitting the reading
of a great classical treatise. As far as the aims, i hope to further the reading of
the Bhagavad G…t€ as a work in the realm of philosophy or theology, and to help
the reader gain a vision or a darana of this great treatise. For this reason i am
consciously avoiding a comprehensive bibliography and dense footnotes, as these
may distract the reader from the simple but deep ideas originally conveyed.
the present work was born as a work of theology, and was sharpened and
further articulated in the milieu of the theology Faculty, University of oxford. one
of its main aims is to offer a unifying structure, open to a rational examination, a
structure which will tie the text together. this structure is constructed applying the
metaphor of a ‘three-storey house’ and it is mainly composed of two components;
on the one hand, there are three different storeys or floors, and on the other hand, a
staircase leading the house’s residents from the first floor towards the second and
third floors. the three floors represent three levels of reality, whereas the staircase
represents a transformational ladder of ethical and spiritual refinement. in the
wider sense, i would like this work to be considered a contribution not only to the
study of the Bhagavad G…t€, but to the emerging field of Comparative theology,
as once the structures of great theological works could be articulated, these could
be compared, contrasted and grouped together, thereby offering a unified sense of
pluralistic spirituality which may serve as an alternative to materialism. originally,