Gita and Sri Ramakrishna

Sloka (Verse):

Ashochyan Anva-shochahah Tvam Pragna Vadang-cha Bhashase

Gata-suna Agata-shunas-cha Nanu shochanti Panditah                     (Gita 2.11)

Meaning:

You grieve for those who are not worthy of grief,

And yet you speak the words of wisdom.

A Pandit (learned person) grieves neither for the living nor for the dead.

Thought:

This is the opening remark of the Lord when He embarked on the discourse of the Gita. He spoke to Arjun in order to pull him from severe depression and to put him back on track so that he can pursue his goal in life.

Prior to this, Arjun gave all the reasons why he should not take part in the bloody war.

First he argued that it would be a sin to kill one’s own people- teachers, uncles, grandfathers, grandsons, brothers- in battle. Then he argued that the war would lead to the decay and corruption of the society, break-up of families, resulting in so many widows and orphans. Knowing such a dismal future how could he proceed with the war? Further, when able bodied young people die in such large number, their departed ancestors are deprived of ritual offerings (offered as an annual remembrance by a son according to ancient Hindu custom). How could he become the cause of such calamities? It is best, he argued, that he walked away from such a bloody war, embrace non-violence, and live the rest of his life peacefully, even as a beggar. In fact, Arjun gave all the reasonable arguments for the preservation of family and societal values.

Arjun seemed to have given an irrefutable argument with an analysis worthy of a Pandit (a knowledgeable person, much like a college graduate conversant with the systematic method of presenting a case). Though the argument was logical, it is doubtful if such logic worthy of a Pandit, could lead Arjun to a peace of mind. A (worldly) knowledge based argument may win the moment, but may lose out in the long run, because the cause of grief was not understood. So, the Lord proceeded to take out his ignorance and self doubts by first defining knowledge. His opening statement was profound and thought provoking. Are you speaking from the position of knowledge, or ignorance?

From the Lord’s definition one need not conclude that knowledge makes a person heartless and insensitive. In subsequent verses the Lord explained that the body was meant to change and die, while the one who lives in the body- called Atma (Self)- never dies and is ever present everywhere. The one who realizes this truth never suffers from a sense of loss, and never grieves. Later the Lord went further and explained that this knowledgeable person develops so much love in his heart that he considers every living being as his own and takes active part in the happiness and unhappiness of every living being with spontaneity and eagerness.     

Sri Ramakrishna’s teachings for M (writer of the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna) have striking similarities with those offered in the Gita..

Just before his first meeting with Sri Ramakrishna Sri M (writer of the Gospels of Sri Ramakrishna) learnt that Sri Ramakrishna does not read any books, though some of the best intellectuals of the country listen to his easy to understand explanations on the difficult topics of the scriptures eagerly. This was news for Sri M who thought that book reading was essential for knowledge. M was an accomplished college educated person in a day (Year 1882) when college educated people was rare.

On the second visit to Sri Ramakrishna, Sri M had the following conversation (from the Gospel).

Sri Ramakrishna: “Well, what kind of wife you have? Is she vidya shakti (literally: educated)or avidya shakti (literally: ignorant or uneducated)?”

M. — Sir, she is good but ajnani (ignorant).

Sri Ramakrishna  (sharply) — And you are jnani (wise)!

What is jnana (knowledge) and what is ajnana (ignorance), M. does not know. Till now, he only knows that a jnani is he who has received education and can read books. This false notion was afterwards taken away. Then he learnt that to know the Lord is jnana (knowledge) and not to know Him is ajnana (ignorance). Thakur said, “Are you jnani?” M.’s egotism again receives a hard blow.

With this shock therapy, Sri M began learning new meaning for traditional words on his path to spirituality. Sri Ramakrishna’s teachings began.