Is Bhagavad Gita a Book of Religion? Or is it Secular?

Is Bhagavad Gita a book of religion? Or is it secular?

For the first time in the country, an effort was taken to impart the knowledge of ethics in governance through ancient wisdom in a modern University. ‘Learning ethics in governance through Bhagavad Gita” is a brainchild of Good Governance Department of Sri Sri University.  The wisdom of Bhagavad Gita has shown the path of righteous living and given enormous strength and purity of character to the greatest of men of all times – from Arjuna to Mahatma Gandhi. Why go far to learn ethics when we have a treasure in our own home.

But this needed the correct coach to guide the budding administrators and politicians – someone who has lived the Geeta by being in the system and experienced its wonders. And of course, His Holiness knew the best as always, when He asked veteran bureaucrat and Professor Sir Niten Chandra to take this course.

Niten Chandra Sir has been serving the country as an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer since more than 30 years and has played a crucial role in the development of Odisha. He is an avid multi-disciplinary reader and the students stands amused when he relates every subject under the sun from biology to philosophy to chemistry to economics to psychology to religion while teaching through the eternal wisdom that is Geeta. Sir has been learning and simultaneously preaching Gita since standard sixth! He has read most of the religions of the world, the Upanishads, the western philosophers, and this reflects in the unique teacher that he is.

A roller coaster ride it was. Something which can’t have any parallel. Last Sunday, when it had been two weeks since our Bhagavad Gita class had ended, we discussed on what all changes we were experiencing in our life after having gone through the Geeta. And the results were those which would make not only a better administrator, but a better person too.

13 of us started sharing. While majority of the class said emotional stability in their life has increased, most reported an increase in their concentration power. Supriya shared how the anxiety of the result had completely vanished from her life; Preeti said she is more willing to take responsibility. Fearlessness and higher perseverance dawned in Kushal. Shipra said the thing most people would like to attain – she had become more rudeness-proof! Her capacity to digest the rudeness of people had increased. Jasneet shared how she has removed self-imposed limitations. Ramneet shared how the knowledge of Geeta has helped her objectively analyse situations rather than flowing along with it. Vishnu feels more connected with The Divine. He also shared how he is able to ignore unnecessary thoughts. Satish has become more open to new knowledge and thoughts, and his power of self-evaluation and reflection has increased. Kushal shared how he no more gets angry at little things, and is very much under his senses whenever he gets frustrated. As of me, I have understood the difference between passion and feverishness, contentment and complacency. Earlier I was either very excited about something or lazy. The real skill, as His Holiness says, is to be content and give 100% at the same time. I think this has, at least, beginning to dawn.

Most of us also agreed on how our vision had broadened choosing to do those acts which are beneficial to common good and cohesion, rather than individual gain alone.

At the end, after seeing the above list displayed on the board, we were left totally awed, and so many serious introspections triggered. Are we as Indians doing justice to the heritage we have? Are we even remotely using the storehouse of practical and spiritual knowledge we have which provides tips even to a layman for a happy and successful living? Where all we end up searching “tips for a happy living”, when it is right here, waiting to reach hearts and souls of every human on this planet. Is Bhagavad Gita a book belonging only to one religion? Are the virtues mentioned above needed only to selective people on Earth? Or they have universal utility.. Bhagavad Gita is a book of life. It IS, the Art of Living.

Scholars and thinkers have so far considered conflict, rivalry, hatred and violence as inseparable part of human history. The problems have been postulated as insoluble and alternative mechanisms of State and Power have been conceived for regulation and social order. This appears to be a partial and temporary solution of the problem, since enduring peace is yet to be enjoyed by peoples. Having observed the effect of the lessons of BG it seems that the solution to problems of recurrent social discord lies in grasping the true essence of human nature and the world and the interaction between the two. BG points out vividly that the sources of conflict lie within the man in his incapacity to understand the true essence of things and consequently the repetition of his errors that redound to not only his own disadvantage but also to that of others. The rational framework of reality offered in BG can be employed to the advantage of the individual as well as the society by establishing harmony and peace within man and in his relationships. There is a need to educate people about the utility of BG as a book that can bring perfection in human beings, prosperity in communities and integration of nations, which are pretty much secular outcomes.