Philosophies of India

SR No.: 007309
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Heinrich Zimmer, Joseph Campbell
Publisher: Routledge and Kegan Paul Ltd
Publication Year: 1953
Total Pages: 709
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 34 MB

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BHAGAVAD GITA with buckets for the irrigation of a rice-field)." 10 "This Owner of thc Body, inhabiting the bodics of all, is eternally indestructible: therefore thou shouldest not grieve for any creature." 91
As stated, the special doctrine of the Bhagavad Gitā is Karına Yoga, the selfless performance of the earthly task to be done; but this is not the only road to the freedom and sovercignty of the divinc Sclf. Krşnal, the warrior-incarnation of the Supreme Being, recognizes many ways, corresponding to the various propensities and capacities of the differing human types. "Some," declares the God, "by concentration, bent on inner visualizations, bchold, through their self, in their sclf, the Self Divine; 92 others [bchold or realize Il] through the yoga-technique related to the Sārkhya system of Enumerative Knowledge; 93 and still others through the yoga of selfless action. Others again, however, not knowing [these esoteric ways of introvert self-discipline and transformation), worship Ne as they have been taught to in terms of the orthodox oral tradition; yet even these cross beyond death, though devoted exclusively to the revelation as communicated in the Vedas.” 96
The ancient days of the Vcdic, sacrificial, external routines had long passed at the time of the proclamation of the Bhagavad Gitā. The ceremonious priestly style of worshiping divine beings was no longer dominant. Nevertheless the value of such exercises for the reaching of the goal could still be acknowledged as a minor way. It long remained sanctificd by tradition, but was rather cumbersome and old-fashioned. People not up to date in their philosophical ideas-the country cousins, the pagani-continued to practice thesc rather quaint routines, and
90 Ib. 18. 61. 91 Ib. 2. zo. 02 This is the way of Dhyana, "contemplation." 99 Patañjali's Yoga; cf. supra, pp. 284ff. 84 The specific way of the Bhagavad Gitä. 95 Bhagavad Gitā 19. 24-25.
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