For Monday: The Bhagavad GIta, Parts 11-14 (in-class response on Monday)

Remember, no questions for Monday's class, since we're going to have an in-class response instead. Here are some ideas you might consider as you read, however, at least ONE of which will make an appearance in class (hint, hint):

* Arjuna asks to see Krishna in his god form, so he can truly believe/understand. In general, why are we not allowed to glimpse the divine directly? Does Arjuna agree with the censorship of the divine form?

* Many people simply can't devote their entire life to meditation and/or concentration on the divine. So how do we do good works? Is Yoga the only way? What if one is too sick or poor to do it properly?

* Krishna tells Arjuna that “concentration is better than mere practice, and meditation is better than concentration; but higher than meditation is surrender in love of the fruit of one’s actions, for on surrender follows peace” (60). What did you make of these 4 steps to enlightenment? While all of them are 'good,' why is meditation better than concentration, and concentration better than practice? 

* If you followed the Tao te Ching as closely as possible, and really practiced its teachings, do you think you would reach Brahman? Is the Tao basically "Yoga"? 

* In part 13, it says that someone must be free of the selfish attachment even to one's children and family. Do you think this means that everyone must be ultimately without any kind of emotional attachments? Will loving your children excessively lead you away from Brahman?

* What do you think Krishna means when he says, "when a man sees that the God in himself is the same God in all that is, he hurts not himself by hurting others: then he goes indeed to the highest Path" (64)? Is Krishna is Visnhu, one of the supreme gods, how can Arjuna also be God? Or Me? Or You?