Overview
The Bhagavad Gītā (cont.): Questioning the Self: From Ethical Dilemma to Crisis of Personal Identity
Complete Readings: The Bhagavad Gītā, Chapters 1-6, SIP, pp. 101-126; “Bhagavadgītā,” OIP, pp. 116-130
Guiding Questions: Why does Arjuna suddenly lose his will to fight on the battlefield? Do you think that this is the result of mere weakness of will, or does it stem from a genuine moral dilemma? What influences can we see in the Bhagavad Gītā from Vedic and Upaniṣadic ideals of ritual action and world-transcendence, respectively? Give two passages from the Bhagavad Gītā text itself (i.e., from the translation portions of the SIP reading, not from the Introduction to the Bhagavad Gītā in the SIP and also not from the OIP reading) showing this for each. Do you think that Krishna (Kṛṣṇa) asks Arjuna to fight a just war? Explain your reasoning.