| Discourses On Gita By Acharya Vinoba Bhave |
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| Discourses On Gita |
| A SUPPLEMENT - THE CONFLICT BETWEEN DIVINE AND DEMONIC TENDENCIES |
The dawn of Purushottama-yoga : attainment of divine qualities1. In the first five Chapters of the Gita, we saw the whole scheme of life and the means of achieving life's purposes. Then, from the Sixth to the Eleventh Chapter we had a vision of bhakti. In the Twelfth Chapter we compared the saguna and nirguna forms and saw the qualities of the bhakta.Throughout this Chapter we analyzed thoroughly the two principles of karma and bhakti. Then there remained the third principle of jnana and this we studied in the Thirteenth, Fourteenth and Fifteenth Chapters. We learnt how to separate the Self from the body, how to master the three gunas and in the end see God everywhere. The Fifteenth Chapter gave us the complete science of life, which reaches perfection in purushottama-yoga. After that, nothing remains. 2. I cannot bear to see karma, jnana and bhakti separated. To some seekers established in karma, this is the only thing that appears worth-while. Others regard bhakti as an independent method and place all their emphasis on it. Still others choose jnana. Life does not mean mere karma or mere bhakti or mere jnana. I do not like this "mere" philosophy. And I do not accept the opposite view that would combine karma, bhakti and jnana. Nor do I like the utilitarian philosophy of a little of bhakti, a little of jnana and a little of karma. |
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