{"id":24812,"date":"2021-01-22T11:33:37","date_gmt":"2021-01-22T15:33:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/?p=24812"},"modified":"2021-02-05T15:40:42","modified_gmt":"2021-02-05T19:40:42","slug":"dharma-bhagavad-gita","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/dharma-bhagavad-gita\/","title":{"rendered":"Dharma in The Bhagavad Gita: Fulfilling Purpose"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What is dharma in The Bhagavad Gita<\/em>? How does the text define dharma, and what does it mean in terms of spirituality?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dharma in The Bhagavad Gita<\/em> is one of the most important lessons. In the text, dharma is similar to destiny. Your dharma helps you fulfill your higher purpose, rather than be concerned with material things. Krishna introduces dharma to Arjuna, and they continue to refer to it throughout the book. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read more about dharma in The Bhagavad Gita<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Reality, Illusion, and Dharma<\/strong> in The Bhagavad Gita<\/em>.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Bhagavad Gita <\/em>is one part of the Mahabharata<\/em>, an ancient Sanskrit story that\u2019s one of the oldest known epics. The Gita <\/em>is one of the most famous pieces of Hindu literature, and the lessons it teaches are central to that faith. As a cultural touchstone and a spiritual guide, scholars consider it one of the most important ancient texts in the world. The translation and commentary by help even those who aren\u2019t learned in Hindu mythology to understand its teachings.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As The Bhagavad Gita <\/em>begins, two mighty armies face each other across the field of Kurukshetra, which is located to the north of modern-day Delhi. The Pandavas<\/em>, led by Prince Arjuna, are about to wage war against their kin, the Kauravas<\/em>, who have usurped the throne of Hastinapura.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arjuna is conflicted because he doesn\u2019t want to fight against his own family. He turns to his childhood friend and charioteer Krishna, who is actually an incarnation of the god Vishnu, for advice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Krishna\u2019s advice comprises the vast majority of the Gita<\/em>\u2014\u201cBhagavad Gita<\/em>\u201d means \u201csong of God.\u201d He begins by discussing dharma, what we might call destiny, and tells Arjuna that it\u2019s his dharma to fight. Krishna then moves into discussions of the difference between reality and illusion\u2014anything that\u2019s of the physical, temporary world isn\u2019t real. The only reality is divinity, which Arjuna\u2019s weapons can\u2019t harm, so he should have no qualms about fighting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From there, Krishna moves into a discussion of his own nature as God; how all things came from him and he exists in everything. He discusses how the path to enlightenment<\/a> involves recognizing that truth and seeing that all things are connected through God. This leads to selfless action<\/a> in the literal sense\u2014acting without thought or care for oneself, focused only on God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ultimate goal of these lessons is to help Arjuna break free from samsara, the cycle of reincarnation<\/a>. However, in the short term, they serve to soothe Arjuna\u2019s doubts and ready him for the battle to come.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Krishna and Arjuna frequently discuss dharma in The Bhagavad Gita<\/em>, and how to selflessly pursue your dharma. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

What is dharma in The Bhagavad Gita? How does the text define dharma, and what does it mean in terms of spirituality? Dharma in The Bhagavad Gita is one of the most important lessons. In the text, dharma is similar to destiny. Your dharma helps you fulfill your higher purpose, rather than be concerned with material things. Krishna introduces dharma to Arjuna, and they continue to refer to it throughout the book. Read more about dharma in The Bhagavad Gita.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":11648,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[40,21,6],"tags":[197],"class_list":["post-24812","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-books","category-philosophy","category-spiritual","tag-the-bhagavad-gita","","tg-column-two"],"yoast_head":"\nDharma in The Bhagavad Gita: Fulfilling Purpose - Shortform Books<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"What is dharma in The Bhagavad Gita? 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