tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8344903994797974380.post820388270445473444..comments2022-04-03T14:35:55.701-06:00Comments on Georg Feuerstein: Are the Yamas (Moral Disciplines) of Yoga Unnecessary? (2)Georg Feuersteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10043382250970089167noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8344903994797974380.post-47800072629334597152010-09-02T17:51:10.566-06:002010-09-02T17:51:10.566-06:00Frank, thanks for your helpful observations!Frank, thanks for your helpful observations!Georg Feuersteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10043382250970089167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8344903994797974380.post-2576261994088585292010-08-28T13:05:27.707-06:002010-08-28T13:05:27.707-06:00Hi, Georg.
We had a robust discussion of this sam...Hi, Georg.<br /><br />We had a robust discussion of this same issue as part of our online Gita discussion on Elephant Journal:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.elephantjournal.com/2010/08/gita-talk-4a-gandhis-bible-or-a-call-to-war/" rel="nofollow">Gita Talk #4a: Gandhi’s Bible or a Call to War?</a><br /><br />Would love to get your and your readers input there.<br /><br />Enjoying your new blog very much. Thank you for being here.<br /><br /><b><a href="http://www.elephantjournal.com/author/bob-weisenberg/" rel="nofollow">Bob Weisenberg</a></b>Bob Weisenberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01442738029941563325noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8344903994797974380.post-58641842696229759542010-08-26T14:49:48.993-06:002010-08-26T14:49:48.993-06:00Hi Georg,
For me, for many years, the "war s...Hi Georg,<br /><br />For me, for many years, the "war situation" of the Gita presented many problems. I am still not convinced that war, in any other case other than invasion, is any kind of solution. For that I find truth in the statement of the Buddha in the Dhammapada.<br /><br />However, your statement of situating Krishna's dilemma as a "moral crisis" I find, nails it for me. It was when I myself found myself on the horns of such a dilemma, that I saw the very real human existential aspect of Arjuna's situation. I recognized that all of us, at least at some point in our lives, are place in such moral crises and the point for me of the Gita is WE MUST ACT.<br /><br />When presented with any major life decision, there are often pros and cons to either path we take. Often, whatever we choose, there will be 'blood.' That is to say, life often presents us situations where whatever we decide to do, there will be some pain in the choosing. What I discovered was that my first reaction was to try to find some way of avoiding the pain, which of course added what the Buddha called 'the second dart' and itself was a form of action, but one of 'bad faith.'<br /><br />Finally, I realized that I must choose, and in the choosing, accept any and all consequences without knowing, without seeking some kind of guarantee. Arjuna sees that if he fights there will be bloodshed and loved ones will die. If he refrains from fighting, there will be bloodshed and loved ones will die. That's how it is for us when life calls us to make some major life decisions. After all, the word "decide" itself has "kill" (cide) in it. When we choose, we kill off one alternative for another.<br /><br />For me, this has been the entry into the Gita I had not seen for many years when I was younger.Poep Sa Frank Judehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13609272991412471770noreply@blogger.com