Bhagavad Gita Queries
What is the cultured activity that we should engage in?
Cultural activities mean participation in the family, country and the world. According to the time and circumstances we are positioned to serve the family, country and global situation.
As soon as one emerges from the mother, one is tagged with obligations. One is assigned a name and gradually as the body grows one is expected to assume certain responsibilities. This interaction generates cultural activity in either a positive or negative way.
By applying the guidelines suggested in the Bhagavad Gita, we may properly service the obligations.
How exactly do we become detached, and is it only through yoga practice?
Some persons even without doing yoga, exhibit detachment. Yoga however is the practice which can cause rapid application of detachment with insight. One has to know when to be detached and when to be concerned. In the Bhagavad Gita, Arjuna at first wanted to detach himself from his duty, which was unpalatable as he was supposed to use martial skill which involved deadly violence. He wanted to avoid doing that or to become detached from it.
Krishna rejected the idea. Hence, we learn that detachment has specific application and is not a full treatment. With detachment one has to have insight, otherwise one will detach oneself when one should be concerned or one may be concerned when one should be detached and that will cause faults for which one will be sorry.
What is the identity confused vs the reality perceiving person?
The identity confused person is someone who thinks that he is the physical body. He has no idea of past births and cannot properly determine what should or should not be done. If we calculate everything in terms of this life only, we will commit many faulty actions because we do not know all the factors which support a circumstance.
The main aspect is reincarnation, knowing that there were past births and that those energies are the foundation of what happens at the moment.
What is action? What are its consequences?
Action means whatever is done psychologically. In other words, any physical or emotional action is only worth the motive behind it. If I serve someone a poisoned cake, the value of it is the hidden chemical which will kill the person. The value is not the beautifully decorated sweet tasting pastry.
The consequences which come from a psychological action, reach the actor according to the underlying motive. That reaction may not come in the present life. This is a problem because it means that something may happen to someone which makes no sense within the present life time but which is supported and qualified by his/her actions from a past life.
Because we usually rationalize everything by only the present circumstances, we make mistakes in forming rash judgements which cause is to act in ways which further complicate situations.
What is prescribed austerity and religious ceremony?
The prescribed austerity and religious ceremony in Bhgavad Gita are the procedures which were given to the mind born sons of Brahma, in the very beginning of the occupation of the earth by human beings. Brahma gave some instructions which are termed as recommended austerities and worship procedures. These are described in various Vedic scriptures. They are suggested by Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita.
Personified Veda? I looked up the meaning of Veda and it said knowledge. So, does that means personal knowledge?
The Personified Veda is Brahma, who is the deity who created the physical world which we inhabit. He was the person to give the Vedic information to his mind born sons who were the first humans. Because he spoke the Veda or first information, He is the Vedas in Person.
