Does Bhagavat Gita Promote Violence?

Ramachandran

Why do you drag Bhagavat Gita in to this workshop on “Living with Awareness”? You as a healer talk about forgiveness, love and thanks, while Bhagavat Gita promotes violence. The Gita talks about Kshatriya Darma (warrior’s responsibilities), fighting, killing, etc. You seem to be contradicting.

Naran S. Balakumar

One can interpret Gita in many ways. There are so many criticisms, controversies and commentaries for Gita. This shows the popularity of the Bhagavat Gita.

How a healer should understand it? Gita does not promote violence. It promotes detachment.  It says, “Do your duty without attaching yourself to the mind”.  

What does Krishna mean when he said, “Arjuna, you are a Kshatriya (warrior) and therefore your duty is to fight”. He categorically said that the battleground is a place of implementation and not a place for analysis.

Did Krishna Promote Violence

My answer to your question, “Did Krishna promote violence through Gita”, is “NO”.

Krishna said, “Arjuna, you had already taken a decision, based on Darma. This is the battleground, where one has to activate the Kshatriya part (military part) of the mind. The decision was taken already. The battleground is a place of implementation. A jawan should just carry out the orders of his superiors. The Jawan (soldier) should fight but cannot question the Major General. There is no right or wrong in the war front. Fight is the order. There is no violence in the war front. The Military mind is fighting to protect. Arjuna, your duty now is to fight. Activate that part. Deactivate other parts.”

Conclusion

Gita does not promote violence. It promotes detachment. “Do your duty without attaching yourself to the mind.”

If Arjuna asked his questions/doubts when Pandavas were deciding for war instead on the battleground, Krishna would have answered differently and different Gita would have been with us today.

During the discussion before the war Arjuna instead of activating his Brahminical part activated his Kshatriya mind and clamoured for war. Strangely, he activated his Brahminical part in the war front instead of his Kshatriya part. That is why today’s Gita was born!

Next Post on Living with Awareness Series Part III:

How to Practice Living with Awareness in the way mentioned by Bhagavat Gita?