Attending Bhagawad Geeta classes with Swami Suryapada, and he had asked to write a summary of our understanding on the chapters (  it’s actually a test for him, whether he had conveyed what really has to be conveyed ;)-  )  . So putting in here,  my understandings,  instead of writing in a diary.

Before  starting chapter wise summary,  just the background.  Actually instead of seeing Bhagwad geeta, as a some story which happened 5000 years ago, it would be wise, to see it daily in our lives, and apply the knowledge given, to our own lives.  If not, Geeta will be only in History books, not a life guide.

Background is a war between two brothers, for a piece of land.  We see it happening even now over and over again.  Also within us,  we would have initiated some project/goal/…. Start preparing for it but because of  so many factors ( e.g.  seeing the enormity of the situation, seeing no body had done it before,  it’s not what majority is doing,  not sure what will happen in the end, what are the consequences,   loosing charm in the goal, finding some other goal more attractive,….. )  we tend have a doubt about the goal,  then start thinking should I really do it, why I have started doing this, I could be doing something else, another option was better,….

Once the doubt starts creeping in, then we start finding all the faults/difficulties/explanations why we should not be doing it. 

Arjuna was a greatest warrior of his times, had the same situation. He had preparing for this was for years together. Suddenly on the battlefield where millions of people have gathered to fight, seeing his friends, relatives, teacher,… on the opposite sides  he lost his mind, and started giving explanations of why he should not fight.  

It’s nice to see the reasons which he had told, everything he knew before hand, but still wanted to fight. He says by this ghastly war, there will be less men, women with lose their purity, inter caste mingling will start happening,  and the culture/traditions/rituals which was being followed will collapse.  Suddenly Arjuna got the greatest worry that,  “I will occur sin, for all this calamity”.

Because of his inner turmoil finally he says, even if my enemies slay me in battle, unresisting and unarmed, that would be better for me.  "I won’t fight".   For a greatest warrior like arjuna, this is like a great defeat.

Ask yourself.  How many times we have done like this, abandoning our projects/goals/partners/... ???  If you have, and recognized it, then Bhagawad Geeta is for you.

 Here we observe also another great quality of a good teacher. Krishna didn’t say a single word till Arjuna finishes his blabbering.

Chapter 2