The Encyclopedia of World Religions

Bhagavad-Gita S 49

epic, the Mahabharata. Its author is unknown. The epic is attributed to an ancient sage named Vyasa, “the compiler.” He is said to have dictated the Mahabharata to GANESA , the elephant-headed god. Like much of Indian literature the Bhagavad-Gita is difficult to date. Scholars usually assign it to the period between 200 B . C . E . and 200 C . E . The Bhagavad-Gita contains 18 chapters. They present a conversation between the warrior hero, Arjuna, and his charioteer, K RISHNA . The conversa tion occurs early in the morning before the begin ning of a great battle. In the battle Arjuna and his brothers will fight against their cousins. The problem for Arjuna is that many other revered fig ures, such as Arjuna’s teacher, are fighting for his cousins. Seeing in the ranks of the enemy those to whom he owes the utmost respect, Arjuna throws down his bow and refuses to fight. During the conversation that follows, Krishna teaches many important truths of H INDUISM . The poem is very complex, and no brief summary can do it justice. But it is possible to identify some of the poem’s main topics. Krishna identifies three paths in Hinduism, which he calls YOGA s, “disciplines.” These are the path of insight, the path of action, and the path of devotion to Krishna alone as G OD . In the path of insight Krishna teaches the true nature of the ATMAN or self. Eternal and unchanging, the self does not experience change. Therefore, it cannot truly be born, die, or be injured. In the path of action he teaches the proper attitude with which to act. According to Krishna one should perform one’s DHARMA or duty without thinking about the “fruits” of one’s action. As a warrior, Arjuna’s duty requires him to fight. One climax of the Bhagavad-Gita comes in chapter 11. The Mahabharata as a whole presents Krishna as a neighboring prince who has come to help Arjuna and his brothers win back their kingdom. During the Bhagavad-Gita, Arjuna asks Krishna to reveal his true nature. What follows is chapter 11, one of the masterpieces of the human attempt to describe the encounter with God. Another climax of the Bhagavad-Gita comes near the end of the poem. There Krishna summarizes

over an image of the corpse. These writings also form the basis of a ritual that seeks release for the living. Those who perform this ritual spend 49 days shut up in completely dark caves. During that time they attempt to experience while still alive the events that the Bardo Thodol describes. This experience is helpful, they say, in attaining ulti mate release. Benedictines One of the earliest and most influential orders of Roman Catholic MONKS AND NUNS . Benedictines follow the rule of St. Bene dict ( c. 480– c. 547). This rule divides the day into times for worship, work, and study. It is moderate rather than harsh. For example, it does not greatly emphasize fasting or lack of sleep. By following the rule Benedictines cultivate obedience, endur ance, humility, and gentleness. Benedictines were extremely important to Euro pean civilization in the medieval period. The most important monastery was at Cluny, France (founded 909/910). Benedictine MISSIONARIES were crucial in bringing C HRISTIANITY to Europe. The two best exam ples are probably Augustine of C ANTERBURY (d. 604) and Boniface ( c. 675–754), who brought Christian ity to the Anglo-Saxons and the Germans, respec tively. Benedictines were also intellectual leaders. They copied manuscripts and, like Rabanus Mau rus (780–856), helped create cultural revivals. The poetry and music of a medieval Benedictine nun, Hildegard of Bingen (1098–1179), attracted consid erable interest in the late 20th century. The Benedictines experienced a worldwide revival from about 1800 to the second V ATICAN C OUNCIL (1962–65). As part of the revival, Benedic tine houses were founded in North America. At the end of the 20th century North American Benedic tines were active in promoting Christianity, teach ing, and providing health care.

Bhagavad-Gita A Sanskrit title meaning “The Song of the Lord”; perhaps the most widely revered of the Hindu scriptures. The Bhagavad-Gita is a poem that makes up a small part of the mammoth Hindu