Bhagavad Gita (As I See It)

LT. Col. R.K. Langar is a retired Army officer who took part in all the three major wars which the Indian Army fought in 1962, 1965 and 1971 He has devoted his post Army life in spiritual pursuits. Col. Langar is author of four books and writer of more than one thousand articles on spiritual and moral themes which have been published in various magazines, journals and newspapers. He is a keen student of Bhagavad Gita and conducts regular classes based on It's teachings. He also gives lectures on moral and spiritual values which need to be imbibed for living a healthy life. He has studied World Religions and has also written articles on their teachings.

It gives men great delight to write his book on the gist of the teachings of Bhagavad Gita which are enumerated chapter wise. I have been associated with this great scripture Bhagavad Gita for the last twenty four years and I have found that it is one scripture which teaches everything for living a healthy life in the world besides raising one's consciousness to the highest level. Bhagavad Gita is a scripture for developing a wholesome personality with a spiritual blend. Gita is a book of code of conduct which gives constant counseling to act righteously.

Bhagavad Gita being a world class scripture is not read by many people in India being the country of its origin. Main reason for this is the misbelieve that if one does not know Sanskrit one cannot understand what Bhagavad Gita teaches. Our aim is to know the spirit of the teachings of Gita chapter wise which is not difficult as a number of good translations are available both in English and Hindi on the teachings of Bhagavad Gita. In this book I have given gist of the teachings of Bhagavad Gita chapter wise in order to attract the readers to understand what Bhagavad Gita is all about. I hope the readers of this book shall get introduced to Bhagavad Gita to understand the greatness of this scripture. Bhagavad Gita is India's most precious gift to the world.

Bhagavad Gita is a scripture in the form of a dialogue between Lord Krishna - the Supreme God and Arjuna in the battle field of Kurukshetra. It forms a part of Mahabharata. Bhagavad Gita is a practical scripture which gives down to earth solutions of all problems of life both in worldly and spiritual spheres. It is for all times, for all places and for all people irrespective of caste, creed and the country to which they belong. It is a Timeless treasure house of Indian spiritual wisdom which has no parallel in the world. Bhagavad Gita is also called a scripture of all scriptures. It consists of eighteen chapters having seven hundred verses (Shlokas) and it is the crowning jewel of Mahabharata. It teaches the art of living in the present and NOW. Bhagavad Gita is a dynamic scripture which gives a call for action. Bhagavad Gita is a master piece of spirituality. It deals with human problem in a human way. Bhagavad Gita is the essence of Upanishads or Vedanta.

Bhagavad Gita teaches four systems of yoga which are Gyan yoga, Karma yoga, Bhakti yoga and Dhyan yoga for self evolution. In addition, each chapter of Gita is titled as yoga giving ways and means to connect or to unite individual soul or Atma inside the body to Supreme God or Paramatma so as to get the soul liberated from the cycle of birth and death. Bhagavad Gita gives true meaning of the word Yoga which is Not a physical exercise to get rid of body pains or to reduce body weight as is generally understood by vast number of people. Yoga is spiritual awakening which aims to make a person God like and complete with Divine virtues inwardly. Study of Bhagavad Gita is indispensible to understand True meaning of yoga (The way of Self perfection). It is for this reason that Bhagavad Gita is called Yogashastra or science of Yoga.

Bhagavad Gita motivates, inspires and guides with reason but never order its devotees to do this or that. It is because Lord Krishna has given free will to his devotees to act as they like. This makes a person responsible for all acts without God's interference which makes a man creator of his own fate. Bhagavad Gita is also a scripture for effective self management at all levels of man personality from physical to spiritual which includes mental, emotional, intellectual and social levels. Bhagavad Gita gives a beautiful study of mind which emphasizes than man is what his mind is. The quality of mind remains the same as that was in the past or as it will be in future. For this reason the teachings of Bhagavad Gita shall ever remain fresh and beneficial for all times. Also Bhagavad Gita does not contradict any doctrine but gives a large meaning to it. In world literature, no book is as elevating and inspiring as Bhagavad Gita. The aim of teaching Bhagavad Gita should neither be Scholastic nor Academic. Bhagavad Gita should be explained in a simple way so that a common man can understand and follow its teachings. The sprit of the teachings of Gita is far more important than explanation of the letters used to convey their meaning. Bhagavad Gita is more applicable a common man to root out his ignorance. Bhagavad Gita must be expressed in the light of one’s own in a simple way to enable a common man to understand and act of its teachings. The study of Bhagavad Gita is the best medicine for a depressed mind.