Religion Analysis Essay 1

Question: What are the three paths to salvation encountered in the Bhagavad-Gita. Explain the meaning of each of the paths and compare and contrast each with the others. Does the Gita favor one path to salvation or does it consider the others equally valid? Justify your answer with quotes from the Gita that illustrate your exposition of the paths. Do not just quote any text but explain how the texts you are quoting apply to the path you are explaining (in other words, be very selective and choose texts that are illuminating and relevant).

Religion Analysis Essay 1

In the Bhagavad Gita we are presented with the story of Krishna (the Avatar of Vishnu), who is also the charioteer of a prince named Arjuna. The Gita is set in the brink of a war that’s about to break out between Arjuna and various relatives and friends. Arjuna suddenly becomes depressed with the thought of murdering those he cares about, and as he begins renouncing the violent actions he seeks Krishna’s advice. Krishna then begins sharing his divine knowledge with Arjuna, and tells him three paths (Yoga’s) that lead to ‘salvation’. This salvation is in the form of the realization of Brahman, or the realization of the ultimate impersonal divine essence of the universe. Upon attaining this truth, one achieves Moksha, which is freedom from rebirth or reincarnation. Krishna offers three paths (Yoga’s) that Arjuna can take in order to achieve oneness with the Ultimate Truth and Moksha (salvation; freedom from Samsara).

Upon being freed from the cycle of rebirth, Krishna teaches that one is united with this Brahman, and that salvation comes in the form of becoming one with this Ultimate Impersonal Essence. The three paths he teaches are selfless action (Karma Yoga), self-transcending knowledge (Jnana Yoga), and devotion (Bhakti Yoga). We will evaluate these three throughout the essay, as well as discuss which of these three Krishna saw as most important. As we discuss these different paths, we will search for how they help one achieve realization of Brahman.

The first path we will discuss is that of action (Karma Yoga). This is presented early to help address Arjuna’s problem with fighting the war, and his role as a warrior. Throughout the Gita, Krishna makes it clear that Arjuna is merely killing a body that houses a soul (Atman), and that he cannot hurt the soul inside the body. Krisha tells Arjuna to “be intent on action, not on the fruits of actions; avoid attraction to the fruits and attachment to inaction” . He teaches Arjuna to act without worrying on gain or loss, and to act without attachment. He teaches that “a man of inner strength whose senses experience objects without attraction and hatred, in self control, finds serenity” Arjuna can gain ‘salvation’ through acting without expectations or worries, and that this leads to a purified mind and the serenity of Moksha. By acting without the distraction of sense pleasures, gain, and expectation, Krishna tells Arjuna that “one finds the pure calm of infinity” , and this infinity is the ultimate truth of Brahman; which leads to salvation.

Besides the path of action (which fits Arjuna most as a warrior), Krishna teaches the path of knowledge (Jnana Yoga). This knowledge comes in the form of being able to discern what is truth, what is eternal, and what isn’t. As I mentioned earlier about the mortality of the bodies, this path focuses on being able to discern what is eternal (the Atman, or soul, in the soldiers) and what is not (the soldiers physical bodies). This leads a person to realize the one True Self (Brahman) is everywhere, and realizing this is true knowledge. “When ignorance is destroyed by knowledge of the self, then, like the sun, knowledge illumines ultimate reality” , and this ultimate reality is that Brahman is everywhere; even in the Self. Destroying ignorance is attained when one realizes that they are one with this Ultimate Reality, and this knowledge leads someone to attain salvation by realizing Brahman. Krishna states that “Knowing me as the enjoyer of sacrifices and penances…he finds peace” , which means that through the knowledge of the transcendent-self and Krishna, one finds peace (salvation).
The third path is that of devotion (Bhakti Yoga). This path comes in the form of a complete loving devotion to Krishna. Here, Krishna explains that salvation and moksha are achieved through complete devotion to Him: “Keep me in your mind and devotion, sacrifice to me, bow to me, discipline your self toward me, and you will reach me!” . In this path, Krishna teaches that salvation is as easy as “relinquishing all sacred duties to me [Krishna], make me your only refuge…” and by doing this Krishna says “…I shall free you from all evils.” Salvation, and one-ness with Krishna, can be attained merely by devoting yourself completely to Him. By doing this, Krishna will free Arjuna from all evils, and Arjuna will “attain the eternal place that is peace” .

Throughout the Gita, Krishna teaches that these three paths lead to what we would call ‘salvation’; however Krishna makes it very clear that one is more important than the others. The Gita itself acts as a Bhakti text, and the main idea behind it’s story of Krishna and Arjuna’s conversation is that salvation can be achieved by devoting yourself to Krishna. Arjuna comes to this realization at the very end, where he tells Krishna “…My delusion is destroyed, and by your grace I have regained memory; I stand here, my doubt dispelled, ready to act on your words” . With Arjuna using this path to salvation, and it being suggested by Krishna, we come to the conclusion of it being the most important and significant path in attaining ‘salvation’.

-Leonard O Goenaga