Reading the Bhagavad-Gita, Chapters 3-4

Chapter 3: Karma-Yoga - the Path of Action

We start with Arjuna asking the question that was bothering me from chapter 2:

“My Lord! If Wisdom is above action, why dost Thou advise me to
engage in this terrible fight?
Thy language perplexes me and confuses my reason. Therefore please tell me the only
way by which I may, without doubt, secure my spiritual welfare.

Lord Shri Krishna replied: In this world, as I have said, there is a twofold path, O Sinless
One! There is the Path of Wisdom for those who meditate, and the Path of Action for those
who work.
No man can attain freedom from activity by refraining from action; nor can he reach
perfection by merely refusing to act.
He cannot even for a moment remain really inactive, for the Qualities of Nature will
compel him to act whether he will or no.
He who remains motionless, refusing to act, but all the while brooding over sensuous
object, that deluded soul is simply a hypocrite.
But, O Arjuna! All honour to him whose mind controls his senses, for he is thereby
beginning to practise Karma-Yoga, the Path of Right Action, keeping himself always
unattached.
Do thy duty as prescribed, for action for duty’s sake is superior to inaction. Even the
maintenance of the body would be impossible if man remained inactive." (p.9)

Action or inaction of themselves are useless, but doing what you're told to is the superior path?  That is certainly very convenient for the powers of the status quo.


Krishna elaborates: you should do your duty without caring about consequences, action is not really the product of free will anyway, and doing what Krishna tells you to frees you from the bondage of action:

"Action is the product of the Qualities inherent in Nature. It is only the ignorant man who,
misled by personal egotism, says: `I am the doer.’
But he, O Mighty One, who understands correctly the relation of the Qualities to action, is
not attached to the act for he perceives that it is merely the action and reaction of the
Qualities among themselves.
Those who do not understand the Qualities are interested in the act. Still, the wise man
who knows the truth should not disturb the mind of him who does not.
Therefore, surrendering thy actions unto Me, thy thoughts concentrated on the Absolute,
free from selfishness and without anticipation of reward, with mind devoid of excitement,
begin thou to fight.
Those who always act in accordance with My precepts, firm in faith and without cavilling,
they too are freed from the bondage of action." (p10)

This Bhagavad Gita is certainly full of fine-sounding words.  If I understand correctly, we have 1) free will does not exist, and 2) do what Krishna says because Krishna says it.

1) I'm not read up on current neurology.  Perhaps someone who is can jump in with current research.  Certainly, we are constrained in our choices by our environment and by the choices of all those who went before us.  Indeed, we may not have free will.  I find this idea distasteful, as living day-to-day I seem to experience free will, and value that will immensely.  But it may be one of the illusions of consciousness.

2) Argument from authority!  Good is good because Krishna says so!  Which still fails, because we can do better than that.  We can choose our values and evaluate our course of action based on how well we think it will fulfill those values, and re-evaluate in light of history, regardless of what Russell's Teapot Tangaroa Krishna says.  For a more extensive look at the problem, I still like this rebuttal: http://www.richardcarrier.info/Carrier--ReplyToFlannagan.pdf   

We finish chapter 3 with Arjuna asking what is the source of sin.  Krishna replies that desire is the source of sin: "Therefore, O Arjuna, first control thy senses and then slay desire, for it is full of sin, and is the destroyer of knowledge and of wisdom." (p11)

Chapter 4: Dnyana Yoga-The Path of Wisdom
Krishna proclaims that the wisdom he imparts to Arjuna he gave also to those of old.  He (Krishna) is reborn from age to age:
 

"Whenever spirituality decays and materialism is rampant, then, O Arjuna, I reincarnate
Myself!
To protect the righteous, to destroy the wicked and to establish the kingdom of God, I am
reborn from age to age.
He who realises the divine truth concerning My birth and life is not born again; and when
he leaves his body, he becomes one with Me.
Many have merged their existences in Mine, being freed from desire, fear and anger, filled
always with Me and purified by the illuminating flame of self-abnegation.
Howsoever men try to worship Me, so do I welcome them. By whatever path they travel,
it leads to Me at last."(p12)

Thus, indeed, many also believe that Arthur will return when Britain is in sore need.  At first glance, a comforting sentiment in the face of powerful institutions and the inertia of centuries.  Notice the last line, however: if any path leads to Krishna, and Arjuna worshiped by avoiding needless violence by abdicating his claim to the throne, why won't Krishna let him? 

Next Krishna says, "What is action and what is inaction? It is a question which has bewildered the wise. But I will declare unto thee the philosophy of action, and knowing it, thou shalt be free from
evil." (p. 12)

Having said that, however, he spends the rest of the chapter obfuscating the issue, trying to equate action with inaction.  As long as the action is done practicing the doctrine of non-attachment, action = inaction, and any of the common ascetic practices are considered valid means for attaining this non-attachment.  This leads to wisdom:

"But the man who has renounced his action for meditation, who has cleft his doubt in twain
by the sword of wisdom, who remains always enthroned in his Self, is not bound by his
acts.
Therefore, cleaving asunder with the sword of wisdom the doubts of the heart, which
thine own ignorance has engendered, follow the Path of Wisdom and arise!” (p14)

So, whatever you do, if you do it with a meditative mind, in the spirit of non-attachment (and doing what Krishna says), you are not responsible for your acts?  Is there a more charitable interpretation I can put on this?  Because that is cowardly.  Vile.  Justification for anything you want to do, no matter how much you hurt other people, hiding behind of screen of "The Invisible Pink Unicorn told me to do it!"

I call bullshit.  Arjuna, get up and kick your charioteer out, because while his words sound fine, they are rotten.  

End chapter 4.  Next time, chapters 5-6.