Spirituality, Religion and Bhagavad Gita

Do you have to believe in something to benefit from the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita? Pedro Nonell

Reflection by Pedro Nonell on spirituality, religion and Bhagavad Gita

Good afternoon, I'm still in this wonder of the Charterhouse of Scala Dei of the Priorat (Tarragona, Spain), we have taken some photos for those who are curious to know more about this place, I think this fountain is magical (and that is why I am recording this video here).

Today I wanted to talk to you about a topic, the answer to which is not easy: spirituality, religion and Bhagavad Gita, in short: Do you have to believe in something to benefit from the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita?

It's a complicated question. The Bhagavad Gita is a Moksha Shastra, it is a book about the liberation of the soul, of knowledge of the Atman (Self-knowledge) and through Atman, the union with the Absolute Reality, whatever you call it: Brahman, God, Sat-Chit-Ananda or Allah.

And that is important, I believe that the Bhagavad Gita transcends all these paths. In fact, Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa explained it very well with his famous phrase “Yato mat, tato path” (So many religions, so many paths).

Sri Ramakrishna

From a more technical point of view, I would tell you that Chapter 1 of the Bhagavad Gita (Yoga of the Despondency of Arjuna) is accessible to everyone, regardless of what one believes.

The concept of Atman, I believe, is present in all religions, even agnostics believe it, but I have my doubts if atheists would accept the concepts of Chapter 2 (Sankhya Yoga), on which the entire Bhagavad Gita is based.

The next block is Karma Yoga, I believe that the great advantage of Karma Yoga is applicable to all humanity, it does not matter whether one is Buddhist, Agnostic, Christian or Jain. And that is the great contribution of Karma Yoga. And Swami Vivekananda demonstrated it well in his essays on Karma Yoga. And from this point of view, everything that Karma Yoga is, is an accessible path regardless of the spiritual path one follows.

Karma Yoga

Obviously, the other paths, especially Bhakti Yoga, you have to believe in something, otherwise it is difficult to imagine what to worship; There have been attempts to worship the Goddess of Reason but I don't think it is a path. Be that as it may, Bhakti Yoga is the path of Christianity, Islam, the Bhakti path of Hinduism, etc.

Bhakti Yoga

And Jnana Yoga, I really believe that it is a path designed above all for those who mainly follow Vedanta, but let us remember that Vedanta encompasses all religions, in fact, Christianity says something similar: “The Kingdom of God is within.” of you” which reminds me a lot of the “All is One” of Vedanta.

Jnana Yoga

Well this is the reflection, but beyond spirituality or religion, it is evident that the Bhagavad Gita is a book of Self-Knowledge, and helps to improve, especially to achieve liberation.

Thank you very much, Pedro Nonell

Namaste!!!

Espiritualidad, religión y Bhagavad Gita Espiritualidade, religião e Bagavadeguitá.

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