This course is based on the Chapters of the Bhagavad Gita.
Bhagavad Gita is not guru sitting under a shady banyan tree in the tranquil silence of a holy jungle, sermonising to some pliant, obedient, willing student. Neither is the setting tranquil at all, nor is the sermon academic at all, and least of all is the student pliant and willing. It's a real-life setting in which you do not have the luxury of a formal podium, a formal appointment, a formal code of conduct. It's the war chariot, not the temple. There are armies around, not silent idyllic trees and cute animals, and the one being spoken to is a biased, emotional and unwilling listener, not some keen student.
Arjuna is a real-life student, not the ideal disciple. Therefore, Krishna’s persuasion has cutting-edge mastery. Krishna is facing a real-life challenge. Arjuna has to be convinced and converted in real time, right now! “Do it right now. Do it right now, else Duryodhana gets a walkover. Look at the urgency of the situation. That's what makes the Gita special.
Bhagavad Gita is not guru sitting under a shady banyan tree in the tranquil silence of a holy jungle, sermonising to some pliant, obedient, willing student....