A Divine view of Socialism - Bhagavad Gita verses 3.12-3.13

Originally Posted by aishu22

Dear Sri,
Your examples on Lord Ganesha breaking his right tusk only shows the "great" sacrifice that elephant god did to make us all understand, that when it comes to an important task, we should be even ready to burn ourselves.In olden days, people stood by their word-of-mouth statements.But, now adays, even the paper document(stamped) can be duplicated and there is no meaning for words like dedication,sacrifice.I may sound generic, but the negativity aspect is high!

Coming to Asura's, each time when i watch a epic or any spiritual show which involves giving boon... the question will arise in my mind..."why should they grant wishes for these asuras" -Asuras lived such lives of sin with those boons and had to be destroyed by God Himself. People who live an utterly selfish life at the expense of others can be verily likened to these Asuras. you have answered my questions today! Thanks!

Sharing being a duty and not to be looked upon as a sacrifice or punya is a lesson for me today.
Your last para raising concerns over nation/communities and self are really worrying.If only all of us take a consious effort to practise certain principles, from these great scriptures like Gita, we can see some light.
Mind blowing explanation to the Gita verses and also i read you response to Vidhi.Thanks alot!

Dear Aishu
In our school days, we were told stories of Parri who gave his chariot for a creeper to survive, Sibi who offered his own flesh to save a dove from a falcon and Manu who ordered his son to be run over by the same chariot that killed a calf on receipt of a complaint from the cow. No other country has such a rich heritage to ponder over and inspire.

It is a pity that the pharse 'survival of the fittest' has come to override all other considerations of human existence. We take it to such extremes now justifying it saying 'All is fair in love and war' This means that self comes ahead of everything else be it our loved one or our enemy!
Sri

Originally Posted by corallux

My Dear Gita Gurus,

A teaching that the politicians & the people in power can really learn from.

Day after day, we hear of umpteen bribe cases where nations are sold to fatten the purses of a Selfish few.

Annadaan is the best way to serve the Lord say the Vedas. The reason is simple. When you feed someone, the taste multiplies. The recipient too has to stop after a point as his stomach is full. Whereas where cash/clothes or any materialistic "daan" come into picture, there is scope for the recipient to wish for more.

Sharing is the hallmark of every Hindu Vrat. Chithraji I am sure you will know more about this & will enlighten us more on this aspect. Every major Vrat in Hinduism has a Katha highlighting the importance/significance of a Vrat. Some for wealth, victory, success etc. All of them have a common message at the end. Every Katha ends with a suggestion that the Karta feed the people highlighting the importance of sharing.

Some people perform rituals etc to harm others. Using "Black magic", they perform various rites & rituals that are frowned upon. The end result? After some time, they suffer untold miseries.

Cheeniyaji, Your explanation reminds me of your previous post where you had quoted "Bhaja Govindam" as an example. A rich man fears his own son says a verse. Your example of rich nations exploiting the poorer ones & suppressing them with force when they stand up to demand their rights is what is happening today.

The European & USA based their economies on exploitation of poor countries of Asia & Africa. The biggest trade is the arms trade.

Forget countries, at home, one kid is favoured at the expense of it's siblings. We learn from our elders. A kid of rich parents gets special treatment everywhere. But a kid from a poor family is ignored everywhere.

No wonder, the saying "Charity begins at home" is so apt.

Regards,

Corallux

P.S. I found this clip of Bhaja Govindam on Youtube. Sung by the immortal MS Subbulakshmiji, It has English subtitles. Chithraji if it breaches forum ettiquette, please delete it.

YouTube - M S Subbulakshmi::Bhaja Govindam (w. Eng. subtitles)

Dear Corallux
How profound is the statement that a rich man will have to fear his son first! If one has a son like Aurangzeb, the father can never hope to die a natural death!

Bhaja Govindam is one of the greatest spiritual text ever written. A reading of it is enough to give us a new perspective of our life and its ramifications. Sikhism has a great tradition of sharing and voluntary service of cleaning the Gurudwaras. I have been to their Langar in places like Poanta Sahib and Amritsar and I was filled with awe on seeing their devotion. Of course, there are people too who review and evaluate such langars!
Sri

Dear Mrs.Chith and Cheeniya Sir,
After reading this portion in Gita, I wondered what is not dealt here with?
Always give and take...this is what emphasised here..
Now we are visibly seeing the results of our taking, taking, and taking from the abundant wealth of nature..like melting of Arctic Ice, hole in the ozone layer, etc..

Last week I read an article in the Sakthi Vikatan, which seems to be so relevant to this topic..
It is about how Swami Vivekananda transformed the business magnet Rockefeller to a philanthropist...for which he got 'peace of mind'..

sriniketan

Dear Bhargavi,
In present day, the "give and take" - how is it practised? It is very often, "you give - I take".Bribe is the order of the day in most aspects because only micro-level benfit is thought about, never macro level, which will benfit the cosmos.
For the past 3, 4 days, Sun TV news shows, how sand is dug from most of the river-beds in illicit operations by private lorry owners. Such maladies can be overcome only when each of us remembers his or her share in the collective harmful effects, thereby produced with respect to ecological balance.
Love,
Chithra.

Originally Posted by Sriniketan

Dear Mrs.Chith and Cheeniya Sir,
After reading this portion in Gita, I wondered what is not dealt here with?
Always give and take...this is what emphasised here..
Now we are visibly seeing the results of our taking, taking, and taking from the abundant wealth of nature..like melting of Arctic Ice, hole in the ozone layer, etc..

Last week I read an article in the Sakthi Vikatan, which seems to be so relevant to this topic..
It is about how Swami Vivekananda transformed the business magnet Rockefeller to a philanthropist...for which he got 'peace of mind'..

sriniketan