is the Gita dishonest?

[Gunthard Mueller]

It is one way to approach the Gita as ultimate religious
reference, and another to try to understand it as a work
of religious literature.
If you come from the former angle, you will see truth
in the Gita itself, no matter what it says, and you will
not be concerned about paradoxes, consistency, and
other such measly nitty-gritty.
If you try to understand it as a work of religious
literature, you have to develop your own viewpoint.
That's a lot harder.
I assume that the indology list is not a place of
devotion, but of analysis.
Running for cover,
Gunthard

gm at e-ternals.com

Krishna-kripa das wrote:

> At 05:22 AM 3/23/01 +0000, Arun Gupta wrote:
> >Re: "The Gita is certainly not totally consistent" --
> >My current understanding is limited; but I would venture
> >the hypothesis that the Gita is paradoxical rather than
> >"not totally consistent". Better understanding will resolve
> >the paradoxes.
>
> I agree.
>
> And regarding consistency, Emerson once said, "A foolish consistency is
> the hobgoblin of little minds."
>
> It is interesting that even Arjuna appears to have
> difficulty in following Krishna's argument and thus in the
> beginning of chapters 3 and 5, for example, he asks for
> clarification as to what is better, renunciation or work in
> devotion.  Krishna then proceeds to clear up Arjuna's doubts.
>
> Another point is that Krishna advises in 4.34 that one try to
> understand the truth by inquiring submissively from and rendering
> service to one who has seen the truth.  If this procedure is
> not followed it is perhaps not surprising that the Gita will appear
> paradoxical.  The 'truth' referred to there is described in the following
> verse, 4.35, and is that all beings are within Krishna.
>
> Best wishes to everyone,
> Chris Beetle