Sunday, October 20, 2013[jbox color=”white”][mp3t track=”2013-10-20-Shankara-BhagavadGitaAdiShankaracharyaAndAVideoGameParadigm.mp3″ play=”Listen Now -” stop=”Pause -” title=”"Bhagavad Gita, Adi Shankaracharya
and a Video Game Paradigm" – Br. Shankara”] Or download the MP3 to your computer, and listen offline.
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In Chapter 2 of Bhagavad Gita, Sri Krishna first explains jnanayoga – the path of knowledge – and then says to his friend and disciple, Arjuna — “I have explained to you the true nature of the Atman. Now listen to the method of Karma Yoga. If you can understand and follow it, you will be able to break the chains of desire which bind you to your actions…” Adi Shankaracharya (8th Century CE), shown above in a typical setting, reformed the Perennial Philosophy (Sanatana Dharma or Hinduism), in part by defeating leaders of of competing philosophical and religious schools in debate. Shankara also wrote persuasive commentaries on the Upanishads and other scriptures, including Bhagavad Gita. In the Introduction to his Gita commentary, Shankara wrote, “The dharma characterized by activity (karmayoga)… when it is practised in a spirit of complete self-surrender to the Lord… leads to the purification of the mind. A man of pure mind… attains Knowledge… (and) ultimately realizes the Highest Good (liberation).” In this talk, Br. Shankara brings us “a little fun by comparing the step-by-step practices of attaining a ‘Pure Mind’ to gaining proficiency in a complex, multilevel video game. The parallels are fascinating!” |
