The Essense of Mahabharat and The Gita

2. THE MAHABHARAT The Mahabharata, written by sage Vyasa, is an epic story of the conflict between the five Pandava brothers, and their one hundred cousins, the Kauravas. The story drives home, as nothing else does, the futility and sad outcomes of anger, ambition, hatred and vengeance. "Revenge" at all levels is the central core of this epic story. It is also a romantic story telling the tales of heroic men and women and some "realized" beings. It is a literary thesis containing a code of life, a philosophy of social and ethical relations, and an observation of human frailties that continue to recur through the centuries. The conflict between the Pandavas and Kauravas ultimately brings them to the battlefield at “Kurukshetra” and a war is fought that practically destroys a whole generation. Incorporated in this melodrama of human events, is embedded the jewel, "The Bhagvad Gita."

5. Essence from the Gita 1. Work without attachment. Relinquish the fruit of your labor to Me. "Karma Fala Tyaga." 2. Follow any one of these paths, it will bring you to Me. "Jyana Yoga", "Bhakti Yoga" "Karma Yoga", “ Dhyana Yoga,” 3. Perform all action (karma) keeping the body and mind centered and poised, “Stithapradyna” 4. See Me in everything and strive continuously to attain the “Sattvic” way of life.

7. References: Stephen P. Huyler: Meeting God, 1995. Alain Danielou, The Gods of India, Hindu Polytheism, 1985, Ram Dass: The Only Dance There Is, 1974 Frijtof Capra: The Tao of Physics, 1975 Radhakrishnan: The Hindu View of Life, 1954 Pramod Chandra The Sculpture of India, 3000B.C.-1300 A.D. 1985 Prasad Gokhale: Chronology and Antiquity of Indian History, 1994 Wendy O’Flaherty: The Rig Veda, 1981 Ernest G. McClain: The Myth of Invariance Sanderson Beck: Hindu Philosophy, Ethics and Chronology 2001 Robert Hume: The Upanishads, Ways of Mysticism, 2000 Cornelia Dimmitt and J.A.B. van Buitenen: Classical Hindu Mythology 1977