Bhagavad Gita

The Bhagavad Gita (The Song of the Sublime), the most significant religious-philosophical poem of Hinduism, is part of the extensive Sanskrit epic Mahabharata (which originated between the 4th century BC and the 4th century AD). God Vishnu appears in human form as the charioteer Krishna, assisting the hero Arjuna before the most terrifying battle in Indian mythology. Arjuna is torn by a conflict of duty: as a noble warrior (Kshatriya), he is meant to wage a "just war" to restore justice and order in society; however, many relatives and teachers stand on the opposing side, whom he is supposed to protect. Krishna reveals to him that withdrawing from the world is not a mature spiritual solution and teaches him about the orders of the world, the spirit, and human life. Acting without self-serving intentions and complete devotion to God leads, based on knowledge, to liberation from suffering.

The concept of yoga illustrates in various ways what is essential for a spiritually responsible life that does not retreat from the conflicts of the world. The human being in contradiction to themselves, to society, and to the world order as a whole is the situation in which the Gita, initially starting from entirely worldly considerations, directs its gaze towards metaphysical connections while continually returning to the question of right action in everyday life.

The ability to cope with an existential experience and the connection between tradition and modernity is the main reason for the unparalleled and lasting success of the Bhagavad Gita, in which the influence of Buddhism is already evident: "One must elevate oneself by the self. He who has conquered himself through the self has become his own friend.".