Bagavath Gita… The modern version

 
While on the way to work today, I had a short discussion with dad about the Bagavath Gita.

I had tried reading the book a few times but could not understand it. In fact, the book had forewarned that a master is needed to help comprehend the Hindu bible. If it is interpreted wrongly, the reader will be led to the wrong path.

I am not very sure if the great Mahabharata epic as illustrated in the book really happened years ago or not but I know that the great battlefield of Kurushektra exists in India.

Anyway back to the topic of discussion.. in the bible, there was a scene in the battlefield where Krishna will be driving a chariot and Arjuna will be holding  bow and arrow in his arms, ready to kill the enemies. When they reach the battlefield, Arjuna will face all his enemies consisting of his childhood friends, his own brother Karna, and the teacher who taught him how to use bow and arrow and also the teacher who taught him the art of self-defense. Seeing them, Arjuna threw his arrow on the ground and told Krishna, ‘ I can’t kill these people. They are my loved ones’ and Krishna replied ‘Kill them, they are already dead’.

When I read this part, I really could not understand the whole point. Kill your loved ones? What kind of teaching is that? This is what my dad told me..

Krishna is actually the spiritual master and Arjuna is all of us, you..me..every human in this world. The enemies in the line, those are our thoughts, our un-exhaust able mind. When the master teaches you the art of finding peace and God within yourself, all these kinds of unwanted thoughts disturb you. That was why Krishna said, “Kill them” which means throw away those thoughts and get into the peace within.

Ever sat in one corner and try not to think of anything? Hard to do, right? All kinds of thoughts floods in. Your responsibilities, your nieces, your spouse, your car etc etc etc. These thoughts are your enemies.

There. enlightenment on one part of the gita. I just don’t understand why it wasn’t written in a straightforward manner. Anyone care to explain?