This book takes few character of Mahabharata and try to decipher what is the meaning being conveyed through the acts of each. Author covers Duryodhana, Draupadi, Yudhisthira, Arjuna, Bhishma, Karna, Krishna and Ashwatthama in the book. After the read it looked like no one is right all time including God. Lot of emphasis is put on actions described in the epic and trying to decipher if that was the best way. Even the God's are at fault at times when seen from dharma point of view. I never new Mahabharata went way beyond the ending of war until I read this one. The art of dharma is subtle... likely it depends on the context one is in which defines what to do. There is no one right answer all time.
Some notes:
1. If greed is the sin of capitalism envy in the vice of socialism. Envy is felt more strongly between near equals than those widely separated in fortune.
2. Draupadi assumption: Law too often reflects the will of the powerful in the society and diverges from the right thing to do.
3. Manu smriti - Satisfaction of the mind is the only authority in cases of conflicting alternatives
4. Idea of dharma based on one's reason sits side by side with deep faith in the existence of God in the Mahabharata.
5. Happiness comes from upholding a certain balance, by living according to a system of beliefs that restrains them and gives coherence to their desires.Dharma is precisely discipline of ordered existence
6. To fight is easy, to forgive is more difficult
7. The great divide in ethical thinking is between those who judge an act based on its consequences versus those who judge it based on duty or some role.
8. One who is destitute of wealth cannot practice dharma.
9. Adopt a friendly face to the world but do not allow yourself to be exploited.
10. Caste duty-- Svadharma
duty of Consciousness - Sadharana dharma
11. Be intent on action, not on the fruits of action.
12. On some occasions we let "ends" dictate our behaviour; on other occasions, 'means' seem to matter more.
13. Selfishness is the principal cause which makes life unsatisfactory
14. Let no man do to another that which is repugnant to himself
15. Purpose of yoga- to calm the ceaseless activity of mind
16. To be happy one must not be too concerned with the opinion of the others. One should pursue one's goals single mindedly. with a quite confidence. without thinking of others.
17.True dharma is not the sva dharma of caste , but the sadharana dharma of truth, commitment , generosity and friendship.
18. Karma has its optimistic side in a human being's ability to act with freedom , and be responsible for this act. Its pessimistic side is a feeling that we cannot escape from our past.
19.Point of Mahabharata is that dharma is Sukshma (Subtle) and it is often difficult to tell right from wrong.
20. In taking revenge, a man is but even with his enemy; in passing it over, he is superior.
21. There is no future without forgiveness.
22.If strict justice is viewed as a precondition for peace, then the quest for national unity and peace may be doomed to failure.
23. One who gains victory also suffers loss.
24. Ahimsa is the highest dharma
25. One should never do to another what one regards as injurious to oneself. This, in brief, is the law of dharma.
26. Compassion is the highest dharma
27. Moral integrity begins with the awareness of other human beings.
28. Good behaviour grounded in dharma earns good karma.
29. Mahabharata was divinely pre planned in order to rid the earth of Kshatriya's. This is the epic's way of reminding that human lives are vulnerable.
30. Who has in his heart always the well being of others, and is wholly given, in acts, thoughts and in speech, to the good of others, he alone knows what dharma is.
31. Unexamined life is not worth living
Some notes:
1. If greed is the sin of capitalism envy in the vice of socialism. Envy is felt more strongly between near equals than those widely separated in fortune.
2. Draupadi assumption: Law too often reflects the will of the powerful in the society and diverges from the right thing to do.
3. Manu smriti - Satisfaction of the mind is the only authority in cases of conflicting alternatives
4. Idea of dharma based on one's reason sits side by side with deep faith in the existence of God in the Mahabharata.
5. Happiness comes from upholding a certain balance, by living according to a system of beliefs that restrains them and gives coherence to their desires.Dharma is precisely discipline of ordered existence
6. To fight is easy, to forgive is more difficult
7. The great divide in ethical thinking is between those who judge an act based on its consequences versus those who judge it based on duty or some role.
8. One who is destitute of wealth cannot practice dharma.
9. Adopt a friendly face to the world but do not allow yourself to be exploited.
10. Caste duty-- Svadharma
duty of Consciousness - Sadharana dharma
11. Be intent on action, not on the fruits of action.
12. On some occasions we let "ends" dictate our behaviour; on other occasions, 'means' seem to matter more.
13. Selfishness is the principal cause which makes life unsatisfactory
14. Let no man do to another that which is repugnant to himself
15. Purpose of yoga- to calm the ceaseless activity of mind
16. To be happy one must not be too concerned with the opinion of the others. One should pursue one's goals single mindedly. with a quite confidence. without thinking of others.
17.True dharma is not the sva dharma of caste , but the sadharana dharma of truth, commitment , generosity and friendship.
18. Karma has its optimistic side in a human being's ability to act with freedom , and be responsible for this act. Its pessimistic side is a feeling that we cannot escape from our past.
19.Point of Mahabharata is that dharma is Sukshma (Subtle) and it is often difficult to tell right from wrong.
20. In taking revenge, a man is but even with his enemy; in passing it over, he is superior.
21. There is no future without forgiveness.
22.If strict justice is viewed as a precondition for peace, then the quest for national unity and peace may be doomed to failure.
23. One who gains victory also suffers loss.
24. Ahimsa is the highest dharma
25. One should never do to another what one regards as injurious to oneself. This, in brief, is the law of dharma.
26. Compassion is the highest dharma
27. Moral integrity begins with the awareness of other human beings.
28. Good behaviour grounded in dharma earns good karma.
29. Mahabharata was divinely pre planned in order to rid the earth of Kshatriya's. This is the epic's way of reminding that human lives are vulnerable.
30. Who has in his heart always the well being of others, and is wholly given, in acts, thoughts and in speech, to the good of others, he alone knows what dharma is.
31. Unexamined life is not worth living
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