1
The Bhagavad-gītā Religion: 840:358-01- Spring 2014 Tu-Th 5:35-6:55 RAB - 204 Instructor: Paul H. Sherbow E-mail: [email protected] Office Hours: TBA
Course Description: This course will offer a close reading of the Bhagavad-gītā with the commentary of the leading 18th century Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava scholar Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa. These primary texts will be supplemented by excerpts from the Upaniṣads, as well as the earlier Vaiṣṇava commentaries of Rāmānuja (11th century), Madhva (13th century) and Viśvanātha Cakravartī (17th century) and by select reference to the Bhagavad-gītā As It Is of A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami (20th century).
Course Requirements: Three quizzes based on assigned readings and class lectures; three 2- page response assignments, and a final 5-6 page paper for the course due the last day of class. Regular participation in classroom discussion is expected.
Grading: Grades will be based on the three quizzes (40%), three response assignments (20%), final paper (30%) and classroom participation (10%). Students will be called upon in class to answer questions pertaining to the week’s reading. No make-ups for missed exams will be given without valid medical proof or a signed letter from a student dean. A = 100-90 B+ = 89-87; B = 86-80; C+ = 79-77; C = 76-70; D = 69-65; F = 64 and below.
Required Course Texts: Narasimhan, Chakravarthi V. The Mahābhārata. ISBN: 13-978-0231110556 Swami, Bhanu. Gītā-bhūṣaṇa Commentary on The Bhagavad-Gītā. ISBN: 81-89564-07-2
Course Schedule 1 Tu / Jan 21 General Introduction: The Veda, Upaniṣads, Vedānta-darśana, Classical Commentators
2 Th / Jan 23 Introduction to the Mahābhārata – Dramatis Personae: Kṛṣṇa, the Pāṇḍavas / Kurus Readings: Narasimhan, Introduction [p. xv-xxv], Ādi Parva / Sabhā Parva [p. 1-57]
3 Tu / Jan 28 – Five subjects: Īśvara – Jīva - Prakṛti – Karma - Kāla Readings: Narasimhan, Āraṇyaka Parva / Virāṭa Parva / Udyoga Parva [p. 58-120] Bhagavad-gītā: Introduction [Bhanu Swami, p. 1-11]
4 Th / Jan 30 – Arjuna’s Lamentation and Arguments against War Readings: Narasimhan, Bhīṣma Parva / Droṇa Parva / Karṇa Parva / Śalya Parva [p. 121-178] Bhagavad-gītā: Chapter 1 [Bhanu Swami, p. 13-45]
5 Tu / Feb 4 – The Ātmā [Spirit] distinguished from Matter – the Real & Unreal 2
Reading: Bhagavad-gītā: Chapter 2, verses 1-19 [Bhanu Swami, p. 47-79] Radhakrishnan, S. The Bhagavadgītā, Introductory Essay [p. 57-66] Excerpts from Śaṅkara & Rāmānuja on the oneness or plurality of the Ātmā Excerpts from Rāmānuja and Viśvanātha on the size of the Ātmā
6 Th / Feb 6 – Eternality of the Ātmā – Importance of Svadharma Readings: Bhagavad-gītā: Chapter 2, verses 20-38 [Bhanu Swami, p. 79-99]
7 Tu / Feb 11 – Defects of Vedic Ritual – Action & Fruit of Action Readings: Bhagavad-gītā: Chapter 2, verses 39-53 [Bhanu Swami, p. 100-116] Swami, A. C. Bhaktivedanta: Bhagavad-gītā As It Is, Chapter 4, verses 39-45
8 Th / Feb 13 – 1st Quiz - Characteristics of Realization Readings: Bhagavad-gītā: Chapter 2, verses 54-72 [Bhanu Swami, p 116-133] Radhakrishnan, S. The Bhagavadgītā, Introductory Essay [p. 66-78]
9 Tu / Feb 18 – Necessity of Action - Karmayoga Readings: Bhagavad-gītā: Chapter 3, verses 1-16 [Bhanu Swami, p. 135-151] Stevenson, Robert W. Tilak and the Bhagavadgita’s Doctrine of Karmayoga
10 Th / Feb 20 – Karmayoga – Hierarchy of Human Faculties Reading: Bhagavad-gītā: Chapter 3, verses 17-43 [Bhanu Swami, p. 151-181]
11 Tu / Feb 25 – Nature & Purpose of Avatāra – Internal Śakti Readings: Bhagavad-gītā: Chapter 4, verses 1-9 [Bhanu Swami, p. 183-193] Swami, A. C. Bhaktivedanta: Bhagavad-gītā As It Is, Chapter 4, 1-9
12 Th / Feb 27 – Karma – Sacrifice – Approaching a Teacher Reading: Bhagavad-gītā: Chapter 4, verses 10-42 [Bhanu Swami, p 193-223]
13 Tu / Mar 4 - Knowledge & Ignorance – Impartial Vision Reading: Bhagavad-gītā: Chapter 5, verses 1-29 [Bhanu Swami, p. 225-252]
14 Th / Mar 6 – Dhyānayoga – Patañjali’s Aṣṭāṅga-yoga Reading: Bhagavad-gītā: Chapter 6, verses 1-17 [Bhanu Swami, p. 253-264] Āraṇya, Hariharānanda. Yoga Philosophy of Patañjali. 1.2-4, 2.28
15 Tu / Mar 11 – Dhyānayoga – Success & Failure – Evaluation of Yoga Reading: Bhagavad-gītā: Chapter 6, verses 18-47 [Bhanu Swami, p. 264-291
16 Th / Mar 13 2nd Quiz Spring Break
17 Tu / Mar 25 – Bhagavān & His Powers Readings: Bhagavad-gītā: Chapter 7, verses 1-8 [Bhanu Swami, p. 293-303] 3
Excerpts from Rāmānuja, Viśvanātha and Baladeva’s Prameya-ratnāvalī
18 Th / Mar 27 – The Adhikārī or Candidate for Devotion Readings: Bhagavad-gītā: Chapter 7, verses 9-20 [Bhanu Swami, p. 303-316]
19 Tu / April 1 Readings: Bhagavad-gītā: Chapter 7, verses 21-30 [Bhanu Swami, p. 316-326]
20 Th / April 3 – Death and Afterlife Readings: Bhagavad-gītā: Chapter 8 [Bhanu Swami, p. 327-358] Sharpe: Chapter 2 Romantics & Transcendentalists [p. 15-31]
21 Tu / April 8 Reading: Bhagavad-gītā: Chapter 9, verses 1-15 [Bhanu Swami, p. 359-380]
22 Th / April 10 – Worship of the Transcendental Person Readings: Bhagavad-gītā: Chapter 9, verses 16-34 [Bhanu Swami, p. 380-403] Swami, A. C. Bhaktivedanta: Bhagavad-gītā As It Is, Chapter 4, 1-9 Excerpts from Rāmānuja and Viśvanātha on the Selfless Worship
23 Tu / April 15 – Bhaktiyoga – Qualities of the Bhakta Reading: Bhagavad-gītā: Chapters 10-12 [Bhanu Swami, p. 405-516]
24 Th / April 17 – Jñānayoga – Indwelling Self – Three Guṇas Reading: Bhagavad-gītā: Chapters 13-14 [Bhanu Swami, p. 517-585] Excerpts from Rāmānuja, Madhva and Viśvanātha on the Kṣetrajña
25 Tu / April 22 – The Tree of Saṁsāra – Divine & Demonic Natures Readings: Bhagavad-gītā: Chapters 15-16 [Bhanu Swami, p. 587-632] Sharpe: Chapter 6, Gandhi’s Gita [p. 103-122]
26 Th / April 24 – Faith according to the Guṇas / Five factors of Action Reading: Bhagavad-gītā: Chapter 17 / Chapter 18, verses 1-15 [Bhanu Swami, p. 633-671]
27 Tu / April 29 – 3rd Quiz
28 Th / May 1 - Realization of the Absolute / Ultimate Surrender Reading: Bhagavad-gītā: Chapter 18, verses 16-78 [Bhanu Swami, p. 633-724] Papers Due.