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originally posted by: Aphorism
The caste system remains to this day. But I guess that's what happens when we live life with no concerns for the results of our actions.
None of the verses you quoted say (or infer) anything about disregarding consequences.
But anyway. So what? India has a caste system. This is just an exotic phrase for class-stratification. It exists everywhere. It is as much a product of religious belief as it is political and economic.
So don't throw the baby out with the bath water, nor as a pot call the kettle black.
originally posted by: nOraKat
a reply to: TheJourney
First, in regards to gaining understanding or knowledge, I think there is nothing better than bare observation (if that is even possible), often I observe that thinking and conceptualization, takes you further away from the truth and reality.
Maybe the Gita supports this as you quote:
"The body is called the field,
Arjuna; the one who watches
whatever happens within it -
wise men call him the Knower."
(This sounds synonymous to..)
In the Theravada Buddhist practice, there is Satipatthana (Sati = awareness) and one makes effort to remain aware of the Four Frames or Reference, i.e. 1) The Body, i.e. Bodily actions/events, 2) Sensations / feelings, 3) The "heart" /consciousness/mind/emotional - condition (citta), 4) Mind objects (contents); .. and from observing these things, one can gain understanding into the nature of 'self'.
originally posted by: nOraKat
In Buddhism, there is the idea of 'no-self' - anatta. This sounds synonymous to your other quote:
"He who sees that all actions
are performed by Nature alone
and thus that the self is not
the doer - that man sees truly."
Chapter 14
"When a man sees clearly that there is
no doer besides the gunas..."
---
In regards to the 'self', a friend of mine mentioned a strong line of reasoning - any action, thought or intention can be due to any combination of two things - either they are due to 1) causes and conditions or 2) random events (if there is such a thing). In both cases their is no 'doer' of the action, and if there is no 'doer' than what self is there?
If there is something that can affect an action other than those two things, than what is it? (if one had to describe it)
---
So what is the self in the Gita? Is it just a bare 'experience-er'/knower?
In Buddhism too, there is supposedly consciousness after death, and some sort of transmigration of something, yet it also describes this idea of 'not-self' (Anatta) like I describe above. The Gita also seems to have these (seemingly contradicting) views.
As for myself, (for the most part), experience has become my teacher.
Here is another translation from Oxford:
www.sacred-texts.com...
originally posted by: Itisnowagain
a reply to: TheJourney
This thread is the most beautiful thing I have seen on ATS for a long time.
Thank you.
Collective consciousness is "God", awakening others allows ascension.