Fewer pairs of topics will seem to be more radically different than the atheistic philosophy of Marxism and the theistic philosophy of the Bhagavat-Gita. But there are some similarities underneath the turbulent surface of differences.
Some of these similarities (based on my crude understanding) may be listed below:
Some of these similarities (based on my crude understanding) may be listed below:
- Marx's theory bases itself on the equality of mankind; the Gita bases itself on the oneness of mankind.
- Marxism deals with two fundamental classes: the exploited and the exploiter. The Gita deals with two fundamental natures: the divine and the demoniac.
- Marx's theory of a total revolution when there is increasing exploitation also corresponds with the Gita's theory of a total change when there is a decline of righteousness.
- Marx says: "Workers of the World, Unite! You have nothing to lose but your chains." Lord Krishna says [phrasing changed]: "Abandon all fear and doubt and come unto Me! You have nothing to lose but your sins."
- Just as Marxism never clearly describes how a communist state would function, the Gita also never clearly describes how a righteous world would be like. There is no surprise in this: Marxism and the Gita are concerned how we function in the present, and not the description of an ideal future.
- The above-mentioned gap has been sought to be filled by other sources in both cases. In the case of Marxism, other communist scholars have done the job, in the case of the Gita, other Vedas and Puranas do the job.
- Marxist philosophy was succeeded by many communist movements which deviated from the original philosophy while retaining the name; the Gita's teachings were also conditionally interpreted to give rise to a number of religious movements.
- Marxism was sought to be substituted by more moderate social democracy; the Gita was sought to be substituted by temporary worship of various Gods.
- Marxism says that economic forces will eventually engulf the world in capitalism; the Gita indicates [does not directly say] that material forces will eventually engulf the world in unrighteousness.
- Marxism and Gita have their fair share of critics respectively; and are regarded as the supreme doctrines in their respective domains.
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An interesting read through and well edited.
ReplyDelete@Sharadh: Its quite true that many of the non-indian lines of thought on philosophical issues as this, bear a lot of significant commonalities with the Gita. But none before the Gita in itself is so wholesome in such an advice. Recently, i was attending a lecture on deciphering the mohenjodaro scripts and how astronomy plays a role much significant than archeology. There, they clearly admit that the massive floods that Pareekshit talks of, could have occured anywhere around 1200 BC, and they propose an age for the Mahabharath to around 1500 BC which happens to be just at the inflexion point of the time graph plotted vs civilisations. This they say occurs, just as soon as the mohenjodaro and harappan civilisations declined after their peak ! How true this is He only knows. But the facts are becoming overwhelmingly distinctive and hence affirm with the happening of the Mahabharath (though theres no such concrete proof for every happening of the Mahabharath). This surely makes it the oldest philosophy of virtuosity and as is said in ur earlier post " Whatever has been told in the Mahabharat may be present elsewhere, but nothing (virtuous) whatsoever not told here is told somewhere else ".
@S Ganesh
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you that the Gita is a wholesome advice on the way of life. I remarked on the similarity Marxism has with the Gita in some aspects, and as you say, it is likely that other non-Indian philosophical treatises may also have drawn on the Gita.
Regarding your comments on astronomy, I have one more thing to share. I have read that the Mahabharata War is dated based on the occurrence of the consecutive solar and lunar eclipses that are mentioned in the Jamvu-Khanda Nirmana section of the Bheeshma-Parva.
One more thing that I want to share. We all know that the Mahabharata War was fought in Kurukshetra. It may interest you that in modern-day Kurukshetra (in Haryana), the levels of radioactivity (background radiation) are the highest in India. Seems plausible if a deadly war was fought there thousands of years ago.
Regarding your comments, the importance of archeology cannot be neglected. I have heard that excavations off the coast of Gujarat have revealed a township submerged in the sea. It is believed to be the lost city of Dwaraka. But I agree with you that astronomy is much more reliable than archeology.
Nice read da :)I think Krishna probably would have been more tolerant towards atheism than Marx towards theism,("Religion is the opiate of the masses") :)
ReplyDelete@Ajay Srinath
ReplyDeleteYou are absolutely right da. In fact, in the Gita, Lord Krishna says, "Even if you don't believe in the [Vedic] philosophy of life after death, there is nothing wrong in it, and you have no reason to be sad."
@Ajay
ReplyDeleteOne more thing. The reason for Marxism's perceived intolerance is perhaps that Marxism provides a material solution, whereas the Gita provides a spiritual solution.