Bhagavad Gita Can Work as a Guide for Righteous Living and Duty, Suggests Research

Bhagavad Gita Can Work as a Guide for Righteous Living and Duty, Suggests Research

Some recent studies suggests that Bhagavad Gita is capable of provide a sound framework for righteous living if studied reflectively. Two papers of this blogger ware accepted for a two-day International Conference on "Indian Knowledge System: Perspectives and Imperatives" on January 23 and 24 organised By: Department of English, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur. The papers covered the sub-theme  "Bhagavad Gita and Righteous Duty.]

The abstracts of the papers are follows

Detached Duty and Inner Wisdom: A Content Analysis of and Poetic Reflection on Key Gita Verses and Commentaries

 Dr Lalit Kishore

 Abstract

For the present research study, the four pertinent verses from the Bhagavad Gita (BG) were identified that included BG 2.47, 3.35, 4.24, and 18.47. Their English translations and commentaries were sourced from three books as content for analysis using a mixed research method. The study aimed to achieve the following objectives: (1) to pinpoint verses that pertain to the swadharma principle of detached duty; (2) to extract key phrases from the content, focusing on verbs; (3) to transform these phrases into a paraphrased message on swadharma, or righteous action, along with a poem designed to aid in memorizing the essential vocabulary of the principle. The outcomes of the content analysis culminated in a two-paragraph perceptual message and a 14-line sonnet poem, both of which were refined with the assistance of AI. The study of Gita-related topics and themes as part of the Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) are being urged by NEP 2020, which has been established as a new academic discipline across the educational landscape. In conclusion, for meaningful learning, it is essential to deconstruct the content on a specific topic and reconstruct it in a new format.

Keywords:  Bhahagvad Gita studies, content analysis. Indian Knowledge Systems, righteous duty or swadharma

Art and Craft of Knowledge Construction: Pedagogical Reflections on Bhagavad Gita’s Select Jnana Yoga Verses

Dr Lalit Kishore & Prabha Kinshore

 Abstract

On the basis of the reflective analysis of eleven selected verses, six from  the Janan Yoga Chapter 4 along with 5  verses from  other chapters of  the Bhagavad Gita and commentaries thereon, an attempt was made to draw pedagogical lessons. Quite a few studies on management lessons from the scripture are available but not on the pedagogical lessons. The objectives of the study were: (1) To select six verses from  Chapter 4 the scripture and their commentaries; (2) To do reflective content analysis of the gathered information on the basis of pedagogical themes such as cognitive development with level of discernment or wisdom, detached learning with the view all knowledge is tentative, social pedagogy of the supportive web of knowledge construction, and transcendence towards self-awareness to self-actualization to self-realization; (3) To develop a four-fold scripture-inspired pedagogical mode. The main pedagogical lessons that emerged from the mixed methodology study that included reflective analysis were that learner to be viewed as seeker and co-constructor of knowledge; self-discovery of knowledge as continuous process or Sadhana, classroom environment as web of equitable and mutual relationship, immersive deep learning with oneness of learner, learning and outcome. The main model of learning from reflective analysis of chapter is the termed as 'detached action learning model.’

Keywords: Action learning, Bhagavad Gita, detached reflection, immersive learning, Janan Yoga, pedagogical lessons, self-knowledge