Reading Response Week Eight
Bhagavad Gita Ch. 3-4
“Just as a fire is covered by smoke and a mirror is obscured by dust, just as the embryo rests deep within the womb, knowledge is hidden by selfish desire”
“[King Janaka] was revered as a royal sage who pursued his enlightenment not by renouncing the world, but by working in it and contributing to its welfare, thus enjoying the best of both worlds”
I enjoyed both of these quotes in conjunction with each other. I think they both encourage action in the world and not seclusion. This is interesting to me as I am studying Orthodox monasticism in one of my classes which is very much in favor of lifetime seclusion and solitude in monasteries. In Orthodox Christianity, the members of the church which are considered the most sage and closest to the ideal form of a Christian are the monks. This seems in contrast with what Khrishna is saying as an ideal life for Arjuna, which is action in the world.
It is appealing to me that King Janaka found enlightenment in the world by working in it and helping it. I find it beautiful that enlightening knowledge is found in your relationships with other people, not just studying in solitude. I am at a cross roads in my life, trying to decide which career to pursue. On the one hand, I feel called to work as a social worker specializing in early childhood development for impoverished populations. On the other hand, I feel similarly called to study Central African culture and possibly pursue being a professor. In this I feel like Arjuna, in that he is confused whether he should continue his worldly journey or stop and pursue acquiring spiritual wisdom. At this point, I am leaning towards social work more as I sympathize with the idea that I personally have learned more in my interactions with people, then literal academic study. But something I need to remember is that for these relationships to be enlightening, they cannot be done in selfish desire, because, “knowledge is hidden by selfish desire”. It is interesting to think that knowledge of enlightenment, or in Christian terms, God, is just beneath the surface of selflessness.
First of all, what two awesome career choices to be stuck between! Haha I know such a big decision can be incredibly tough, but how cool that God has made you so passionate and that he will ultimately guide you in this decision. What good news that "the heart of a man plans his ways, but the Lord establishes his steps," so you can lean toward your convictions and trust that God is provident!
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