Bhagavad Gita Arjuna

In the Bhagavad Gita Arjuna is faced with a universal dilemma, duty or moral values and which to act from. To find a solution to his problem Arjuna seeks the advice of Krishna, a Hindu god. The overall message, from my interpretation, given by Krishna is that one can attain freedom and happiness by simply doing one’s duty. However, if Arjuna were to ask for help from the Buddha the message would be different. Krishna's teachings through the Bhagavad Gita and Buddha's teachings through the Dhammapada are similar in many aspects. Both place heavy emphasis on liberation and action; ideals that can be easily incorporated into a followers daily life. The Bhagavad Gita, more specifically focuses on, action, liberation. and duty. The Dhammapada focuses

The Dhammapada in the beginning lines addresses hatred and theft, it says, “He abused me, attacked me, defeated me, robbed me! For those who carry on like this hatred does not end” (Pg 2). The idea of getting revenge and trying to steal back the kingdom won't change the fact that his own people took it from him to begin with. By forgiving them and not carrying on with a grudge, Arjuna could find peace. I consider war to be evil, the Dhammapada addresses issues of evil and falling victim to evil deeds. On page 3 it says, “one who does evil grieves in this life, grieves in the next, grieves in both worlds. Seeing one’s own defiled acts brings grief” (pg 3). Spiritual wisdom is also mentioned in the Dhammapada like in the Bhagavad Gita. However, Fear and knowledge/wisdom seem to be intertwined in the Dhammapada. “For one who is awake, whose mind isn't overflowing, whose heart isn't afflicted and who has abandoned both merit and demerit, fear does not exist.” I take this as saying that if you are wise then difficult situations would be easy to handle because you would already know the correct way to act. Arjuna's heart is afflicted, meaning he is not allowing his wisdom to mature and grow and not battling off evil with his insight. Following immediately after this quote the idea of enemies is discussed. “Whatever and enemy may do to an enemy, or haters, one to another, far worse is the harm from one's own wrongly directed mind.” Any choice made can in turn be harmful if not following a well directed and conscious mind. The war being fought is in essence only for material gain, if Arjuna were following Buddha's teaching he would understand this. In the final lines of the Dhammapada, the differences between material gain and consciousness are explained. “The way to material gain is one thing, the path to Nirvana another. Knowing this, a monk who is the Buddha's disciple