In this class (Class 9), we discuss chapter 3 of Sri Aurobindo’s Essays on the Gita, entitled “The Human Disciple” (pp. 20-28), as well as chapter 1 of the Bhagavad Gita itself.
Study questions:
1. What does Sri Aurobindo mean when he says that “the setting of the doctrine [of the Gītā] though not symbolical, is certainly typical” (p. 21)? What is the difference between “symbolical” and “typical”?
2. What does Sri Aurobindo mean when he says that Arjuna is typical of “the pragmatic man” (p. 23)?
3. What are Arjuna’s main reasons for not wanting to fight in the war?
4. An overarching theme of this chapter of Essays on the Gita is that Arjuna’s crisis is a crisis of “dharma.” What does Sri Aurobindo mean by “dharma” in this context? What is this crisis of dharma?
5. How does Sri Krishna respond to Arjuna’s refusal to fight in the war?
6. Do you think any of Arjuna’s reasons for not fighting in the war are valid or reasonable? Why or why not?
7. Do you have any questions about the reading? Did you have difficulty understanding anything? Do you have any doubts or confusions?