1. Arjuna’s crisis is established in Chapter 1 of the Bhagavad Gita. The crisis is a classic choice between fighting or fleeing, standing up to injustice versus passive inaction. Of course, had Arjuna refused to engage, the rest of the Gita would not have been written. Arjuna is a hero because he was willing to make personal sacrifices and to walk the delicate razor’s edge of the middle path. A balanced and truly yogic response is to fight judiciously and consciously.2. Arjuna is a disciple of Lord Krishna. As he is confronted by the presenting crisis in Chapter 1, Arjuna consults with Krishna about how to proceed, and in Chapter 2, Krishna offers his advice. Krishna advises Arjuna to take action based on the spiritual principles of both dharma, duty, and also the immortality of Atma, the oversoul of each person. As long as one takes action consciously, selflessly, and in the best interests of others, the actions can be deemed good and justifiable, even if there is some harm or even death that results. In this vein, Krishna also teaches Arjuna about the law of karma (cause and effect) and that one’s actions are all one has control over. Yet actions do beget reactions. Inaction is a type of action.
3. In Chapter 3, Arjuna asks Krishna again why fighting would be an appropriate action. This is where Krishna explains in more detail about karma. Arjuna has been taught to be passive, and that fighting is wrong because it could lead to killing. Yet Krishna also teaches him that...
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