The Gita Project (TGP)

The Gita Project (TGP) aims to uncover and publicise new insights from Indian spiritualism’s primary book, The Bhagwad Gita, with the aim of improving our daily lives. New insights may be developed by creating digital maps of the hidden connections and interplay between words, their many meanings, different verses wherein they are used, similar words used, themes of the verses containing the words and other verses with similar themes, contextual verses that set the direction of chapters and sections within, and connections with overarching concepts that span the chapters. This extensive mapping is probably impossible for a normal person to create without the use of software. And creation of such maps provides a platform to draw out new and illuminating insights from Gita. TGP is pursuing this effort and the insights drawn will be published here to be freely accessible to everyone.

I have had the good fortune of reading and analysing Bhagwad Gita for the last 30+ years. In this time, I have come to realise that there is much knowledge provided in the Book that is either not publicly available, or may be implicitly known but not paid any attention to. The Gita Project (TGP) is thus my personal undertaking to fill important gaps that I see:

1. Uncover new and useful ways in which Gita’s verses could be interpreted. 
2. Publicise teachings of Gita that may be implicitly known but that do not get published. 
3. Translate both these into practical ways by which we can improve our lives.

Bhagwad Gita is demonstrably ahead of Modern Science in critical areas such as upkeep of mental health and well being. For example, written as far back as between 1st and 3rd century BC, it has sections on how to meditate and use various techniques to keep the mind at peace despite all the disturbance in the world around us. Even today, Modern Science struggles to understand meditation let alone come up with a meditation technique.

The Gita Project Methodology 

As part of this effort, TGP (The Gita Project) systematically studies each Gita verse using the methodology described below. TGP uses software tools to map connections (Sanskrit words and their different meanings, topics covered in verses, the verses themselves, and areas of contemporary interest). Software is used to uncover connections and insights that would otherwise be difficult to see. 

Here are the steps followed to understand each verse of Gita: 

• Start with compiling how different sources of Bhagwad Gita interpret the verse (this gives us the “standard” or “conventional” interpretation).
• List the individual words of the verse:
  • Record all the Sanskrit meanings of each word.
  • Look at where else in Gita the same Sanskrit words have been used and what the meanings and contexts have been in the other verses. 
  • Look at themes (if any) that run across verses which use this word.
• Reconstruct possible meanings of the verse, given the many meanings of different words used:
  • Check if there are pivotal words that are being used. These are key words within the verse that may have multiple meanings – with some meanings having the potential to completely change the broader interpretation of the verse.
  • Connect the different meanings of words in different combinations to see what different interpretations may emerge for the verse . 
• Create, update, and maintain a common reference dictionary of Sanskrit Words within the TGP resources. Connect each entry with other similar words used in Gita. Each verse using a word will thus be mapped to other verses used the same or similar words. This will provide insights into how and in what context the same or similar words have been used elsewhere.
• Look at the idea being explained in the verse and where else it has been mentioned in the book. See if these connections can further refine the interpretation. For example, the word yoga-yuktah is pivotal in understanding a host of verses from practical guidance (Verse 3.26) to explaining deep mysteries (like explaining aspect of Karma in Verse 4.18). 
• Identify and map key actions that are prescribed. For example, a technique of meditation taught from Verse 6.11 onwards is called out as “Yoga” in Gita. Mapping this to many other verses where yoga is mentioned illuminates those verses with actionable insight into how the teaching of repeated verses can be implemented. Given the difficulty to performing what Gita asks of us, such translation of a seemly purely mental activity into a meditative exercise makes Gita’s advice easier to follow. For example, yoga is said to be the art of performing karma well (Verse 2.50). This suggests that the mind needs to ideally be in a meditative-state explained from Verse 6.11 for us to perform karma-yoga (wherein we mentally detach ourselves from attachment to results of actions we perform). This mental detachment is an abstract concept that a normal reader of Gita may not know how to implement. Making the connection with the meditation technique solves this problem. For more on this, see this article.
• Look at practical things that we seek from life and how these are addressed in Gita. Make connections that would uncover lessons to improve our lives. For example Gita teaches that happiness (something we all seek) is not possible without the mind being at peace (Verse 2.66). And (as an example of how mapping comes into its own), this Verse also uses the word “yuktah” (which in-turn has been used is verses to indicate “yoga-yuktah”, meaning “absorbed in yoga”). Connecting now to the Verses from Verse 6.11 onwards (as mentioned above), these links are generating this insight: “Being immersed in the meditative state described as ‘yoga’ brings lasting peace to mind, and this peace is a necessary precondition for a person to achieve true happiness [i.e. unconditional and lasting happiness]”. Gita does not state this last insight explicitly in any verses. Making these connections through a software helps uncover these insights and also point to how Yoga may practically be learnt. This is a good example to show how the linkages mentioned above can be valuable.
• Look at the names being used in the discourse of the Verse to provide an indication of personality traits that are being highlighted. Use this insight to understand what aspect of our nature we need to focus on to unlock the benefits mentioned in the verse or in the verses around it or in the chapter that sets the context. For example, Arjun has been called by different names — these include “Arjun” (meaning silver and representing a clear mind), “Mahabaho” (meaning one who is courageous, and thus may do what a normal person does not e.g. in terms of proactively sacrificing sense-gratification or doing so when it is not called for from a “normal” person. Such actions need courage when no one else is doing them and one is not pressurised to do them either). Similarly, Krishna has also been called by several names in Gita. All these may be used to better inform the learning from Gita.
• Assess the context of the Verse. This context can come from the opening verses of the chapter, the immediate preceding verses, questions to Krishna to which He is responding, and threads of thought otherwise running though multiple verses or chapters. One needs to see how the context informs the possible interpretations that emerge. For example take Chapter 4, often called the chapter of “Gyan Yog” or the Yoga of Spiritual Knowledge. If we are not sensitive to this context, Chapter 4 verses may even appear disjointed and jumping from one topic to another. In “conventional” interpretations of Gita, the first two verses talk about Krishna (Supreme God) instructing this science of Yoga to Sun God, then it being taught to Manu (father of mankind), and then others down the line. Then the 4th chapter moves on to a seemingly unrelated discussion, leaving one to wonder why the first two verses were placed in the chapter at all. However, a deeper interpretation of these verses suggests that the verses are saying that this knowledge is subtle, often beyond words, and when it is beyond words, it comes to a person through meditative perception using the mind’s eye (spiritual parlance for the space between eyebrows where the yoga technique taught in Gita tells us to focus, and often compared to the Sun in Indian texts). And the word for the person “Manu” used in these verses is actually “mun”, which means the mind. So, the initial verses of the crater are actually explaining how deep, implicit spiritual knowledge comes to a person through practice of yoga. The chapter then goes on to have Krishna say that He Himself descends to protect people (Verse 4.07 discussed in next section), and then various yoga techniques are then explained in the chapter including in verses 4.29-4.30 (which are themselves laying the groundwork for the detailed technique to be taught in more detail in verses 6.11–6.15).
• Create a map with the above information to connect the verse with the following:
  • Sanskrit words in the verse
  • Concepts / ideas explained in the verse with verses elsewhere that also touch upon these.
  • Typical questions related to Gita (for example, ‘How can be achieve happiness?’)
  • Contemporary issues of interest today where Gita may provide guidance (for example mental health).
  • Areas of interest like human health and wellbeing, human mind, remaining focused and productive and so on.
• Keep adding connections as new information and insights flow in.
• Look at the emerging connections to do the following:
  • Draw new insights related to interpretations of verses. 
  • Add to the other connections that the verse is informing (concepts and ideas, questions related to Gita, and contemporary issues). 
• Iterate: As more verses get interpreted this way, some of the earlier ones may need updating based on the new isights drawn and the connections shared.  

An example of the outcome

The outcome of the process described above is a surprising array of insights that can improve and elevate our lives. For example, take one of the most famous verses of Gita (verses 4.07-4.08):

यदा यदा हि धर्मस्य ग्लानिर्भवति भारत।
अभ्युत्थानम् अधर्मस्य तदात्मानं सृजाम्यहम्॥4.07॥

परित्राणाय साधूनां विनाशाय च दुष्कृताम्।
धर्मसंस्थापनार्थाय सम्भवामि युगे युगे॥4.08॥

Yadā yadā hi dharmasya glānir bhavati bhārata
abhyutthānam adharmasya tadātmānaṁ sṛjāmy aham

Paritrāṇāya sādhūnāṁ vināśāya ca duṣkṛtām
dharmasaṁsthāpanārthāya sambhavāmi yuge yuge

The “normal”conventional” interpretation of these two verses is that Lord Krishna is telling Arjun, “Whenever there is a decline in religion and a rise of irreligion, at that time I manifest Myself on earth. To protect the righteous, to annihilate the wicked, and to re-establish the principles of religion, I appear millennium after millennium.”

Using the TGP process I have described in the earlier section, this interpretation⁴ transforms and has Lord Krishna saying: “Whenever your nature becomes too different from your true self [peaceful and unconditionally happy] your mind becomes increasingly agitated and your actions become increasingly misguided [by chasing elusive and deceptive sense-gratification]. Such actions then become increasingly immoral, sinful, and wicked, and consequently [due to laws of karma] you make yourself very miserable. This happens because your true nature is to be free from desires and to remain at peace within. At that time [when you have been brought very low by straying away from your true self] I manifest Myself [inside your mind].  To protect and preserve your virtuous qualities, I annihilate the miscreants [inside your mind like raging desire, anger, greed, ego, destructive mental patterns of thoughts and actions] to establish you closer to your own nature [at peace within], I Myself intervene thus in your multi-life journey [to ensure you eventually come back to Me].”

As may be seen, the above interpretation is very different from the “standard”conventional” interpretation of the Gita Verse. How does one land on this new interpretation? Here’s how (in brief; a more detailed explanation is not shared here in the interest of brevity):

The Sanskrit word “dharma” is pivotal here and is usually taken to mean codified or organized religion. However, in this context, its relevant Sanskrit meanings appear to be one’s nature and that which is established or firm. In this line of thought, the use of the word “dharma” here implies one’s true nature and to be established in it.¹ This nature is to be at peace and unconditionally happy and not seek sense-gratification as a precondition to be happy.² So, the two verses mentioned above are suggesting that an over-reliance on sense-gratification³ leads to thoughts and actions that create more and more sorrow for the person. When this happens, God says, He pulls the person back from the brink and keeps him on track to return to God. This verse is unconditional and does not depend upon one’s religious belief or any other self-identification of the person.

Note: There are other pointers that support the above interpretation. These include a re-interpretation of the opening verses of the Chapter 4 that set a context and direction, the overall theme of this chapter – “gyan”, which is sometimes loosely translated as “knowledge” or “spiritual knowledge” but has a much deeper and focused meaning in Gita, and the practice of yoga (as taught in verses 6.11–6.15) – which is deeply tied to the “Gyan-Yoga” taught in Chapter 4. This broader analysis is not included in this discourse as of now. However, calling out these connections with an example (as above) should illustrate the key point – connections within different parts of Gita are important; if we miss them, we can miss the meaning.

Visual view of what the TGP mapping looks like

Since pictures are “worth a thousand words”, the ones below should provide a good idea of what the TGP is doing to create a web of connections that lead to a better interpretation of Gita.

Compile and publish insights

Next, insights from these connections are compiled and published here. These focus on practical things that can help us improve our daily lives.

Closing Note

Ultimately, the aim of this exercise is to generate learning that is new and beneficial. This learning is published in another page – which can be found here.

Footnotes

1: Teachings on “dharma” is usually accompanied by a set of principles that align one’s thoughts and behaviour to one’s innermost nature. This body of knowledge is often called “dharma” and may thus mislead one from interpreting the meaning of this word.

2: Gita touches upon the nature of the self (soul) and teaches that as one gets closer to it, peace, happiness, and liberation from birth-death cycles follow. Here are two examples: verse 2.15 and verse 6.20.

3: For more on this, please see this article.

4: Please note that this is an expanded interpretation and not a word-for-word translation.