II: 26

[Krishna Jaya]

Chapter 2, Verse 26

 

“If you think

That the self

Is perpetually born

And perpetually dies,

Even then, Arjuna,

There is no reason

To be sorrowful.”

 

Ram Dass:

 

“In this verse, Krishna is saying in so many words, ‘Look, you’re going to die eventually anyway, and so are all those people on the other side.  Death follows birth; that’s the way the game is designed.  If you don’t kill them, someone else will.  Their Karma is simply acting itself out through you.   It’s all in the cards.  You’re just a vehicle.’ ”

 

[Of course this line of thinking can also give a murderer a way to rationalize his horrific action.  Perhaps this is what Jesus is getting at when he says: “Do not give what is holy to dogs; and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under foot and turn and maul you.”  (Gospel of Matthew 7: 6)]