There was some meaning in the Lord’s choosing the battlefield for the Gita teaching.
Yes. He wanted to point out to us that wisdom should not recline on the armchair. If his wisdom
did not accompany a man to the field of battle, it was no wisdom at all! Any man could talk
philosophy “after dinner”; any man could discourse upon the most intricate points in the Yoga
Shastras sitting comfortably near the fireplace. But that is no wisdom at all; it is mere lip-service
to the supreme science of Knowledge of the Self. It is hypocrisy. These people generally fail
when they face a trial, when their wisdom is put to the acid test of practical demonstration, when
they find themselves in a crisis.
Krishna’s Panchajanya roars a big ‘No’! No, no. That is not wisdom; real wisdom will
serve you right on the battlefield, right in a crisis, and will enable you to surmount the obstacle,
resist the temptation, arise victoriously from the trial. You will convert the trial into a great
opportunity for revealing your genius. For, genius is often made by crisis.
A strong character will not succumb to tests and temptations, however strong and
powerful they may be. On the contrary, a strong character reveals its strength only at the time of
such crises. A morally weak man talks philosophy when things are getting on the way he wishes
them to; but his philosophy takes leave of him at the sight of a test. Whereas, a morally strong
man may give no indication whatsoever of his strength in ordinary times, but when a great trial
faces him, he reacts most surprisingly and reveals his character.
That is what Sadhaks should understand from Krishna’s choice of the dreadful platform
of the battlefield for His discourse. It was, as it were, a fitting prelude to the great Yoga of
Equanimity that He was about to preach through Arjuna to the entire humanity.

From "May I answer that" by Swami Sivananda (1987-1963). More Informations on Swami Sivananda: on the Website of Divine Life Society, Photographs of Swami Sivananda, German Pages on Swami Sivananda

E-mail me when people leave their comments –

You need to be a member of Yoga Vidya International - Yoga, Meditation and Spirituality to add comments!

Join Yoga Vidya International - Yoga, Meditation and Spirituality