Man and Battle of Life by Sri Aurobindo Ghose, Grade 12, Optional English

 

Man and Battle of Life by Sri Arubindo (Arubindo Ghose

Exploring the Text

1.     What does the author say about the existence of God?

Arubindo says God is omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient. He says that God is present in every good and evil. Further, he states that God is in peace and panic which makes him the observer of all the movement of the cosmos.

2.     How does the author equate the battle of life with the battle of Kurukshetra?

The author has illustrated life as a constant battle that is equipped with clash and struggle. Whether it is a physical battle or mental battle men cannot be the exception to the war of life. Humans by nature, always want to be supreme over others. He has equated that human life is full of struggle and battle mounting into supreme crises such as Kurukshetra. He further asserts that a period of transition and crisis clashes the forces for huge destruction and reconstruction similar to the Mahabharata.

3.     What does the author say about modern efforts for peace?

The author claims that modern efforts for peace are only the accommodation between conflicting interests which may minimise the recurrence of the worst forms of conflict. Though modern people believe it establishes universal peace, it results in a monstrous mutual massacre; a universal war full of bitterness and hatred.

4.     According to the author, what is the function of a government?

According to the author, the function of a government is to protect the weak and the oppressed for the maintenance of rights and justice in the world.

5.     How does a modern mind understand a man?

A modern mind understands man as a thinker, worker or producer and a fighter all in one.

6.     How did ancient Indian civilization interpret man?

The ancient Indian civilization focused on individual nature, tendency and temperament. It didn’t consider man primarily as a social being but as a social being in process of formation and development for spiritual formation.

7.     How does the author differentiate social beings from spiritual beings?

The author says a social being is full of his social existence at the highest level but a spiritual being is a person who individually proceeds toward their spiritual development and self-perfection.

8.     What does the Gita say about the war?

The Bhagavad Gita teaches that it is important to follow dharma. Therefore, it is the duty of Kshatriya, to fight wars. The Bhagavad Gita believes it is negative not to fight against evil. However, the motive must be defense, or to protect the innocent and not to gain land, power, money or as an act of revenge or anger.

9.     Why is war an outer manifestation of inner struggle?

War is an outer manifestation of inner struggle because all the realization of right or wrong, justice or tyranny and success or struggle, everything begins from our inner self. The inner thought gets practical implications in the war physically.

10.  Why is Kshatriya an embodiment of war?

According to the writer, Kshatriya is an embodiment (personification) of war because Kshatriya is a man who accepts the principle of battle as a warrior to protect right, justice and law. The Kshatriya are only the outward manifestation of the conflict all people have inside them.

11.  According to the author, what are there gunas and how are they different from each other?

According to the author, three Gunas are Sattva, Rajas and Tamas. Sattva is the mode of poise (dignity), knowledge and satisfaction. Rajas is the mode of passion, action and struggling emotion. Similarly, Tamas refers to the modes of ignorance and inertia (inactivity).

12.  Why does a man with tama guna feel complacent (satisfied) within himself?

A man with tama feels complacent within himself as he only seeks to survive or to shelter in an established routine of thought where he feels protected from the battle.

13.  What does the author mean by nirguna?

By the term nirguna, the author refers to an absolute peace and superior existence. Nirguna is the state of mind in which the mind recoils (starts) from the whole problem and is dissatisfied with the solutions given by the threefold mode of nature.

14.  How is Arjuna an embodiment of raja guna?

Raja Guna (Rajas) is the mode of passion, action and struggling emotion. Arjuna is an embodiment of raja guna as he is in bewilderment (confusion) about the reason of war which makes him dejected to fight. However, he advances upon the tamas by a high sattwic ideal eventually.

Expanding the Horizon

1.     What does a man achieve when he wins the battle of his mind?

The essay illustrates how human beings always have to face struggles and battles in every aspect of life. A man, even after mastering over three Gunas, also seeks for absolute peace and superior existence. A man attains the supreme perfection of freedom from activity through renunciation (rejection) when he wins the battle of his mind.

2.     How are three Gunas Tama, Raja and Sattva interrelated with each other?

According to the author, three Gunas are Sattva, Rajas and Tamas. Sattva is the mode of poise (dignity), knowledge and satisfaction. Rajas is the mode of passion, action and struggling emotion. Similarly, Tamas refers to the modes of ignorance and inertia (inactivity). A man can only master over his mind after getting over the Trigunas. A man reaches the timeless, infinite and silent peace after passing the stages of fear and horror of the world (Tamasic), refusal, struggle and grief (Rajasic) and the highest state of superiority and tranquillity (Sattva). Hence, the three Gunas are inseparable to get the ultimate freedom from the physical world.

3.     What do you mean by Sannyasa? Is it the solution of all the battles?

Sannyasa is a form of self-discipline, is marked by the renunciation (rejection) of material desires and prejudices, represented by a state of disinterest and detachment from material life, and has the purpose of spending one's life in peaceful, spiritual pursuits.In my opinion, if we can detach from the ego, greed and lust there is no need of abandoning family and society; or becoming a Sannyasi. Becoming a Sannyasi doesn’t guaranty our higher state of mind, rather a man with a higher level of spirituality can lead his life peacefully even in material pursuits. For me, Sannyasa is not the solution to all the battles but our mindset is.

4.     How does Aurobindo glorify the Gita and the lord?

In the essay, Sri Aurobindo has appreciated the teaching of Gita and God. It has glorified Gita concerning human beings and the battle of life. Gita says that human life is full of battles and nobody can run away from it. Further, it says that supreme power has created human beings in separate ways. The Gita accepts God as the creator, preserver and destroyer and thus God is omnipresent, omnipotent and omniscient.

5.     Why do you think there is always conflict between righteousness and unrighteousness?

According to Gita, the conflict between righteousness and unrighteousness is a necessity in nature to create an ideal society. In my opinion, a major reason for the conflict between righteousness and unrighteousness lies in the greed of human beings to persue the materialistic gain. Whenever the deeds of people are led by selfishness and power-gain then the righteous people have to offend it to preserve the value of goodness and virtues. An unrighteous path of people creates a negative effect on the whole civilization which eventually lead to the end of the world. Hence, the conflict between righteousness and unrighteousness occur to protect the truth and spiritual value for a peaceful life.

6.     Was the battle of Kurukshetra a just war? Explain.

I think the battle of Kurukshetra was a just war for many reasons. Lord Krishna reincarnated on earth to remove evil, destroy evil souls and restore peace and Dharma (Virtue). He also wanted to give a message to the world that “Those who are on the path of truth and dharma will achieve victory”. He also said he wouldn’t hesitate or even flicker to do anything to save dharma (virtue). So, he may even resort to deception or trickery if there is no other choice to win over the evil souls. Lord Krishna clearly states in the Mahabharata that sinning for Dharma is not a sin at all. The battle was the last resort to protect righteousness from unrighteousness.