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Bhagavad-gita Essay Questions
Chapter 1
Explain the value of elders in society. How does the absence of elders lead to moral degradation?
Srila Prabhupada explains that Arjuna's reaction to the prospect of fighting is due to both "material fear" and "softheartedness due to his being a great devotee of the Lord". Explain in what ways both are true.
Chapter 2
What are some symptoms of a person in transcendence? How does a transcendentalist compare with a materialistic person?
Explain why the Vedic codes are no longer necessary for one who has taken to pure devotional service. How is this a commentary on morality?
Chapter 3
Why is it better to work in a mood of detachment rather than renouncing the work itself?
How does one control lust? Give philosophical as well as practical examples.
Chapter 4
Write an essay entitled "Knowledge of Krsna: Eligibility for and Results of".
What is the relationship between sacrifice and knowledge of spiritual reality? How does the process work?
Chapter 5
What is Arjuna's recurring confusion from Chapter 3 to Chapter 5? Explain Krsna's answer regarding karma-yoga and Sankhya-yoga.
Please give a description of the three "controllers" of activity in the material world and their respective "doership."
Chapter 6
Please describe the process of astanga-yoga. How can we see that this process was meant for a previous age.
How does one go from being a yogi to a bhakta? What is such a bhakta's view of other people?
Chapter 7
Give a description of each type of pious and impious man. Explain why the four pious men are not considered pure devotees.
Explain how Krsna acts to keep himself covered to both the demigod worshipper and the impersonalist.
Chapter 8
Write an essay entitled, "How to achieve Krsna at the critical time of death."
Why is a devotee unconcerned with the ritualistic procedure for leaving the body?
Chapter 9
Give an overview of Krsna's relationship with the material world. Be sure to answer the doubts that Krsna must be impersonal, burdened and partial on account of his relationship with this world.
Why is devotional service "free from material qualifications?" What implications does this have for those who wish to practice devotional service?
Chapter 10
What is the relationship between knowledge of Krsna and surrender to Krsna?
Chapter 11
Why should Arjuna, who has a direct relationship with Krsna desire to see the universal form?
Explain Krsna's revelation of time and how understanding it helps us perform devotional service. Elaborate by using Arjuna's example.
Chapter 12
What makes the process of personal worship better than impersonal worship?
Give an overview of the ladder of devotional service in verses 8-12.
Chapter 13
Use logic and scripture to defeat the claim that consciousness is simply a product of material nature. Similarly, defeat the claim that the individual consciousness and the supreme consciousness are the same.
What is the relationship between purusa and prakrti? How does purusa transmigrate through prakrti? How does purusa become free?
Chapter 14
Explain by comparison why goodness is better than passion and ignorance for spiritual advancement. How can goodness itself bind?
How does bhakti-yoga lead one above the three modes?
Chapter 15
Explain how the Bhagavad-gita "takes Krsna out of the background and moves Him to the foreground." Use examples from this chapter.
Explain how the banyan tree example, the section between verses 12-15, and the final verses of Chapter 15 are each statements against Mayavada philosophy?
Chapter 16
How would you counter this statement, "Well, you Hare Krsnas do not understand the situation of the modern world. Why use outdated scriptures to live your life? Right and wrong are up to us to choose. By kicking off the shackles of religion and fully grasping this personal freedom, we can become happy, and help the world's problems."
Chapter 17
Give an analysis of the concept of faith. How would you explain faith to one who claims that, "I do not have simple faith, my decisions and perspective rest in logic and observation."
Chapter 18
According to the Bhagavad-gita, why is renunciation of the sense objects alone incomplete. Give some examples of how this theme pervades the Bhagavad-gita?
What is morality? How is the Bhagavad-gita the "highest instruction in morality?"
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