Comparing Bhagavad Gita And The Tao Te Ching

Benson John
HON 171/T-Th 3:00
John Parker
02 October 2015
Two religions, one based on rebirth and dharmic duty while the other a way to live according to the way. However they are only superficially incompatible, because both the Bhagavad Gita and the Tao Te Ching contain principles and practices to ultimately get closer to the heavens. The first principle of selflessness involves flushing the ego and bringing in the natural force to work on the body. The next emphasized principle is moderation or keeping to the idea that the possession of many things is detrimental. Finally, both texts argue that detachment from worldly objects allows a central focus on the heavens. One can argue that even without these elements, acquisition of happiness is

The Taoists simply redefine the “ego.” The behavior of self-observation, done by trying to stand outside the body is the source of all unhappiness and the loneliness which follows. Vexation results from unhappiness as a result of viewing oneself as “self,” as separated from the other “selves.” This produces a troublesome illusion, based on pretentious assumptions that all creatures work towards becoming inimitable. However, Taoism does not completely purge society of ego, because that would be unattainable. To stop the ego from controlling a person, attention must be diverted to the greater whole, where there is a pattern to always returning back to the root of all problems. Lao Tzu states, “The sage stays behind, thus he is ahead” (Tao, 7.5) Thus by diverting from ego, the wise return to the front by placing themselves last. In the Bhagavad-Gita, Arjuna has doubts about leading an army to slaughter his relatives. Krishna uses this situation to show that the good and evil forces in a human will contradict each other, however one must lose the selfish self and attempt to go to the higher nature where they must follow their dharmic duties in order to achieve nirvana. Krishna states, “Know that a man of true renunciation is he who craves not, nor hates” (Gita, 5.3). Therefore the one who renounces the “ego” finds freedom and path to

Limitations are observed everywhere, such as the rules cast by society. For the Taoist, freedom is gained with the recognition of these limitations. Lao Tzu sums this with, “Better to stop short than fill to the brim” (Tao, 9.1) Once a person acknowledges their parameters, it becomes simple to achieve a goal. They will possess the freedom to make a choice on how effectively they wish to triumph within the limitations. Gaining freedom without limitations is another illusion. However, maximum freedom is attainable with moderation, staying in between the bounds of limitations. With this, the followers of the Tao, have the maximum range to achieve freedom through self-restraint. The Bhagavad-Gita uses meditation to understand limitations that lead to moderation. Meditation restrains a creature form food, work and sleep through yogic action which causes all sorrows to fade away. Krishna states, “The Yogi pure from sin ever prays in this harmony of soul soon feels the joy of Eternity” (Gita, 6.28). By meditation moderation is a success, for the yogi is able to self-restrain and give attention to the soul that abides in the body. This in practice allows the yogi to become closer to the divine and