Comparing Bhagavad-Gita And The Epic Of Gilgamesh

At the very beginning of civilization, ancient people had already perceived the limitation of their lives. In order to deal with this painful, unavoidable destiny, which made their lives seem to be not worth-living, they created - and they had to create - mythologies (and others). In other words, they “planted in themselves a blind hope.” In the culture of Ancient Mesopotamia, one can possibly transcend the limit of human lives and achieve immortality through one’s own journey or adventures; on the other hand, in the culture of Ancient India, one as a part of immortal soul is already deathless.

In the Epic of Gilgamesh, it shows us that a normal person can become immortal by the order of God and people who have this kind of chance are few.

Weapons do not cut it, fire does not burn it, waters do not wet it, wind does not wither it. It cannot be cut or burned; it cannot be wet or withered; it is enduring, all-pervasive, fixed, immovable, and timeless. It is called unmanifest, inconceivable, and immutable; since you know that to be so, you should not grieve!” By the concept of Samsara, which means reincarnation, one’s soul (embodied self) lives forever.

Thus, it has been shown that, though hardly, immortality can still be pursued in the former culture, but, in the latter culture, immortality is the nature of one’s embodied self. However, the greatest difference of the concepts of immortality between these two cultures is that they have totally opposite guidance on how one, as a normal person, should

The heroes, the wise men, like the new moon have their waxing and waning. Men will say, ’Who has ever ruled with might and with power like him?’ As in the dark month, the month of shadows, so without him there is no light.” After realizing that everlasting life was not his destiny, Gilgamesh cherished every second of his life. If there is a subtext for this epic, it would be: We should treat our life with our most bravery and courage, especially because we will lose it no matter in the best or worst situation. Immortality seems to be not so important and people are encouraged to live in the moment.

On the contrary, the teachings of Krishna ask people to see the future: The body is always going to vanish, and since it is going to vanish, one should just let it be and not feel anything about it. For everything one does, one should do it to promote the next reincarnation, the future. The teachings of Krishna have a subtext that, since the worldly life is transient, perishable, it is not worth-living and people should focus on the immutable “embodied self.”

In the end, the conclusion is that, for Ancient Mesopotamia, immortality can hardly come true on a mortal being, so people should seize