What is the Gita’s soteriology?
From Peter
Transcript
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Hare Krishna. Question from Peter.
What is the Gita’s soteriology? Answer. Soteriology refers to the doctrine of salaration, the way ultimate destination is So, the Bhagavad Gita talks about various paths, Karma Yoga, Gyan Yoga, Dhyan Yoga, and all of these contribute towards spiritual elevation. But all these paths focus primarily on one’s own endeavor.
The Bhagavad Gita conclusively recommends the path of grace, it’s called Bhakti Yoga. And in 18.65 and 66, Krishna recommends Bhakti Yoga very directly. And he says, by this one is guaranteed success.
18.66 he says, Do not worry, do not fear. You will attain perfection by my grace. I will free you from all sinful reactions.
In 12.6 and 7 also Krishna says that I will free these people who devote themselves to me. How? I will lift them out of the ocean of material existence. See, I will liberate them.
So, yes, Krishna will liberate. What do we have to do for that? We have to devote ourselves to him. That means we practice the process of Bhakti Yoga, by which gradually our attraction to Krishna increases more and more.
Fix the mind on me and worship me. And those who do this, I will deliver them from material existence. So Krishna says that by other processes also one can attain some level of perfection.
As he says in 12.4 and 5, 12.5 he says that, yes, by just one’s own effort to meditate on the absolute truth also one can attain him. But it’s a long and troublesome process. So it is very troublesome.
So, therefore, the Bhagavad Gita focuses that by devoting oneself to a personal God who is merciful and who is eager to deliver us, we can attain the supreme perfection of life. And this perfection is open for everyone. In 9.32 Krishna says that even the low born, even they can be attained in supreme perfection by taking shelter of Krishna.
So, in this way the Bhagavad Gita focuses on personal devotion to a personal absolute as the means for attaining salvation. Thank you.