BUDDHISTS CAN PROFIT FROM THE GITA,

EVEN MORE THAN OTHERS

by

Swami Karmananda (Douglas Remington, Los Angeles)

Honorary Life Member, American Gita Society



For the rest of the world, Buddhism is more difficult to understand than

any other religion, because the Buddha taught nothing about God, or

salvation as it's generally understood in the Jewish, Christian, Moslem,

or Hindu religions. The Buddha taught one thing alone: that is, how to

end suffering in one's life.



The Bhagavad Gita, too, offers a way to end suffering, and in this

regard, there is perfect agreement with Buddhism. This can be confirmed

in the following Gita verses: 2, 48, 2:65, 5:29, 6:17, 6:22-23, and

14:20.



Do your duty to the best of your ability, O Arjuna, with your mind

attached to the Lord, abandoning worry and selfish attachment to the

results, and remaining calm in both success and failure. The selfless

service is a yogic practice that brings peace and equanimity of mind.

(2.48)



All sorrows are destroyed upon attainment of tranquillity. The intellect

of such a tranquil person soon becomes completely steady and united with

the Supreme. (2.65)



My devotee attains peace by knowing the Supreme Being as the enjoyer of

sacrifices and austerities, as the great Lord of the entire universe,

and as the friend of all beings. (5.29)



The yoga of meditation destroys all sorrow for the one who is moderate

in eating, recreation, working, sleeping, and waking. (6.17)



After Self-realization (SR), one does not regard any other gain superior

to SR. Established in SR, one is not moved even by the greatest

calamity. (6.22)



The state of severance of union with sorrow is called yoga. This yoga

should be practiced with firm determination, and without any mental

reservation. (6.23)



When one rises above the three modes of material Nature that originate

in the body, one attains immortality or salvation, and is freed from the

pains of birth, old age, and death.(14.20)