Summary of Man and the Battle of Life by Sri Aurobindo

The essay "Man and Battle of Life" explains the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita. It focuses on how the Gita sees life as a struggle. The essay uses the battle of Kurukshetra to show this idea.

The Gita sees life as a struggle, like a battle, full of conflict, change, and destruction. It views the world as created by a powerful, all-knowing God who is both beyond and within it. War, like the battle of Kurukshetra, reflects this struggle, showing both a moral fight between good and evil and a physical clash between opposing forces.

The Gita urges people to trust in God despite life’s chaos, believing a higher truth can resolve these struggles. It sees war as necessary because humanity lacks the complete goodwill needed for true peace. History has never achieved such universal harmony.

The Gita speaks to the Kshatriya, a warrior whose duty is to fight and protect the weak and uphold justice. In ancient India, only Kshatriyas fought, allowing others to live without violence. Unlike modern times, where everyone is expected to fight, Indian culture assigned roles based on natural qualities. Modern war forces all—thinkers, artists, even priests—into battle, disrupting society and ignoring individual nature, sometimes leading to national self-destruction.

The Gita uses Sankhya philosophy, describing three qualities shaping how people face life’s struggles. They are tamas (ignorance, giving in to challenges), rajas (passion, fighting for gain or growth), and sattva (seeking harmony and justice). Some seek a higher state beyond these qualities, either by renouncing life (sannyasa) or acting with inner calm, free from desire. Arjuna, a rajasic Kshatriya with sattvic ideals, starts confident in his just fight at Kurukshetra but falls into tamas. Krishna, his divine teacher, urges him to keep fighting without being driven by passion or desire, aligning his warrior role with spiritual growth.

The Gita views war as part of life’s broader battle, aiming for justice and harmony. It doesn’t support escaping life but encourages inner discipline (askesis) to act calmly in the world. By mastering actions inwardly, Arjuna can transcend the conflict between fighting and the soul’s desire for peace, finding a path to spiritual harmony while fulfilling his duty.