Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!clyde.concordia.ca!uunet!samsung!usc!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!wuarchive!psuvax1!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian
From: daved@academy.westford.ccur.com (508-392-2990)
Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian
Subject: The Christian and the Gita
Message-ID: <Mar.3.20.43.48.1990.6963@athos.rutgers.edu>
Date: 4 Mar 90 01:43:51 GMT
Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu
Lines: 41
Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu



Recently, while reading the Bhagavadgita (in the Penguin translation)
and I seemed to hear strong echoes of many New Testament verses,
mostly concerning, I suppose, a person's devotion to their Lord.

In another translation, perhaps more literal, some of these 'echoes'
(the metaphor points in the wrong direction, chronologically!) soften
or disappear. But, not all; for instance:

	Abandon all the Laws and instead seek shelter with me
	alone. Be unconcerned, I shall set you free from all
	that is evil. (last chapter)	

Sanskrit-->	 sarvadharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja
		 aham tva sarvapapebhyo moksayisyami ma sucah


	Realize that all creatures have their source therein
	[in Krsna's 'higher nature' D/ ] : I am the origin
	of the entire universe and its dissolution. There is
	nothing at all that transcends me. (ch.7)

	If one disciplined soul proffers to me with love a
	leaf, a flower, a fruit, or water, I accept this offering
	of love from him. Whatever you do, or eat, or offer, or
	mortify... make it an offering to me.


- What do folks think about about these consonances, if they hear
	them as well?

- As far as practice, what do we as Christians make of the 
	spiritual sensibilities of others, without going over
	 into syncretism? 

	
	Dave Davis			
			
daved@westford.ccur.com
{harvard,uunet,petsd}!masscomp!daved