Bhagavad Gita – Dr. Graham Schweig

Smithsonian Associates, Art Of Living Series…

Welcome to The Not Old Better Show.  I’m Paul Vogelzang, and this is episode #500.

As part of our Smithsonian Associates streaming series, our guest today is  Dr. Graham Schweig. Dr. Graham Schweig will be appearing via Zoom at the Smithsonian Associates program titled The Bhagavad Gita: Ancient Wisdom for Today’s World. For details about Dr. Schweig’s presentation, please check out our web site.

Today we’ll be talking about After the Bible and the Quran, the Bhagavad Gita is the most beloved of sacred texts in the world. Graham M. Schweig, a professor of religion at Christopher Newport University and published translator of the Bhagavad Gita, illuminates some of the exquisite passages in this Hindu philosophical poem and examines their rich narrative context. 

He provides an overview of the story behind the text, its major themes, and reveals how a work created around the 2nd century A.D. poignantly addresses the universal problems of the human condition: the intrinsically conflicted soul and the mix of happiness and suffering, goodness and evil, and beauty and horror the world holds. These dichotomies are symbolized by the dilemma of the protagonist Arjuna, whose heart is shattered as he is about to engage in a battle against the evil that also pits him against those he loves. Experience how the Bhagavad Gita’s timeless voice of wisdom and compassion can speak to the challenges of the modern world.

My thanks to Dr. Graham Schweig, who’ll be appearing at the Smithsonian Associates Tuesday, December 8, 2020 – 6:30 p.m. ET, and the title of his presentation is The Bhagavad Gita: Ancient Wisdom for Today’s World. …please check out our web site for more details.  My thanks, too, to the Smithsonian Associates team for all they do to support the show.  And, of course, my thanks to you, my wonderful Not Old Better Show audience, now with me for 500 shows!  Again, this is episode 500!  Thanks again to you all for your love, support, and now friendship.  Stay safe, be well, practice smart social distancing, and remember, let’s talk about better.  The Not Old Better Show. Thanks, everybody.

For Zoom details and more information about Dr. Schweig’s program, please click here:
Bhagavad Gita ancient wisdom for today’s world