Yale Brendan V.

Catabay February 24, 2016

2014-06290 English 12

The Gita, the Atomic Bomb and the Greater Good

In our discussion of the Bhagavad Gita, I cant help but remember the story of J. Robert

Oppenheimer- a physicist involved in the contrivance of the atomic bomb. Oppenheimer claimed

to have recalled the line I am become death, the destroyer of worlds (Gita Chapter 9, verse 32)

as he beheld the terrifying mushroom cloud of doom upon the bombs detonation over the New

Mexico desert. As the director of the laboratory that was responsible for creating the destructive

weapon, his actions were said to be heavily influenced by the Hindu text (Hijiya). Arjunas story

resonated with his own, as both men are faced with a duty to participate in a war of mass bloodshed.

Countless lives were taken at the end of both stories, but both men insisted they did the right thing.

How can this be? We shall find the answer in the Gita itself.

The central theme of Gita is acting according to ones place in the world. The road to

earthly hell is paved with selfish intentions, but the stairway to heaven is laid certainly with the

performance of obligations. Although Krishna recognizes the significance of earthly morality, He

tells Arjuna that sins or blemishes cant be avoided in performing certain duties (Gita Chapter

18, verse 48). The actions may have malign repercussions, but as long as the doer remains detached

from his actions, no evil will accrue on him (Gita Chapter 18, verse 49). Being detached means

that the one does not wish to act; he does it only for the sake of doing. It may also imply that being

detached to an act means that one does not seek to gain anything from it. In fact, according to

Krishna, the only true evil in this world is desire (Gita Chapter 3, verses 37-43).
 In a way, the Gita implies that the end justifies the means- the end being the fulfillment of

ones Dharma. In Oppenheimers case, he believed the detonation of the atomic bomb in

Hiroshima and Nagasaki would quickly put an end to the war, saving countless lives that would

have been lost in further battles (Hijiya). Therefore, it was his duty as a physicist to develop the

bomb. However, the Gita also puts a limit in our actions. One must do everything he can provided

that he doesnt step in on somebody elses shoes. In Chapter 18 verse 47 of the Gita, Krishna

declares, Better is ones own duty through destitute of merits, than the duty of another well

performed. This may not be agreeable for most people, simply because we generally do not like

to be sorted into castes or classes. A man wants to be everything that he can be! In the Gita, mortals

are only separated into four castes, namely Brahmana (Wise men), Kshatriya (Warriors), Vaisya

(Agricultural workers) and Sudra (Service givers). Today, however, it would be very difficult to

sort people in the aforementioned manner.

Although highly criticized both for its truthfulness and implications, The Bhagavad Gita

remains one of the most celebrated spiritual texts in the world. It may be due to the fact that it

makes decision-making easier for some people who subscribe to its philosophy, as with the case

of J. Robert Oppenheimer. Also, it may be due to its uniqueness in the sense that God is portrayed

as a good friend to mankind; I can imagine that a lot of people take comfort in that.

In the end, accepting the Gita is purely a matter of faith. No matter how hard we try to

analyze its verses we will never reach a full agreement on whether they are true or good (there are

some who even believe that Krishna is evil). It cannot be scrutinized with logic, as its teachings

are claimed to be in the realm of the spiritual. Whether real or unreal, the Gita and other literary

works as well certainly have the power to shape the course of history.
 Works Cited

Hijiya, James. The Gita of Robert J. Oppenheimer. 1st ed. American Philosophical Society. Pdf.

19 Feb 2016

Sivananda, Sri Swami. Bhagavad Gita. The Divine Life Society. Pdf. 10 Feb 2016