The Bhagavad Gita through the Prism of Kantian Ethics

The study analyzes one of the main works of Hindu philosophy, the Bhagavad Gita, which tremendously influenced the development of the Eastern image of the world in general and the Hindu in particular. The concept of paths leading to liberation and cognition of “Self”, God, being and non-being is considered. The authors conclude that the path of knowledge (Djnâna Marga), although it should contain both intellectual principles and rational tools, contains the subordination of intellect to intuition, which contradicts the European philosophical thought. Another path of liberation is the path of action (service) – Karma Marga, the most difficult task of which is to overcome the interest in performing an action. Service should be free from selfish considerations. Here Kant expressed views very close to Karma Marga, focusing on the philosophical analysis of the moral and legal. As proof, the authors analyze examples of human actions that cannot be evaluated unambiguously. The third path of the Gita is the path of love (devotion), gaining unity with God. There is no clear commentary in the work on which of the paths is most important, but the path of love itself is a result that the other two paths only strive for. The authors conclude that there is a difference between Western and Eastern culture. In Eastern philosophy, the truth is revealed not on the path to rational knowledge, but on the path of the aesthetics of love. However, the authors note that Western religion includes the concept of love, but it has a fundamentally different character. In Western Christianity, a person places God in their heart, and in Indian systems, a person must find a way to the heart of God. © 2024, RUDN University. All rights reserved.