ITW110  THE BHAGAVADGITA: CAN VIOLENCE BE AN OBLIGATION? (A.Y. 2023/2024)

• Accademic Unit

  Gregorian Centre for Interreligious Studies

• Course

  Diploma in Interreligious Studies

Objectives: This workshop will bring into light the significance and importance of the metaphorical fight between two families, Pāndavas and Kauravas, who represent good and evil. The question “can violence be an obligation?” will be posed in the light of the spiritual journey, which is actually the context of the religious text Bhagavadgī tā, one of the sacred books of Hinduism, in the framework of a dialogue with Christianity. The whole discussion also aims to introduce to the students some aspects of the spiritual and philosophical understanding of Hinduism and its way of life.

Contents: Hermeneutical approach to the text. Presentation and reading of the eighteen chapters of Bhagavadgī tā with the support of some commentaries of different philosophical schools. The meaning of yoga and the three means of inner liberation: karma (action) jñā na (wisdom) bhakti (love and devotion).

Methodology: This subject matter is studied as a workshop, which follows the pedagogy of information and reflection by the professor and the students respectively. The students are expected to have a weekly personal reflection as an ongoing learning process and to share it in the class.

Means of Evaluation: Each student will be evaluated on his or her weekly reflections and a final research paper of 1,500 words.

• Information
• Teachers
• Lesson schedule/Room
• Bibliography

Information

• Semestre: 1° Semestre
• ECTS: 2

Teachers

Ambrogio BONGIOVANNI

Lesson schedule/Room

Semester	Day	From	To	Room	Floor	Building	Notes
1° Semestre	Martedì	17.00	17.45	T400	4	Traspontina	Dal 14 novembre al 19 dicembre 2023
1° Semestre	Martedì	18.00	18.45	T400	4	Traspontina	Dal 14 novembre al 19 dicembre 2023

Bibliography

• Bibliography: J. MUSCARÒ (Translated by) The Bhagavad Gita, Penguin Books: Middlesex, England, 1962 (1976); S. RADHAKRISHNAN, The Bhagavadgita with an Introductory Essay, Sanskrit Text, English Translation and Notes, London: Allen & Unwin, 1948; C. RIZZI, Bhagavadgī tā: Il Canto del Glorioso Signore. Edizioni Studio Domenicano, Bologna 2006; M. GANDHI, The Bhagavadgī tā : a commentary by Mahatma Gandhi, Lotus, New Delhi 2008; A.M. ESNOUL, Bhagavadgī tā, Adelphi Edizioni, Milano 1994.