Questioning

In the 80's and 90's, as children growing up in India, we were often instructed to withhold our questions and obediently follow directives. Occasionally, when we mustered the courage to inquire, we were unjustly branded as argumentative rebels. While my father would make an effort to explain his reasoning, my mother on the other hand would usually quell the conversation.

As most of my generation completed our education and entered the professional realm, a common observation was that we lacked the habit of asking probing questions. Yet, as we progressed, we began to recognize that exceptional leaders and thinkers stand out for their ability to pose insightful questions, unearthing perspectives that lead to transformative solutions. It takes time to undo the conditioning we had received.

During the period of Covid and its aftermath, I found myself delving into the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita. This revered scripture unfolds on the eve of the Kurukshetra War, a monumental conflict between the Pandavas and the Kauravas. Arjuna is reluctant to fight, as he sees many of his relatives and friends on both sides of the conflict. Arjuna is torn between his relationships with those on both sides and the moral implications of killing even in a just war.

In the Bhagavad Gita, Arjuna delves into profound inquiries about the human experience, ethics, duty, and the essence of reality. In response to Arjuna's questions, Krishna introduces concepts like karma (the law of cause and effect), dharma (righteousness or duty), bhakti (devotion), renunciation, detachment, and moksha (liberation from the cycle of birth and death). Remarkably, Gita has roughly 700 verses, structured as a conversation, a continuous interchange of questions and answers. Arjuna raises queries, and Lord Krishna responds, highlighting the crucial role of questioning in the process of learning.

As I explore these teachings, I find myself wondering how, over time, the act of questioning evolved into blind obedience. The Bhagavad Gita's emphasis on inquiry as a path to wisdom prompts us to reconsider the value of asking questions and the wisdom that comes from seeking understanding. Being a parent, I often encourage my children to pose questions. I let them know that if they don't ask, I'll be the one posing the questions. This approach is intended to spark their curiosity, promote inquisitiveness, and encourage them to engage in rational thinking.