I am very pleased to participate in this great seminar. I also think it miracle that I could come to a place where Krishna talked Bhagavad Gita. I couldn't be any happier than this.

 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi gifted to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe A Japanese translation copy of the Bhagawad Gita and Sanskrit version of the Bhagavad Gita in 2014.

 

Japanese people know Buddha, but do not know Krishna.

Japanese people know yoga, but do not know “yukta”.

Japanese people know Radhabinod Pal’s judgment at the Tokyo War Crimes Tribunal in 1946, but do not know Krishna's judgment of Bhagavad Gita.

Japanese people know how to make money, but do not know a worthwhile way to spend money.

Japanese people studies “prakrti,” but do not study “purusa”.

 

I carried out a questionnaire survey in a shopping district, named Tenjinbashisuji Shopping Street, in Osaka, Japan.

This is the longest shopping street in Japan, which stretches more than 3 km, with about 600 stores and restaurants. It is one of the liveliest places in Osaka.

I asked 100 people whether they know Bhagavad Gita.

★The result was only one out of 100 people knew Bhagavad Gita.

 

A recognition rate of Bhagavad Gita was 1% in Japan.

 

What do you think of this result?

If this survey is conducted in India, the recognition rate will be 100%.

 

I read Bhagavad gita in 1987 for the first time.

Bhagavad Gita has been translated into Japanese by about 20 people for now.

 

The oldest Japanese edition of Bhagavad Gita was published in 1950, which was translated by a professor of Tokyo University, Mr Naoshiro Tsuzi, from Sanskrit to Japanese.

 

There is no university in Japan which specialises in teaching the whole Bhagavad Gita at the moment. There are some opportunities for university students to read a part of Bhagavad Gita in lectures on the history of Indian Philosophy or in Sanskrit classes. Kyoto University actually has courses on history of Sanskrit literature. Some part of Bhagavad Gita is read during the courses.

 

I live in Japan, where many young people are losing sight of the meaning of their lives. Japan has a similar culture as South Korea, and young people in both countries seem to be in the similar situation, too.

 

South Korea’s suicide rate per 100,000(hundred thousand) population is 28.4, which is the highest rate in the world. The next highest rate to South Korea is Japan’s 25.8. (in 2011)

However, in Japan, more than 30,000 people have committed suicide for the last 14 years every year, and Japan’s suicide rate of people in their twenties is the highest in the world. Social conditions common to both countries are severe competition starting from their childhood and rapidly widening gap in income between rich and poor.

 

A Japanese young woman, who started working in last April after graduation, committed suicide in December of that year. This news recently came to an issue in Japan. She worked for a biggest advertising company in Japan. Before committing suicide, she posted a tweet on Twitter, saying that what would be ahead of chronic overwork and stress. She was at the age of 24.

 

Why were we born? It is regrettable that they leave their body without knowing the answer. If a person seriously learns Bhagavad gita from a guru, the meaning of life is to be revealed to them.
Bhagavad gita is called “Gito-Upanisad”, as its content is abstract. Therefore, one needs guru’s explanations to understand it.

 

To describe the contents of Bhagavad Gita in the minimum number of words, it would be “Yukta-vairagya.”
 

(Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu, 1st cant.ch2.v255)

 

    anāsaktasya viṣayān
yathārham upayuñjataḥ
nirbandhaḥ kṛṣṇa-sambandhe
yuktaṁ vairāgyam ucyate
 

    Rūpa Gosvāmī says that as long as we are in this material world we have to act; we cannot cease acting. Therefore if actions are performed and the fruits are given to Krishna, then that is called yukta-vairāgya.

 

    Nouns, yoga and yukta, came from a verb, Yuj. "Yoga" means "to connect" in a broad sense, however, the precise meaning of the Yukta is "to connect correctly or appropriately." When we connect with Krishna (yukta), we are freed from material attachments and the cycle of birth and death (vai-ragya). This is the most concise description of the Bhagavad Gita. In Bhagavad Gita Chapter 5 Verse 12, it is explained:

 

    BG5-12

    yuktah karma-phalam tyaktva

    santin apnoti naisthikim

    ayukutah kama-karena

    phale sakto nibadhyate        

 

"the steadily devoted soul (yukta) attains unadulterated peace (santin); whereas a person who is not in union with the Divine (ayukta) becomes entangled (nibadhyate)."

 

Bagavad Gita is the only book which makes us ineffable peace.  If Japanese young people become to know the instruction of Bhagavad-Gita , Japan's suicide rate would fall.

 

Japan will be hosting the 2020 Olympic Games.

Will it be impossible that the Indian team marches in the opening ceremony hanging a Bhagavad Gita book around their necks?

Will it be impossible to propose this idea to the Indian Olympic Association?

​



 

I would like to speak about a story of Mahatma Gandhi at the end.

 

Japanese people know well Mahatma Gandhi achieved Indian Independence from Britain,

but do not know he always carry about  Bhagavad Gita and he used to said Bhagavad Gita is my “Guru”.

 

At the time of death, why could he chant Lord's name ?   “Hey Ram” because why he always with Bhagavad Gita. He never forgot Bhagavad Gita , So Bhagavad Gita help him as “Guru”.

 

I remember the one verse, Bhagavad Gita Chapter 8 Verse5,  

 

BG8-5

anta-kare ca man eva  

smaran muktva kalevaram  

yah prayati sa mad-bhavam  

yati nasty atra samsayah   

 

Krishna said that at the time of death, remembering me alone, at onece attains my nature.  

 

Mahatma Gandhi's great work is not only Indian independence but he indicated that we should fixed our consciousness to Bhagavan  at the time of death.

That is one of great instruction of Bhagavad Gita.  

At the time of death, we are tested.

 

Indian independence might have achieved by someone else if he hadn't.

However, no other person but Mahatma Gandhi would be able to chant Lord's name at the time of death.    

 

End,