The Bhagavad-Gita, Oppenheimer and the nuclear bomb
Nilesh Prashar
Robert Oppenheimer (April 22, 1904 - February 18, 1967) was an American theoretical physicist, best known for his role as the scientific director of the Manhattan Project, the World War II effort to develop the first nuclear weapons, at the secret Los Alamos laboratory in New Mexico. He is famously reffered to as “the father of the atomic bomb”.
At the Trinity test site in Los Alamos New Mexico he uttered the words ‘Now, I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds’, after he had seen the fireball glowing after the bomb had been dropped. This quote has become infamous and it is actually chapter 11 verse 32 of the Bhagavad-Gita,
July 24th, 2006 at 10:27 am
Wonderful and Insightful article on how the Bhagvad Gita influenced one of the greatest scientists and the fcat that even he believed that the brahmaastra could definately only have been the atomic bomb, also the fact that our science and technology was way advanced in vedic times as illustrated by the fact that only in sanskrit do you have a word for an aeroplane or flying vehicle-Vimaan before the concept of flight was thought possible.
July 24th, 2006 at 7:40 pm
Brilliant piece of work, a great article, I have recently been reading the Gita again and this article has shed light on how it relates to the modern world.
July 25th, 2006 at 6:39 am
So great atrticle which give me deep sense & more undrestanding of Shri mad Bhagvad Gita.I have a persian translation of Gita & I read it again & again ,again.Infuelence of Gita on Human being on daily life is tremanduos
if some able to read such kind of brilliant article.
Thankyou.
July 27th, 2006 at 7:53 am
I have been demotivated of late though to really study Hinduism, but this article has really kind of inspired me to want to study the Gita and try and apply its teachings to life.
It is interesting, because I’ve heard of Oppenheimer and that quote from the Gita, but had never understood its context up until now.
July 30th, 2006 at 8:52 pm
Houston Smith’s book titled WORLD’S RELIGIONS is a popular textbook in many college courses in the United States. The Chapter on Hinduism opens with Oppenheimer’s quote from the Bhagavad Gita. Many American students are thereby introduced to the Gita’s influence on the great scientist.
You have written an insightful article. It clarifies why it is important to fight evil even when killing results. This message is all the important in this age of Clash of Civilizations. Sadly, Hindus have not followed the message of the Gita.
July 31st, 2006 at 2:01 pm
A great article! But a word of caution! Why is it hindu’s cannot see the greatness of their dharma and what incredible insight it has given mankind both spiritually and scientifically! We are just able to begin to realise what “maya” (illusion) means when said of this world. Western scientist (as we do not believe our own!) are know proving the existance of anti-matter (or nothingness) that everthing we see including you computer keyboard is an illusion taken from your senses into your brain to process into something “real”. If we look at your computer keyboard at microscopic levels you will find not a keyboard, but a mass of cells all vibrating at a certain resonance to form what you eyes see’s and what your brain tells you is a computer keyboard, in reality (or the maya) is that it does not exist at all save in your head!
August 9th, 2006 at 10:44 pm
Great article. I do have to share one thing that bugs me though. Why is it that we have to have a “testimonial” of a western person - scientist or philosopher or otherwise - for us to take our own culture seriously? Why can’t we be proud of the Vedas and Gita in and of themselves? Why can’t we understand that that science can be explained in the spiritual realm but spirituality cannot be completely explained and understood by science - by the mind, as “Judge Red” put it so eloquently? Why do buy the western view that science is somehow “superior” to the spirit or the Atman or the Brahm? Is it not time that we *led* the world with the wisdom that’s so profound and so true that can lead to unity of the whole mankind?
Also, there is a discussion in the article of Oppenheimer as to whether he “became Hindu” or not. In my opinion, Hinduism is not a religion, per se. “Being Hindu” is a western concept – derived, perhaps, from “being a Christian.” Vedas are a vast body of knowledge that anyone can dip into to receive guidance and find their way to spirit. Religions - step-by-step systems to get to spirit - have come out of this vast body of knowledge. Buddhism for example. Or Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras. Or Swadhyay. Or Swami Narayan. Or Art of Living. Or Maharshi Mahesh Yogi’s TM. Or many other paths laid down by the Enlightened Ones.
August 9th, 2006 at 11:11 pm
^^^ I don’t see anybody trying to get a ‘western testimonial to take our culture seriously’.
The gist of the article is how the Gita helped a person at a crucial juncture in his life, and how his dilema showed many similarities with that of Arjuna.
It is immaterial whether the the article was about a white guy, an Indian, a Cambodian an African or any other race.