Generally, scholars claim that Buddhism is older than the Gita because the Gita uses the word nirvāṇa five times. Several years ago, I sent the following message to the main academic Indology discussion group, called Indology, with leading scholars from the best universities:
 … Can we date the Bhagavad-Gita?

Ego is the Greek pronoun “I”, and Sanskrit aham. In the dictionary and in our culture, it has at least one negative meaning. For Freud, of course, it didn’t have any negative meanings, the ego was just a person. It does have at least one pejorative sense in our culture.  … What does ego really mean to you? Is ego bad?

I try to be fair about it, evaluate objectively.  As far as feeling bad, if we see ourselves the way God sees us, we won’t feel bad.  If you know that you are infinitely loved, that the greatest conscious being thinks very highly of you, then you won’t feel bad.  … The difference between false ego and self-respect

When I began my doctoral work at Harvard, I quickly learned that ISKCON was a laughing stock in my department. Devotees would come to Harvard Square to jump and run around, banging on drums. We all know the story.
 … Can we move off the margins, and be seen more than a fringe group?