Stories Behind the Movies, The Legend of Bagger Vance, Chapter 8

Rannulph Junah evaluates his odds. What chance does he have to play a respectable match against golf's two great legends? Lousy odds. And it is here, where despair takes hold, that The Legend of Bagger Vance begins to brilliantly parallel the story of the Bhagavad-Gita.

Arjuna, leader of his people, must fight a battle. Everyone expects him to be strong - to be a champion. Before the battle begins, Arjuna asks his charioteer to take him to the center of the battlefield. (Follow the link to view a picture of the scene.) He does not know his charioteer is Bhagavan (appearing as Lord Krishna in the story) any more than Rannulph Junah knows his caddy is Bhagavan (appearing as Bagger Vance). Follow these parallels between the two stories:

Bhagavad-Gita	The Legend of Bagger Vance
Arjuna tells Bhagavan: Take me	Junah tells Bagger: Take me to
in my chariot to the middle of	the middle of the battlefield (the
the battlefield to the place	golf course), between the two
between the two armies.	golf greats (Hagen and Jones).
While there, viewing the scene,	While there, viewing the scene,
Arjuna is appalled. He sees	Junah is appalled. He sees
wise people - wiser than he. He	legends of the game - better than
would rather die than kill them.	he. He cannot "do battle" with
He does not want to fight.	them. He won't play.

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