I'm going to start with editors of ancient works of literature and their pompous, self-gratifying nature. Yeah! I'm coming out swinging.
Let's crunch some numbers. The edition of the Bhagavad Gita I purchased has 276 pages. The introduction has 62 pages. Each chapter has a mini-introduction by Diana Morrison. "Mini-introduction" just doesn't carry the right meaning, because sometimes the introduction is twice as long as the very chapter it proceeds to explain. These mini-introductions take up 80 pages of the book, plus 24 pages of notes and a Glossary. This leaves roughly 110 pages for the Bhagavad Gita itself. That's 39.85% of the book is the book's topic itself. 60.15% of the rest of the book is editors and writers mouthing off their knowledge on the Bhagavad Gita.
The chapter introductions are so expletive, that by the time I'm done reading it, I more or less don't need to read the text itself. It became so redundant, I felt I read the book twice, once I was finished.
I find it annoying when books are edited with such useless nonsense. I thought French translation of philosophical text was flooded with a lot of dialogue set up to make its editor sound like he wrote the book himself. I stopped reading French translations because of the pompous arrogant nature of editors, and their excessive use of extravagant and pedantic words. But this was once again the story here. Everybody has to put their word in. Although this doesn't top the latest translation and edition of The Tibetan Book of the Dead, which kept all the previous editions' introductions inside, giving you three introductions to read.
Dare I continue with my review? Of course I dare.
Considered by most as the authority and seminal scripture relaying together all schools of Hindu philosophy, the Bhagavad Gita, a part of the Mahabharata, is simply one big epic poem (by Western standards), where Sri Krishna reveals himself to Arjuna, a warrior on the eve of a great war with his own family to restore the throne to its rightful heir. This epic serves as metaphor for The Path the spiritual aspirant must take to attain illumination and become one with Krishna. Now perhaps, being a student of Buddhist philosophy, I feel like I've heard this before. Because since Buddhism's roots are in Hindu culture and lore, the message is very similar, with some distinct differences, but the goal remains the same, transcending samsara, the cycle of rebirth. I felt the Gita was shortchanging the canons by having Krishna posturing and shooting his mouth off about how great he is. What he is isn't a being, but the intelligent universe in which we live; he only takes form to reveal himself to aspirants like Arjuna and give goodness a kick-start in the world. With so many enumerations of what he is and who takes part in the wheel of life, it gets long-winded pretty fast. When Krishna starts talking smack about how he created the castes, you want to slap him around for it—but I digress.
Article comments
1 - Aaman
Good stuff - enjoyed the critical look at the book and the text itself
2 - JELIEL
Thank you.
3 - bhattathiri
To motivate him the Bhagavad Gita is preached in the battle field Kurukshetra by Lord Krishna to Arjuna as a counseling to do his duty while multitudes of men stood by waiting . It has got all the management tactics to achieve the mental equilibrium and to overcome any crisis situation. The Bhagavad Gita can be experienced as a powerful catalyst for transformation. Bhagavad gita means song of the Spirit, song of the Lord. The Holy Gita has become a secret driving force behind the unfoldment of one's life. In the days of doubt this divine book will support all spiritual search.This divine book will contribute to self reflection, finer feeling and deepen one's inner process. Then life in the world can become a real educationâ€"dynamic, full and joyfulâ€"no matter what the circumstance. May the wisdom of loving consciousness ever guide us on our journey. What makes the Holy Gita a practical psychology of transformation is that it offers us the tools to connect with our deepest intangible essence and we must learn to participate in the battle of life with right knowledge.
Bhattathiri
4 - bhattathiri
One of the greatest contributions of India to the world is Holy Gita which is considered to be one of the first revelations from God. The management lessons in this holy book were brought in to light of the world by divine Maharshi Mahesh Yogi , Sri Sri RaviShankar and Swami Bodhanandji, and the spiritual philosophy by the great Adi Sankaracharya the greatest philosopher of India and proud son of Kerala, and Sri. Srila Prabhupada Swami and humanism by Mata Amritanandamayi Devi and Satya Sai Baba. Maharishi calls the Bhagavad-Gita the essence of Vedic Literature and a complete guide to practical life. It provides "all that is needed to raise the consciousness of man to the highest possible level." Maharishi reveals the deep, universal truths of life that speak to the needs and aspirations of everyone. Swami Chinmayanandaji preached and educated the people and Swami Sandeep Chaitanyaji continuing the mission by keeping this lantern burning always knowing the wishes of the modern generations. Arjuna got mentally depressed when he saw his relatives with whom he has to fight.( Mental health has become a major international public health concern now). To motivate him the Bhagavad Gita is preached in the battle field Kurukshetra by Lord Krishna to Arjuna as a counseling to do his duty while multitudes of men stood by waiting. It has got all the management tactics to achieve the mental equilibrium and to overcome any crisis situation. The Bhagavad Gita can be experienced as a powerful catalyst for transformation. Bhagavad gita means song of the Spirit, song of the Lord. The Holy Gita has become a secret driving force behind the unfoldment of one's life. In the days of doubt this divine book will support all spiritual searches. This divine book will contribute to self reflection, finer feeling and deepen one's inner process. Then life in the world can become a real educationâ€"dynamic, full and joyfulâ€"no matter what the circumstance. May the wisdom of loving consciousness ever guide us on our journey? What makes the Holy Gita a practical psychology of transformation is that it offers us the tools to connect with our deepest intangible essence and we must learn to participate in the battle of life with right knowledge?. It shows us the path to handle the situation with equipoised mind irrespective of what comes our way and reminds us time and again, that what the right action is.
5 - Anan
I hear personal attacks are not allowed here.
How is this author allowed to attack Lord Krsna ?
Plz. explain or shut your website.
6 - anan
How does the author dare to say that he wants to slap Krsna ?
How can such foolish people be allowed to review such a sacred scripture ?
It is mind-boggling !
Lord Krsna is God Himself and hence when the author makes uncharitable comments about Him I am offended.
There are millions of Hindus like me who would likewise take offense.
Plz take this rubbish off your website.
7 - Christopher Rose
Personal attacks are not allowed amongst commenters but public figures and mythical creatures are open to criticism.
8 - DAVE ID
Hi! DAVE here, the author of the review. Also a die hard atheist. Supernatural being like Krishna are pure fantasy, just like the Flying Spaghetti Monster.
If I would have spoken of bitch slapping around Allah instead of Krishna you wouldn't be offended, you wouldn't care at all. You chose to be offended.
If your GOD is so supreme, he can handle my harsh criticism or send me to what ever hell of a thousand burning needles or whatever when I die.
I bid you good day.
9 - Ashwin
I think you need a proper translation of the gita. The best one you can find would be Bhagavad GIta as it is by an authorized spiritual teacher by the name of Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
10 - krishna
Hello Dave, it was good to know that you at least got your hands on Gita. let me clear your mind --> 'you are not yet ready to understand Gita' and that is the whole truth. Not all people have the right mind or in a right state of mind to understand Gita properly. To understand Gita properly, you must understand the three fundamental powers i.e. creation, preservation and destruction and how these powers work all the time in universe. When I first read Gita, I was enlightened, a shiver of energy sparked within me as I was able to understand the true meaning behind Gita.
Dear Dave, i am sure that you will never understand Gita as people like you who, after single reading of Gita, attach hateful words like slapping etc. are nothing more than non-believers. You think of yourself having a great mind and whatever you judge is final for you, but ask those people around who understood Gita and how it changed their lives forever. any person having 'hatred' in his mind can never understand Gita and it is also mentioned in Gita
I would say only one thing at the end. Gita is the essence of Vedas and anyone trying to understand it in one sitting is a person with cramped mind. If something doesn't spark in your mind after reading Gita, you are not ready for it yet and this is the whole truth.
11 - Jaideep
hellosss...
i saw some comments above which felt like i gotta add something. well, dave, m atheist too. i knw all these religions make no sense at all. but if you wanna make this people to understand that this is all crap u gotta first respect their beliefs. offending them by sayin shit abt the god or religion they belong you will jus make em angry n frustrated. if u wanna really prove ur point critisize them in their own religious bullshit but with some proof by analyzing them critically.
christianity - jesus story isnt the only one. persian god mithra, born 600 bc. dec 25th, born to a virgin, baptized in a river, persormed miracles, resurected
after.
horus was a son of god, born to a virign, performed miracles, he also had 12 diciples (commandments).
Islam - they claim that the biology in their holy book is true literally and it was written like ages before so only god could have know all that stuff but before muhammad was born there were numerous europeon philosophers and thinkers wrote that before.
Hinduism - first of all there is no foounder of this religion so "GOD" knws where is this come from. its just a bunch of beliefs with some sprinkle of magic stuff by God as man on earth.
so people dont get in this religious hive. we know that there are some question which still cant be answered by science such as after life and wats next. i would rather prefer living in a no answer life instead of answering those question by religious crap.
[Personal contact info deleted]
12 - BITTU
DAVE talks from ignorance and lack of understanding. Gita does NOT talk of "caste" system. The relevant verse means something totally different. Here:
BG 4.13: According to the three modes of material nature and the work associated with them, the four divisions of human society are created by Me. And although I am the creator of this system, you should know that I am yet the nondoer, being unchangeable.
13 - Abhishek
DAVE and Jaideep, you speak of nothing but ignorance and lack of understanding as stated by BITTU. I might here add that I’m also a non believer, howsoever that does not make me limit my thinking and understanding of these philosophical texts. I do not say there exits God neither do I deny it; for God can be anyone/anything. It just depends on one's philosophy.
For instance consider the following fact (or theory): Energy can neither be created nor be destroyed; it can only be transformed from one state to another. Now if that is the case (which has already been proven) a raw form of energy must exist from which / to which all forms of matter and energies are formed / dissolved. This energy may have been called God as we know it. This was my interpretation, although abstract, of God.
One more point must be considered here. We as humans tend to visualize things in our own fashion. Therefore, it is probably possible that the form of God that we know (Krishna, Rama, Jesus, Mohammad etc.) can be the interpretation of those who authored the texts (Mahabharata, Ramayana, Bible, Quran).
Many different people interpret Him in their own way. That is why Buddha neither denied nor supported God's Existence.
It is totally up to you how you interpret Him. But that would not change the teachings that have been philosophically represented (which my friend Jaideep calls CRAP)in the great literary works. We are no one to question their philosophies but to get what we can from their work in our own fashionable manner.
Our aim must be to evolve ourselves with what we have. Science, for now, has some limitations. It cannot answer many mysterious questions. If we have one way to understand them why not take it and research on it rather than blindly exclaiming them to be wrong and not worth looking into.
One additional point is Ayurveda (knowledge of medicines) which describes 7 vital chakras (energy reservoir) in our body that are now used by science for medical treatments. This veda as known in Hindu communities, with little difference, is known in Chinese as Qigong and in Christianity as Hesychasm(can be compared)
The question arises is that 3 totally different cultures use the same concept (nearly) in their own philosophical manner. This cannot be a co-incidence. I must add that the number of such co-incidences is very high (which itself cannot be a co-incidence).
The question thus is if these philosophical teachings (CRAP as by Jaideep) were actually carp than how come such co-incidences are possible?
This is a food for thought for all of us!