Lets just say that it wasn't a big revelation, as so many state the Gita is. No magical transformation occurred in my soul, if there is such a thing. No spontaneous desire to renounce my attachments. The message is clear, though: that to ascend, one must shed oneself of one's attachments to results, to expectations from life. It is, after all, the source of all suffering. We suffer because the ego wants and wants and wants. The ego will do whatever it takes to get you, or the Atman, to comply with its every whim of self-gratification and addiction to pleasure.
It also sends a message that Buddhist renunciation seems to lack. That you cannot, despite all your efforts, renounce life. Sooner or later, by the very fact that you are alive, you will be drawn back into the fight, the duality. It says to live life, not as a monk, but with the challenges of everyday life. Only then can you truly generate the wisdom to eventually go beyond duality. But the message sorta gets lost in all of Sri Krishna's posturing as the all-mighty.
Just like I stay away from Oscar-winning films, because often they were made with the intent of winning an Oscar, I stay away from books that everyone seems to agree on. Reluctantly, I decided to pick this book up and give it a read, despite my dislike of all the pop-stars' and celebrities' endorsements, since the 60s, of this book. It was pretty good but not remarkable. It's a good book for those beginning to learn about eastern philosophy, but for those who already have read more books than they care to count on the subject, this will read like review for an exam. Being sort of in the middle of this spectrum, it definitely gave me a better understanding of Hindu philosophy and religious beliefs and its links with Buddhism. And the Matrix fanatics will definitely see many similarities between the Gita and the story of Neo's adventure. Oh and the Glossary comes in handy, with all the Hindu and Sanskrit words that can never be properly translated into other languages.
I give it a kick in the astral 3 out of 5.
Edited: PC
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 education"dynamic, full and joyful"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 education"dynamic, full and joyful"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.