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 The Original Truth October 20, 2007
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
If we lived in a sane society, a dog-eared copy of the Bhagavad Gita would be on every nightstand in every home of the western world.
So many publications of the Bhagavad Gita suffer from the same malady as most publications of the Corpus Hermeticum -- the inherent Knowledge, Existence, and Bliss ends up being buried beneath a ton of commentary. This particular collaboration by Prabhavananda and Isherwood wisely avoids commentary except in the Preface, Introduction, and ending Appendices.
I grew up in the Baptist church, the first born son of a Southern Baptist preacher. I can honestly say that the Gita has become as cherished to me as the bible. I now understand why so many Hindus express as much love for the Gita as they do the Sermon on the Mount. Once stripped of the layers of corruptions grandfathered in by men ruled by rajas, both holy books contain the wonderful, blissful, effulgent, Original Truth.
The beginning of the Gita, just as with the beginning [Old Testament] of the bible, suffers from Ishwara having breathed it thru the corrupting filters of men living in an age when war was considered noble [not that much has changed even in the 21st century]. Too many souls have rejected the Gita because of being repulsed after reading the first two chapters where Lord Krishna --- Brahman incarnated in the form of a man --- implores Arjuna to "shake off this cowardice, Arjuna", insisting that "if you refuse to fight this righteous war, you will be turning aside from your duty. You will be a sinner, and disgraced".
Similar words can be found in Numbers 31:14-18. And, among Hindus, as among Christians, too many adherents, dominated by rajas, take such words literally. Note that India is one of only eight nations in our world that stockpile nuclear weapons. Wisely, in Appendix II, Prabhavananda and Isherwood include a short treatise entitled "The Gita and War" in which Ghandi's accurate assessment of the Gita is provided:
"...he called it an allegory in which the battlefield is the soul and Arjuna, man's higher immpulses, struggling against evil."
I highly recommend that those reading the Gita for the first time begin with Appendix II, then read Chapters I and II while Appendix II is still fresh in their mind. After Chapter II, everything will begin to fall into place.
And, for Heaven's sake, by all means, ignore any Hindu swami, Muslim iman, or Christian preacher who tries to convince you that there is any such thing as a literal religious war of which you have a duty to Brahman/Allah/Jehovah to fight. What is your duty? Lord Arjuna explains it perfectly in the last chapter of the Gita:
"When he casts from him
Vanity, violence,
Pride, lust, anger
And all his possessions,
Totally free
From the sense of ego
And tranquil of heart:
That man is ready
For oneness with Brahman.
And he who dwells
United with Brahman,
Calm in mind,
Not grieving, not craving,
Regarding all men
With equal acceptance:
He loves me most dearly.
aptly named, "the song of God." February 17, 2002
11 out of 11 found this review helpful
Perhaps the greatest piece of truly inspired spiritual literature ever written. Considered by many to be the epitome of the vast collection of writings that is Vedanta. Its the story of Lord Krishna's holy teachings and advice to a warrior whose heart is in great distress on the eve of battle. And aren't we all warriors on the eve of the battle of daily life? Lord Krishna explains the various ways a person can seek and find and know God. He speaks directly to each one of us from that transcendent Eternal One point of view, "when goodness grows weak, when evil increases, i make myself a body. in every age i come back, to deliver the holy, to destroy the sin of the sinner and to establish righteousness". and, "though a man be soiled with the sins of a lifetime, let him but love me, rightly resolved, in utter devotion: i see no sinner, that man is holy". and, "give me your whole heart, love and adore me, worship me always, bow to me only, and you shall find me: this is my promise, who love you dearly." I love the book very much indeed and have read it many times over the past few decades. This particular translation is a thing of sheer beauty and power. This is by far my favorite translation of the several i've read. [Prabhavanana and Isherwood, translation] This book belongs on the reading table of every sincere spiritual seeker. Its simply sublime.
Awesome! February 1, 2001
This is one of the most beautiful books I have ever read. If you're at all curious about Hinduism - this book has it all. Now I don't personally believe that a blue-skinned guy named Krishna ever really existed. But I do believe he is an excellent allegory, or character, used to convey the beliefs of Hinduism and the experience (and non-experience) of Brahman(God). My favorite thing about this book is that Krishna is active in everyday life. The story is actually an excerpt from the epic "Mahabarata". It takes place in the middle of a battlefield. Arjuna, a warrior, does not want to fight because he sees that all the guys on the other side are his relatives - his brothers so to speak. Krishna tells Arjuna to fight and then goes on to explain why it's ok - all the while expounding the ideals and beliefs of the Hindus. What's cool is that even though they express that God is in everyone and everything - it's ok to participate in ordinary life according to your nature. Arjuna has the nature of a warrior so he is supposed to fight when there is a battle. Not everybody needs to sit around meditating and smoking hemp.
The book is a masterpiece and it is beautifully done. Check it out.
Beautiful Interpretation June 5, 2000
11 out of 12 found this review helpful
This is not a translation of the Gita as much as an intepretation. Scholars will find much to irritate them here as direct translation was not Isherwood's aim, but rather an interpretation of the text in such a way that was best suited to Isherwood's own aim's of self-enlightenment. This volume is easy to read, and many sections have been put into a semi-poetical form to recall the feel of the original (a big plus, as few modern translations have attempted to do the same). Also, quite interesting is the introduction by Aldous Huxley, in which he relates his "Perennial Philosophy" to the Gita and speaks in detail about Hinduism as well as it's relation to other faiths. An appendix on various Hindoo ideas is included that makes some potentially foreign concepts a little bit easier to assimilate. For anyone who loves the Gita as I do, this book is a treasure trove.
Core of Hinduism in pure form. February 20, 1999
10 out of 11 found this review helpful
"All religious texts are subject to interpertation". That's a popular belief most people like to cling to. The way "The Bhagavad Gita" has been translated in this book, it is absolutely clear. This book delivers the message of this religious text in most lucid form.A must reading for those people of the West, who want a quick and correct glimse of Hinduism. And also for those Hindus, who are taking their first steps in the quest for thier spiritual indentity.
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