Customer Reviews:
 Prabhapada's view of Shrimad Bhagwad Gita September 25, 2007
6 out of 8 found this review helpful
Though I was born in a Hindu family, like many other Indians, I never actually read Shrimad Bhagwad Gita till quite late in life. When I started reading it, a friend advised me to first read only a simple translation (Sanskrit-Hindi), before getting into commentaries. That advice proved invaluable. I first read the Gita Press translation, several times.
Being quite comfortable with Hindi, this was much easier for me than it would be for others, as Hindi has lifted many complex words directly from Sanskrit. I then started delving deeper into various commentaries, for which I had a wide choice. Much later I came across Prabhupada's translation and commentary.
It is, therefore, easy for me to see why some people find Prabhupada's book a problem. Each of us perceives the world, including Shrimad Bhagwad Gita, from our own perspective. This is also recognized in Hindu philosophy - God is one, but people see him in many ways. The same is perhaps true of Shrimad Bhagwad Gita. For instance, Gandhi ji saw it as a book to quell our inner conflicts, and interpreted it as proscribing war, which appears to be a reflection of his own inner turmoil at the time.
This commentary and version helps us understand how Prabhupada saw Shrimad Bhagwad Gita. I have, therefore, no dispute with this. He was addressing a mainly Western audience; he had interacted with them for many years by the time he wrote this commentary. He had a tremendous influence on his disciples, but possibly the need to communicate effectively to them also influenced Prabhupada himself. To my mind, this is reflected very much in the commentary.
For instance, in this commentary, there is an overarching need to provide definitive guidance, to show a single path (Bhakti). My understanding is that Shrimad Bhagwad Gita describes many alternatives, and leaves us free to choose among them, depending on the guna (attribute, humour) that is influencing us most at the moment. All the paths described in Shrimad Bhagwad Gita lead to him - sooner or later.
If Prabhupada saw Bhakti as a shortcut to God, then probably that was valid for his disciples, just as Bhakti yoga was considered good for Arjuna by Shri Krishna himself. That Prabhupada is prescriptive in this regard is perhaps due to fact that a Western audience, used to the authoritative Biblical tradition, is more comfortable when dealing with certainties.
I would, therefore, say that this commentary on Shrimad Bhagwad Gita is as good (or as bad!) as any other, because no commentary can ever tell us what the Lord really meant, and what Arjuna understood.
Getting into Shrimad Bhagwad Gita is a deeply transforming and enriching experience - if you keep it up, it will gradually, subtly, alter the way you deal with life. Interestingly, Shrimad Bhagwad Gita itself is not sectarian as all deities are stated to be valid reflections of the ultimate truth, Brahman. Shrimad Bhagwad Gita, therefore, leaves you free to worship the divine in any way that you may choose, including praying in a church. [That, at least, is how I have interpreted Shrimad Bhagwad Gita!]
However, if possible, first study and meditate on a simple translation (without commentary) to develop a perception of how Shrimad Bhagwad Gita is relevant to you personally. Gita Press (http://www.gitapress.org/) has published translations in several Indian languages / scripts, and in English.
Get into Prabhupada's commentary or other commentaries only later on, when you can converse with the commentators in your own mind. Reading this commentary early is likely to mold you too much into Prabhupada's perspective, from which it may be difficult for you to come out again.
 From my review of "the essence of the bhagavad-gita" September 25, 2007
5 out of 7 found this review helpful
An exerpt for the Vaishnava section on Wikipedia website:
"While many schools like Smartism and Advaitism encourage interpretation of scriptures philosophically and metaphorically and not too literally, (Gaudiya/Hare Krishna)Vaishnavism stresses the literal meaning (mukhya v itti) as primary and indirect meaning (gau a v itti) as secondary: sak had upadesas tu shrutih - "The instructions of the shruti-shastra should be accepted literally, without fanciful or allegorical interpretations." Jiva Goswami, Krishna Sandarbha 29.26-27" (this is a Hare Krishna/I.S.K.O.N/Gaudiya sampradayam scripture)
This is my review of the book "The Essence of the Bhagavad Gita: Explained by Paramhansa Yogananda". And, it is very much related to this particular translation of the Bhagavad-gita and the group that uses it. Please read the following:
"I must say this first,I have been studying the Vedic scriptures since about 96',and, I am sorry to say, I was a Hare Krishna devotee for about four years from 02' to 06'. I was one of the Pujaris or Ceremonial priest in the now defunct Venice Radha-Govinda temple in Venice, Ca. I learned alot of the basic principles of the Vedic religion from them. Outside the elementary principles, much of what they teach is tinged with their particular sect/cult flavor or doctrine. I.S.K.O.N/Gaudiya math or the Hare Krishnas believe and see only a totally historical, surface understanding of the Bhagavad-gita, and other vedic scriptures. They critizes, condemn and keep down with fanatical furvor, as I have experienced with them...the notion of a deeper, Intuitive, allegorical, Esoteric truth to the Vedic scriptures that are outside their cult. The whole time I was with them, I felt like I was being intuitively and philosophically strangled. They believed with the extremism and fanatism of Southern Baptists in the total surface-value, exoteric understanding of the Vedas. I was always chastised and critized for my pro-esoteric/intuitive understanding of the Vedas and reading books on the vedic scriptures or vedic commentaries not published by ISKON. Before coming to I.S.K.O.N or Gaudiya math, I always Knew, intuitively and through my own many Spiritual experiences through valid,vedically-backed meditations and excerises as instucted in the Vedas, upanishads, Yoga-sutras and Tantras, that there was and has always been and always be...a deeper, esoteric, hidden meaning and understanding to these texts. And, come to find out, from Swami Kriyananda, Swami Yogananda, Swami Shivananda, and many, many, many other hindu holy men....this is the proper "Brahminical" or Priest/Yogi Caste understanding of the Revealed scriptures. This is also confirmed in some verses from the very scriptures that I.S.K.C.O.N uses. But, they do not acknowledge them. Before coming to I.S.K.O.N and Gaudiya math,I use to love the Bhagavad-gita, and I knew that there was a deeper, esoteric truth to it and other Vedic scripture that ONLY a meditator or some one who had direct experience in Linking and Communion between God and the Soul. The real Brahmin caste in India understand this. The term Brahmana, means "One who KNOWS Brahman" or one who has attain this Linking and Communion with God or Brahman, fully or to a certain extent. This is what makes a Brahmin...I.S.K.O.N talks about this truth, but, their understanding of a "Brahmana" is that of the physical caste person performing rituals and even then, they are against them also. Every thing with them is outwardly-driven...in stead of focusing within them. The vedic scriptures say this over and over again, looking to the Paramatma within, they think they are above this principle and I have seen first hand the effects in their orgainization and the people. Their Translation of the Bhagavad-gita, Sri Isopanishad and other Vedic scriptures are the most Blantantly mistranslated editions of these scriptures I have ever came across. Mistranslated and written to suit their particular cult/sect slant, flavor and agenda. I read their particular translation The Bhagavad-Gita 3 times since 02'; every time it was boring, dry, mistranslated to suit their cult beliefs, and it took me approx. 3 months each time to study it...it was a real arduous task to do it each time and, for a time, it has totally turned me off from the Bhagavad-gita...sorry to say. And, it has bothered me that my experiences in the cult I.S.K.O.N/Gaudiya math or the Hare Krishnas has affected so much that it Burnt me on the Bhagavad-gita. Since leaving the temple on Watseka ave., I couldnt even look at other Bhagavad-gitas with out thinking about the extreme mistranslations of the I.S.K.O.N one and the fanaticsm, extremism and philosophical, emotional,verbal and physical intimidation and abuse of this group has done to and others. This has really bothered me. Then one week ago, while I was at a Barnes and nobles, I accidentally came across this book. And, it has been a breath of freash air. This book proves my original intuitions of the Scripture were correct and gives insight to much, much more. It flys in the face of the fanatical, and in certain verses, the absolutely incorrect translations of this group. This book of Swami Kriyanandas has all but disolved the Southern Baptist/Christian evangelistic-like understanding of the Hare Krishnas for the Vedas. And, it is nice that there are others who agree with the Inner-Intuitive TRUTH of the Scriptures. And that there are others who are Free-Thinkers and above Fananticism. This book of Swami Kriyanandas has brought me back to the Bhagavad-gita....like the prodical Son, coming back to his Father."
By writing this, it is my catharsis from being with these people.
***This is from a comment I made:
"It is not from a mean-spirited stance. It is from an objective, out-sider, non-cult observation, with me...it was from first hand experience with these people; three and a half years...every day in the temple with them. If you TRUELY understand the character, actual cult philosophy (which they dont tell to many people), aims and history of this Group/cult...you would be saying some thing TOTALLY different about them. "bad-mouthing another sect or its guru"...is what I.S.K.O.N/Gaudiya math/Hare Krishnas do constantly. It is in their books, in their lectures and it makes up a good portion their core philosophy....they are RUTHLESS when it comes to their denigrating and critizing of other groups and philosophies, and RUTHLESS...physically, with disenters in and out of their group and rival Hare-Krishna brake-off groups (please read "Monkey on a Stick" or "Betrayal of the Spirit" or go to Rick Ross.com or Nori Musters website). I have seen it first hand with these people....YOU SHOULD APPLY YOUR POSTING/STATEMENT TO THIS CULT, instead of this person. Please study the history of these people and the part of the philosophy that they dont tell people outside of their group. They want to establish a new caste system among themselves and then eventually on the whole world...if you know just what kind and calibre of people come to them..., and hearing this or reading this, see what kind of people are in I.S.K.O.N/Gaudiya math.....you will either Laugh or be shocked for the rest of your life! It will leave a wound and scare in your mind and conscience for the rest of your life!"
 Bhagavad-gita as it is April 7, 2007
3 out of 8 found this review helpful
This book is not the original book written by A.C. Bhaktivedanta swami, but has been rewritten by his unqualified disciples who have changed almost the entire manuscript against A.C. Bhaktivedanta's permission. He had written that not one word should be changed in his books. Also stated by swmi was that one should be very careful to not follow a guru who is not pure in heart, and that milk touched by the lips of a serpant have poisonous affects. Bring back the original manuscript!
Bhagavad-Gita "As It Is" [per Krishna Consciousness] March 26, 2007
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
Bhagavad-Gita As It Is. 1972 Abridged Edition. A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
Our (western) expectation of any text associated with Hinduism (Sanatana Dharma, or Vedas-based sects), as the Gita most obviously is, is that it espouses the supremacy of Brahmanical triad, the deities Brahma (as creator), Vishnu, and Shiva, as presiding over a large number of important but lesser deities. The "As It Is" versions of the Gita certainly present another understanding, that of Krishna Consciousness, or Hare Krishna. Perhaps most sects of Hinduism will consider this a poor translation of, and commentary on, the Bhagavad-Gita. Here, the Lord Krishna is unfailingly the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and reigns over all. From the Hare Krishna view, this is the correct translation/understanding, -- the Bhagavad-Gita "As It Is". In this understanding of the Gita, Sri Krsna is the creator and possessor of all worlds, the possessor and end of all knowledge; he is merciful, his will cannot be defeated, he is the only deity deserving of worship, and the Bhagavad-Gita is the only sacred book fully worthy of study. Other deities and texts are mere distractions.
Encountering a text featuring demigods and goddesses of any kind, and claiming to be 'theistic science', may perturb Western sensibilities (that may equate the terms 'theism' and 'monotheism'). Setting aside intellectual objections to polytheism, if this can be done, the western reader has to wonder if he is capable of appreciating those aspects of spiritual insight that the Gita is said to contain. From the perspective of Krishna Consciousness the answer might be no. It is said that the Gita can only be understood if scrutinized with the help of a devotee of Sri Krsna (Lord Krishna), and that it must not be studied under the influences of personally motivated interpretations (the intent of this "as it is" version is that the text is 'explained' [with commentary / 'purport'], without being 'interpreted', although I fail to see how this would be possible). Despite the western wariness that we may bring to these texts, many in the West have lauded the Gita, and these admirers notably include Thoreau (deist with pantheistic sympathies), Einstein (deist with both monotheistic and pantheistic sympathies), and Schweitzer (Christian monotheist).
The "As It Is" editions feature many pages of artwork depicting the story of Arjuna and the incarnate Sri Krsna, and make it somewhat easier to follow. Together, the artwork and the 'purport' are quite helpful. Acknowledging that many Hindu sects may question this translation from the Sanskrit, it is probably a good entry to the Gita. Hear the sounding of the transcendental conchshells and enter the great battle at peace.
THE BEST March 8, 2007
2 out of 5 found this review helpful
THIS MAY NOT SEEM LIKE A BOOK FOR EVERYONE, BUT IT REALLY IS. THERE'S NO POINT IN EXPLAINING IT. JUST READ IT AND YOU'LL GET IT. BE PREPARED TO HAVE YOUR THOUGHT PROVOKED.
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