The sooner the followers of ISKCON wake up and realize that our world is not in Kali Yuga, pranayama is freely available and easily practiced by all, and Prabhupada was not an authority on yoga, the better. Prabhupada's commentary on the Bhagavadgita is probably the worst commentary in existence. He introduces quack quotations from Kali Yuga texts without giving any citation. He purposefully mistranslates the Vedas to suit his agenda, then conveniently does not tell the reader where in the Vedas he found the passage. It appears that he felt that Westerners, fairly new to Indian thought back then, would be too dense to challenge
him on the authenticity of a reference. He repeats ad naseum that bhakti yoga is the only way to God regardless of what chapter of the Gita he is commenting upon, when Krishna states again and again in nearly every chapter that the only way to the Infinite is by mastering the senses through a method of sense-introversion. To add insult to injury,Prabhpada then insists that his method of bhakti yoga is the only legitimate bhkati yoga. To support this, he actually renders commentary
that contradicts the sutras he is commenting upon. While Lord Krishna is repeatedly urging Arjuna to master the senses, Prabhupada decides to call efforts in that direction sheer folly. He then repeatedly accuses those who teach such a path to be doing it for money. One would think that if his "Hare Krishna Hare Rama" mantra was so vitally important, Krishna would have mentioned it in the Gita at least a few dozen times? ten times? one time? No, not even once. In short, if he so deeply loved Lord Krishna, he certainly had a strange way of showing it. Instead of calling his translation the Bhagavad-Gita As It Is, it would have been more honest to call it the Bhagavad-Gita As It Is Not.


A wonderful jewel for all mankind   January 30, 2004
 10 out of 15 found this review helpful

While some other readers with personal vendettas against ISKCON may lambast this work, I for one thank this work for unearthing my love for Hinduism (the religion of my birth) and for stirring in my heart love for Godhead.

This work is like no other translation for it is written not by some mundane translator with many so-called wonderful degrees under their belt but is written by a true lover of Sri Krsna in the dislipic succession streching from Arjuna himself and thus it is not tainted with illusions of grandeur but rather is given as it is, enfused with the essential message of this timeless work: Love for Krsna! Hare Krsna!


Another site with glowing reviews of this book by scholars   January 16, 2004
 10 out of 12 found this review helpful

Further to my earlier message regarding the fact that many reviews here which condemn this book are obviously made by persons who are not experts nor scholars in the subject matter, well, here's another site where the sincere seeker can find the opnion of many learned scholars

A sincere reader of this book will find it reveals all mysteries of the self, of the universe, of God and of the nature of our relationship with him in a very accurate and wonderful way.

Do see the reviews at http://www.vedatrust.com/spreviews.htm

and the earlier mentioned one at www.asitis.com/reviews

may lord krishna bless you in your search for the Absolute Truth


Many reviews here are misconceived   January 16, 2004
 11 out of 19 found this review helpful

The Bhagavad Gita is probably the oldest book of philosophy in the world, and this edition, The Gita As It Is, is very authoritative and accurate.

However just as one who does not know mathematics cannot review books or treatises on calculus, similarly persons not trained in philosophy or studied the Gita deeply cannot evaluate it.

I was shocked to read some strange criticisms here of this great book by persons who are obviously not qualified to comment. An uninformed persons who reads those shallow reviews might think this edition is a nonsense altogether.

Therefore, to give a good balanced view to one who wants to know this books value, please read the opinions of Learned SCHOLARS who are qualified to evaluate it. You can find abstracts of these at http://www.asitis.com/reviews/

Hope it helps to guide the sincere seeker.

www.dina.on.to