As It Is NOTAugust 28, 2003 5 out of 16 found this review helpful
I've read the Bhagavad Gita for 35 years and it has guided my life spirtually. This commentary (including aspects of the translation) is a travesty, a blatant attempt to twist the Gita's philosophy to justify the Hare Krishna movement's very screwy philosophy. The commentary bears the same relationship to the Gita as the Book of Mormon does to the Bible. It is so off base as to be laughable except for the fact that some unwitting soul may actually buy it thinking he's getting an accurate commentary on the Bhagavad Gita. Read the Bhagavad Gita, Not "The Bhagavad Gita As it Is." Buyer Beware.
Total Distortion of a great spiritual treasureAugust 22, 2003 18 out of 29 found this review helpful
This is NOT the Bhagavad Gita (Thus it's deceptive title The Bhagavad Gita As It Is) but a cultish distortion. It twists the true meaning beyond recognition to serve the philosophy of the Hare Krishna Movement. Essentially the Gita teaches many paths to enlightenment whereas the Krishna Consciousness Movement claims the Gita endores only one, thiers. Read the Bhagavad Gita. Steer clear of this farce. One little tidbit should suffice: the Gita teaches meditation as a spiritual path--this commentary claims that mediation was only valid in the past 'when people lived 60,000 years, but not now with modern lifespans.' If you can swallow this sort of [fluff] you may be ripe for the Krishna Consciosness movement. Obviously all of the five star reviews are written by Krishna Consciousness devotees (who believe they can take 'easy journeys to distant planets'), so caveat emptor. Read the Bhagavad Gita, not this Bhagavad Gita As It Is.
Caution--this particular translation and commentaryAugust 20, 2003 8 out of 18 found this review helpful
The Bhagavad Gita is one of the greatest scriptures mankind possesses. This version is, though, not the Bhagavad Gita exactly. The title AS IT IS reveals much. The distortion of the title and the baldfaced lie that this is alone the true Gita is embelmatic of this commentator's approach. Total distortion. The real Gita clearly lays out several paths to God, calling each of them valid. This 'Gita' says only Krishna Consciousness is valid. One small example--the Gita clearly teaches meditation as a path to enlightenment. This "Gita' says that meditation is not valid because when the gita was witten (2000 years ago) people lived 60,000 years and had more time to mediate. If you can believe that you are ripe for the Hare Krishna movement and nothing I can say will disuade you. Shave you head and leave your mind at the door. But for anyone who is sincerely looking to read the actual Bhagavad Gita, look elsewhere. This ain't one "as it is." I'd investigate the accurate Gita by Eswaran or others. ...
Caution--this particular translation and commentaryAugust 20, 2003 0 out of 10 found this review helpful
The Bhagavad Gita is one of the greatest scriptures mankind possesses. One needs a running commentary after each verse, and there are many from which to choose. I have read several in the past 35 years and feel I am qualified to make the following observation about this particular one: Meanings of key points are exactly opposite of *all* other commentators and some of the commentary is devoted to taking to task all of the other commentaries throughout the mellinia as having gotten it wrong. Only this version purports to be the "As it is" Gita. The commentaries warn devotees not to read other commentaries. Is this a red flag for the wary consumer? The fact that this is the "Bible" of the Hare Krishna movement (International Society of Krihsna Consciousness) written by its leader may help you with your decision whether or not to start your Gita study with this particular one. Should you want to study the Gita and seek a more, non-sectarion commentary, I would direct you Eknath Easwaran's very solid 3 volume commentary and translation, beginning with volume one, "The End of Sorrow." Should you wish to study the Gita with a highly respected traditional Indian Guru, I would recommend Swami Sivanda's translation and commentary (one volume) available on the web (only) from The Divine Life Society. My personal, educated, and highly experienced take is that these are more accurate presentations of this book of timeless wisdom than the one above. But this is only one man's opinion so do not take it necessarily as gospel.
Bhagavad "as it is" to Hare Krishna MovementAugust 20, 2003 6 out of 16 found this review helpful
I have studied and benefited from repeated readings several translations /commentaries of the Gita for 35 years. Upon reading this commentary I noticed some of the interpretations were 180 degrees different from anything I'd read before; that's the point, I believe, of adding "As it is" to the Bhagavad Gita's title. One thing that is repeadedly harped on is that all other commentaries are misguided and the Krishna devotees should avoid reading them, much better than here.
Ahem. Might I direct you to Eknath Easwaran's non-sectarian and wonderful 3 volume commentary and translation of the Bhagavad Gita. Volume one is entitled "The End of Sorrow." This is a much better place to begin, in my honest opinion.
