The Universal Gita

The Bhagavad Gita influenced Western writers like Southey, Emerson and Thoreau and as a result of these interpretations, became popularized in India. This book analyzes this Westernized Hinduism and examines such groups as the Hare Krishna movement and German National Socialists.

Among the several modern commentaries on the Gita, this one is unique in the sense it is both down to earth and fascinatingly erudite. In explaining every verse, the author, the 13th President of Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission, relates its real connotation and significance to not only what Shankaracharya said in his introduction to the Gita, or how Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda interpreted it in terms of practical Vedanta, but also how it conforms to the thinking of some of the greatest Greek philosophers like Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle.The author also takes the readers on an enlightening voyage of discovery, where they meet Buddha, Mahavir, Tao, Christ and most of the thinkers in the West and he relates their thought by an ingenious interaction with the message of Sri Krishna. Even scientists like Einstein, famous neurologists like Charles Sherrington and poets like Wordsworth and Shelley and philosophers like Julian Huxley and Bertrand Russell are brought in by the author to give the readers an in-depth understanding of this great scripture. The author weaves every verse into the requirements of modern life and throws light on how man should lead his life while involved in his daily chores and fulfil his duties in accordance with the philosophy of action as taught by Sri Krishna. The book contains the Sanskrit slokas in Devanagari script, their English transliteration, simple meaning in English followed by explanation in English.

Prominent perennial classics, like the Odyssey and the Mahabharata, inspire us to understand the significance of life beyond the everyday world. Our spirit needs that kind of nourishment. To that task, Prem Prakash has chosen the beloved Bhagavad Gita and transformed its significant value for the third millennium. In these pages he explains the mythical power of the story and portrays the practical power of the dialogue between Lord Krishna and the warrior Arjuna. This narrative is a universal yoga, the everlasting story of ourselves. It looks at our inner conflicts as well as our public opportunities, showing us how to contend with life and its obligations while achieving, at the same time, our ultimate destiny.

The Bhagavad-Gita has the original Sanskrit Text with Roman Transliteration, and a lucid English Rendition. Concise and to the point commentaries of two hundred twenty seven selected key verses are provided. One hundred thirtythree verses are printed in red to enable the first-time readers to study these verses before delving deep into the vast ocean of transcendental knowledge. The teachings of saints and sages of major religious denominations as well as world leaders and scholars have been included. Quotations from the Vedas, Puranas, Upanisads, Smrtis, Ramayana, Mahabharata, Bhakti-sutras, Brahma-sutra, Yoga-sutra, as well as other major scriptures of the world such as the Bible, Dhammapad and Koran have been incorporated to underline the basic unity of all religious thoughts and to promote the universal brotherhood of mankind. Epilogue, references, Sanskrit transliteration and pro-nunciation guide, glossary and index are provided. A guide to meditation, beautiful pictures and Gita Calisa are included for daily sadhana.

The Bhagavad Gita, a great poem attributed to Rsi Vedavyasa, expounds Vedanta philosophy in the dynamic setting of a battlefield where Lord Krsna reveals the teaching of Vedanta to the warrior prince Arjuna. The essence of the Gita is to make one realise tat tvam asi. We are really the atman or Divinity with an outer covering of the physical body inside which is subtle body consisting of the mind and the intellect. Unfortunately we get attached to the body and develop the ego which is the 'I' or 'My' -ness in us. It makes us believe that our physical body is real. We forget that we are living because of the life-force inside us. The life-force is the spiritual energy and is known commonly as 'soul' or Atman. Tat Tvam Asi is a 'great Upanisadic sentence' exhorting us to realise our own divine identity. To realise one's own divine status, to realise the same divine status in all forms manifest in the universe is to realise the oneness of all beings. Contents (Vol. 1) Forword, Message from Swami Hari Har Ji, Note & Acknowledgements from the Author, Introduction, Arjuna-Visada-Yoga, Samkhya-Yoga, Karma-Yoga, Jnana-Yoga, Karma-Samnyasa-yoga, Atmasamyama-Yoga, Jnana-Vijnana-Yoga, Rajavidya-Rajaguhya-Yoga, Vibhuti-Yoga. (Vol. 2) Visvarupa-Darsana-Yoga, Bhakti-Yoga, Ksetra-Ksetrajna-Yoga, Gunatraya-Vibhaga-Yoga, Purusottama-Prapti-Yoga, Daivasura-Sampad-Vibhaga-Yoga, Sraddhatraya-Vibhaga-Yoga, Moksa-Samnyasa-Yoga.

In this companion to his best-selling translation of the Bhagavad Gita, Easwaran explores the essential themes of this much-loved Indian scripture. Placing the Gita in a modern context, Easwaran shows how this classic text sheds light on the nature of reality, the illusion of separateness, the search for identity, and the meaning of yoga. The key message of the Gita is how to resolve our conflicts and live in harmony with the deep unity of life, through the principles of yoga and the practice of meditation. Easwaran grew up in the Hindu tradition and learned Sanskrit from an early age. A foremost translator and interpreter of the Gita, he taught classes on it for forty years, while living out the principles of the Gita in the midst of a busy family and community life. In the Gita, Sri Krishna, the Lord, doesn’t tell the warrior prince Arjuna what to do: he shows Arjuna his choices and then leaves it to Arjuna to decide. Easwaran, too, shows us clearly how these teachings still apply to us – and how, like Arjuna, we must take courage and act wisely if we want our world to thrive.