Bhagavad Gita : Complete Bhagavad Gita In Simple English To Understand The Divine Song Of God

Take the time to make it past the historical information at the beginning of the book and you will find a simple understanding of the path to bliss. I consider myself a spiritual person, being on the path for quite some time. I've always wanted to read the Bhagavad Gita, and now this beautiful book dropped into my life just when it was needed. I believe I drift from the actions of goodness to the actions of passion. This is where I can raise my level of devotion.My hat is off to the author for giving us an English version that is simple and yet very effective!

An incredible translation of the revered spiritual tome of the Hindus - The Bhagavad Gita. A very well-written divine book over 18 chapters that has solutions for all answers of our life. The author has done a remarkable job of explaining the back story of the Mahabharata and followed it up with a wonderful and interesting explanation of each verse of the Bhagavad Gita that is written over 18 chapters. Each verse has meaning and soul stirring wisdom. Read this book to gain insights to lead a beautiful, holistic, and spiritual life.

No comment about the sourcebook. Everyone knows what Bhagavad Gita is. But what I can say, I really like the translation. I've read at least two other Gita translations, but this is the one I'm holding on hand for future rereads. I like the historical background at the start of the book for those who don't know about the background. Recommended.

Interesting and intriguing. Optimistic in tone... which we all need desperately right now. Provokings thinking znd learning and using our kinds.

Although there are some wildly different ideas from how I was raised, I can understand the value and beauty and appreciate the translation thank you.

Best version I have ever read

An ancient classic with some enduring wisdom that resonates across barriers of time, culture, and worldview. Having been raised in a conservative American, Christian context, I never had much exposure to texts like this. The Bhagavad Gita, in fact, is the first primary source of Hindu religion, I'm a bit embarrassed to admit, that I’ve ever experienced. I was daunted at first thinking that I might simply lack a framework upon which to interpret or understand the text. This faded away quickly as I read. The text is inviting and offers pearls of wisdom, teaching, and creative religious history in the context of an earnest conversation. Two people, Arjuna and Krishna (the god Vishnu in veiled form), are on the verge of a great battle as they settle down for this illuminating conversation over the course of which wisdom is dispensed and incredible visions of Vishnu’s true form are revealed. Many of the meditations are ethical in nature as Arjuna seeks to understand the morality of mortal combat, but the discussion ranges far and wide.In exploring the many, varied strains of Hindu belief and practice, the Gita (as cool people seem to slangily refer to the text) takes an ecumenical, measured approach. Instead of promulgating one sect, it advocates for balance and offers pros and cons to various approaches while highlighting the underlying principles of wise practice which ought to be prioritized above factionalism. I guess this makes sense with a philosophy so diverse in both content and practice. One of the key principles common throughout Hinduism is an eschewing of desire and self-motivated action. Humility of this sort is a common theme of world religions, but the Gita (see how cool I am now?) delves into this concept with deep contemplation. “To give up desire-bound actions is what is meant by renouncing; to give up the results of all actions is what the wise call to relinquish,” the sage behind the Gita writes. (Some people actually just call it Gita. Am I less cool for using the definite article?) Another, related, theme is a release of attachments: “You have a right to your actions, but never to your actions’ fruits. Act for the action’s sake. And do not be attached to inaction. Self-possessed, resolute, act without any thoughts of results, open to success or failure. This equanimity is yoga.” And the results, though one should not be too attached to this sort of achievement, “The self is a friend for him who masters himself by the Self; but for him who is not self-mastered, the self is the cruelest foe. When a man has mastered himself, he is perfectly at ease in cold, in heat, in pleasure or pain, in honor or in disgrace. The mature man, fulfilled in wisdom, resolute, looks with equal detachment at a lump of dirt, a rock, or a piece of pure gold.” It is, in my mind, a beautiful ideal. A renunciation of selfishness and commitment to contentedness achieved by the relinquishing of control and commitment to present-focused existence and action.I still can’t claim to fully understand the text. Particulars of Hindu religion are lost on me despite reading commentaries (and Wikipedia articles) about unfamiliar terms, gods, and philosophies. For example, this brief overview from Wikipedia is still baffling to me despite my best efforts: “The Bhagavad Gita presents a synthesis of Hindu ideas about dharma, theistic bhakti, and the yogic ideals of moksha. The text covers jñāna, bhakti, karma, and rāj yogas (spoken of in the 6th chapter) incorporating ideas from the Samkhya-Yoga philosophy.” It’s a slippery, complex, mélange as one would expect with any fully developed yet conceptually foreign philosophy. Still, some of the key concepts are explained in a way that is clear, relatable, and reasonable. It’s incredible that a document so old (some dating it as far back as the 5th century BCE, though likely closer to the 2nd century or even the first two centuries of the common era) can contain such distilled teachings of a religion that endure today. Notions of karma, the immortal soul and mortal body, reincarnation, responsibility and duty, meditation and yoga practices, ideas of identity and self. The conversation in this text is about some of the most fundamental questions in life and the answers offered have a similarly fundamental quality. Some of the confusion I retain surrounds the details of Vishnu’s identity and origins. Is he considered a god who attained this state through enlightened existence as a human? In what way are worship dedicated to this, or any, god in the Hindu framework? Does the theology of the book fit more closely with pantheism, panentheism, some sort of pan-deism, or something else entirely? The ideas of selflessness, meditation, and right action are familiar whereas the portions surrounding worship are opaquer.Another familiar quotation from the text, echoed in part by Oppenheimer upon witnessing the detonation of an atomic bomb is uttered by Vishnu in his great litany of declarative statements of his identity: “I am death, shatterer [or destroyer] of worlds, annihilating all things. With or without you, these warriors in their facing armies will die. Therefore stand up; win glory; conquer the enemy; rule. Already I have struck them down; you are just my instrument, Arjuna.” There is a sense of both transcendence and immanence in the Gita’s portrayal of deities.After reading the Bhagavad-Gita (I must be concluding as I used the full name again), I can’t claim to understand all the nuances of philosophy and wisdom contained within. I can, however, claim a deeper appreciation for the articulation of familiar truths from an unfamiliar perspective. The promotion of equanimity, meaningful action, and selflessness are central concepts and are prioritized above religious convention or practice. I don’t, like some I have talked to, walk away from this book profoundly changed or spurred on to adopt a new worldview. I walk away with a deeper appreciation for the connectedness of philosophical thought across cultures—particularly as it comes to self-denial or humility in the service of a community. I also greatly appreciate the deep thought, articulation, and creativity used to communicate truths that are meant to be experienced in a way that moves beyond language. The book is ancient and yet remains relevant in many ways. Sure, it’s repetitious and confusing at times and altogether hallucinatory at others. But, it’s clearly valuable, thoughtful, wise, and enduring. A book worth reading no matter you background or worldview.A-

The Bhagavad Gita is a classic. I appreciated this translation since it is written clearly and easy to follow. I also liked some of the backgrounds the author provided that I had not heard or understood before.I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.