The Greatest Book on Dharma of All Times. Review on The Bhagavad Gita

THE BHAGAVAD GITA

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The Bhagavad Gita (BG) is considered to be one of the great masterpieces of ancient spiritual writings of all times. The Gita has been interpreted/translated by many writers over hundred of years. I would STRONGLY RECOMMEND that you read the Bhagavad Gita by Swami Chinmayananda. He has a mastery of of the English language and interprets the written shlokas superbly. He writes in a manner that appeals to all, the young and old, the yuppies and the puppies, the high society and the low.

https://chinmaya-chicago.org/guide.htm

This is the ONLY SPIRITUAL BOOK you need to read in your present life. All else are add ons.

THE GENISIS

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The BG is a One to One conversation between Krishna and Arjun just before the start of the Great War between the Pandavas and Kavravas. The Kavravas had annexed the Kingdom of the Pandavas by devious means and were banished into the jungles. The 5 brothers accept their fate and were destined to eke out a living there.

Krishna intervenes and motivates Arjun to fight back. Arjun counters Krishna against any war as that would mean killing his cousins and many thousands of otherwise good folks who live in the Kavrava Kingdom, including his favourite uncles, cousins, nephews and neices, while jeoperdising the lives of his own kith and kin too.

That 1 to 1 conversation between them is the BHAGWAD GITA, where Krishna succeeds in transforming a very reluctant Arjun to take up arms and the rest of the MAHABHARATA is history.

Please understand the BG is not only about PEACE/DHARMA.....but YUDHHA...War!

KRISHNA'S ROLE AND IMAGE

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Krishna was the master War Strategist, a Clautzwitch, a deviously clever man, a Chankya in many ways. He had his own theory of DHARMA, DUTY, DEVOTION AND PRAYERS, radically different than what was spelt out in the Vedas. The end objective of BG was: VICTORY IN WAR, using the wisdom of Lord Krishna as a vehicle to achieve that AIM.

He was contemptous of all Idol Worship, Temples, Brahmins and Poojaaris and all Religious Rituals and Sacrifices in the name of God. He despised rishis and munis who spent their time endlessly reciting chants from the vedas.

His attitude towards KARMA ie DUTY was unique. He theorised, ''Just perform your DUTIES well and to hell with the FRUITS of your labor. Do it the other way round and you shall come to grief! ''

On the STATE OF MIND he theorised, that wealth or poverty, elation or sadness, heat or cold, fire or ice, happiness or depression, YOUR MIND SHOULD NOT WAVER. It should not be affected by either success or failure. When you achieve that state of mind, VICTORY SHALL BE YOURS!

The image of Krishna thrust upon us by Hare Krishna types is a total anti thesis of the Krishna of the Bhagavad Gita. If at all, in the BG, Krishna comes out as ever so human and for this reason alone he is my favourite God. But the likes of Swami Prabhupada have a made a monkery of this great mind and warrior supreme.

Remember, at that time in history, the War between the Pandavas and Kavravas caused massive blood shed not known to mankind then. Many thousands died on both sides. But for Krishna's intervention, such a bloody war, akin to WW II, would never have been fought. Krishna cleverly used the Vedas and his own wisdom to his advantage to test out his own theories of war, spirituality, wisdom, right and wrong. He then used the unsuspecting Pandvas to test his theories on the ground to devastating effect.

These brillaint aspects of Krishna's personality are rarely spoken about. Instead we have pictures of him as some rollicking flute playing, purple/blue bodied God! What a travesty of a great human being of all times!

After all we humans created Gods!

THE GITA

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The entire Bhavad Gita is just 18 chapters. Swami Chinmayanand's book is perhaps no more than 250 pages. He has also written a small book ''Bhagavad Gita For Children''. Sri Sri Ravi...go take a walk. Books avalable at his mission, near IIT Powai, Mumbai.

MY OWN EXPERIENCES

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I have used the lessons learned to help numerous friends in psychological depression, troubled marriages, even helped my wife see another world when she was unfairly treated at her job and deeply depressed. I have tried and tested a few theories of Krishna on the ground. Believe me, radical as they may sound, they work!

CONCLUSION

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For those who have not read this book, I assure you, once you do so, you will never be the same person again. The Bhagavad Gita is as relevant today as was thousand years ago. All things have changed except HUMAN NATURE.

yada yada hi dharmasya

glanir bhavati bharata

abhyutthanam adharmasya

tadatmanam srjamy aham

Hari Om

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