Bhagavadgita translation : [for dummies

February 10, 2003

Om Namah Shivaya,

The closest one can get to "BG for Dummies" is the

Bhagavad Gita (A Handbook for Students) by

C.Rajagopalachari.

[Published by Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Bombay]

It is a very gentle introduction, written specifically

for university students. (or for those who have the

attitude of a beginner)

Each chapter in this 128 page book has a few selected

Sanskrit slokas with references, translation and

lively commentary. I like Rajaji's style too. For

advanced readers, he has also written another detailed

book.

Jai Ma,

Ravi

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February 10, 2003

--- Ravishankar Krishnan <ravkris wrote:

> Om Namah Shivaya,

> The closest one can get to "BG for Dummies" is the

> Bhagavad Gita (A Handbook for Students) by

> C.Rajagopalachari.

> [Published by Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Bombay]

>

Rajagopalachari is also well known for his

translations of the Ramayana and Mahabharata. He

served as India's first Governor-General after

independence.

Is there a "Hinduism for Dummies" in the "______ for

dummies" series of books? I've seen "Yoga for

dummies".

Keval

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February 10, 2003

om amritesvaryai namah

as a matter of fact, there is a COMPLETE IDIOTS GUIDE TO HINDUISM, which is

the same type of series as the 'Dummies' books...i work in a bookstore, and

have had its darshan personally.

oh, and incidentally, its written by Linda Johnson, a devotee of Amma, who

wrote DAUGHTERS OF THE GODDESS.

In Amma,

~sucetas mon~

om lokah samastah sukhino bhavantu

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February 10, 2003

No Hinduism for Dummies that I know of, but there is

a "Spirituality for Dummies" by Sharon Janis, who

also wrote a book, "Never to Return" about her

experiences in Siddha Yoga. Both books are well done.

Jyotsna the librarian:)

--- Mike Brooker <patria1818 wrote:

>

> --- Ravishankar Krishnan <ravkris wrote:

> > Om Namah Shivaya,

> > The closest one can get to "BG for Dummies" is the

> > Bhagavad Gita (A Handbook for Students) by

> > C.Rajagopalachari.

> > [Published by Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Bombay]

> >

> Rajagopalachari is also well known for his

> translations of the Ramayana and Mahabharata. He

> served as India's first Governor-General after

> independence.

>

> Is there a "Hinduism for Dummies" in the "______ for

> dummies" series of books? I've seen "Yoga for

> dummies".

>

> Keval

>

> Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up

> now.

> http://mailplus.

>

Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now.

http://mailplus.

February 10, 2003

Doesn't Ammachi preach Non-violence as well?

(As did Martin Luther King, Jr.)

I was attracted to Hinduism (aside from the beauties of Hindu art, nusic,

food, and culture) because of its many traditions of peace-making and

conflict resolution.

Outside of certain ashrams, I would probably be very uncomfortable in

this modern, Gandhi-hating India you describe.

-- Len/ Kalipadma

Om lokah samastah sukino bhavantu

Om shanti shanti shantih

On Mon, 10 Feb 2003 23:42:35 -0800 (PST) avinash ramidi

<avinash7_99 writes:

>

> First of all you should avoid reading Bagvad Gita

> comming from two sets of people, First from ISKON

> second from GANDHI. Don't even dare to read Gandhi's

> translation. He views in totally different angle.

> According to him Krishna actually doesn't advice

> Arjuna to fight with his enemies, rather the fight is

> symbolic signifying our fight with ever wondering

> senses. Offcourse this is nothing but creation of

> Gandhi himself, who was personification of

> Non-violence. He viewed everything with glassess of

> Non-violence, wether reading ramayana, mahabaratha or

> bagvad gita every thing seemed preaching non-violence.

> If anybody reading earlier translations of Bagvad Gita

> they would be simply surprised by Gandhi's

> conclusions. I don't know what Gandhi would have

> adviced Sri Rama, since his wife Sita was abducted by

> Ravana. Definetly he would have asked Rama not to

> fight, but that was not the case,he fought, killed

> Ravana and rescued Sita. No wonder Sri Rama is the

> national hero, a role model of India. Gandhi is not at

> all popular among Indain youth, surprisingly when I

> came to United states many westerners think Indians

> revere Gandhi, I would say yes but only old people. As

> a student, I never, never, never met any boy or girl

> in my school days impressed by Gandhi. Why Gandhi was

> made a saint in India is due to simple reason, due to

> INC or Indian National Congress. This is the political

> party which Gandhi hails from, and this party ruled

> India for nearly 50 years. In 50 years of their rule

> Gandhi was made a saint,a mahatma, a guru. I should

> say I am simply amazed by the westerners admiration

> for Gandhi, In my high school he was a subject of

> numerous jokes. I can challange any body right now at

> this point to conduct survey on Gandhi's popularity in

> India among the youth(not old people) the result would

> be 90% against him.

>

______________

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February 10, 2003

Dear Madhuri,

First of all you should avoid reading Bagvad Gita

comming from two sets of people, First from ISKON

second from GANDHI. Don't even dare to read Gandhi's

translation. He views in totally different angle.

According to him Krishna actually doesn't advice

Arjuna to fight with his enemies, rather the fight is

symbolic signifying our fight with ever wondering

senses. Offcourse this is nothing but creation of

Gandhi himself, who was personification of

Non-violence. He viewed everything with glassess of

Non-violence, wether reading ramayana, mahabaratha or

bagvad gita every thing seemed preaching non-violence.

If anybody reading earlier translations of Bagvad Gita

they would be simply surprised by Gandhi's

conclusions. I don't know what Gandhi would have

adviced Sri Rama, since his wife Sita was abducted by

Ravana. Definetly he would have asked Rama not to

fight, but that was not the case,he fought, killed

Ravana and rescued Sita. No wonder Sri Rama is the

national hero, a role model of India. Gandhi is not at

all popular among Indain youth, surprisingly when I

came to United states many westerners think Indians

revere Gandhi, I would say yes but only old people. As

a student, I never, never, never met any boy or girl

in my school days impressed by Gandhi. Why Gandhi was

made a saint in India is due to simple reason, due to

INC or Indian National Congress. This is the political

party which Gandhi hails from, and this party ruled

India for nearly 50 years. In 50 years of their rule

Gandhi was made a saint,a mahatma, a guru. I should

say I am simply amazed by the westerners admiration

for Gandhi, In my high school he was a subject of

numerous jokes. I can challange any body right now at

this point to conduct survey on Gandhi's popularity in

India among the youth(not old people) the result would

be 90% against him.

Now ISKCON, their translations are based on

experiences of 14th century Bengali saint Chaintanya

Maha prabhu. I noticed very often ISKCON books

crticize Adi Shankara when ever they get a chance,

according to them shiva is a demi-god. They totally

condem Advaita or Non-duality. Their ideology is

"duality is the means and duality is the end". These

people does'nt favour yoga or pranayama. According to

them in Kali Yuga Bhakti is the only path. Besides

everything their literarture is biased coming from

Vaishnava tradition. I wonder they forgot what Swami

Vivekanada said, "If not of Adi Shankara who written

commentaries on Bagvad Gita, it would have lost in

oblivion". In 10th century Sri Ramanujacharya from Sri

Perumbadur devloped his commentaries of Bagvad Gita,

he belived in Vishista Advaita(qualified Non-dualism).

In 15th century Madvacharya of Udipi developed his own

commentaries following Dwaita(duality)path. None would

be possible without Adi Shankara Initialisation,

according to him Noduality is tha absolute truth, to

which many lineages prescribe including Ammachi's.

I would request you to read Bhagavad Gita

Transalted by Swami Gambhirananda from Sri Ramakrishna

Mission(adavita ashrama). This book includes

commentary by Adi Shankara, besides that each and

every sloka is in Sanskrit, then translated into an

english sentence, then there is a meaning for word to

word.

Regards

Avinash.

Send Flowers for Valentine's Day

February 11, 2003

om amritesvaryai namah

>>>Gandhi is not at all popular among Indain youth, surprisingly when I

came to United states many westerners think Indians revere Gandhi, I would

say yes but only old people. As a student, I never, never, never met any boy

or girl in my school days impressed by Gandhi. <<<

>>>In my high school he was a subject of numerous jokes. I can challange

any body right now at this point to conduct survey on Gandhi's popularity in

India among the youth(not old people) the result would be 90% against

him.<<<

well, avinash, unfortunately i think this says more about the merits of

today's Indian youth than it does about the merits of Gandhiji. Mother

speaks very highly of him. I don't think he was a Self-Realized Mahatma

(though how exactly would i know?), but he was an 'ordinary' mahatma at the

very least, which is more than i can say for myself, so i will continue to

pranam before his example.

regarding his emphasis on the symbolic aspect of the Gita, even Amma

emphasises this....yes, the outer battle is a historical fact, but the outer

is a reflection of the inner, not the other way around, and especially when

a Guru or Avatar (in this case both) is involved. Sri Krishna Himself, in

the midst of the battle raging all around, sought to impress upon his

Disciple Arjuna the inner significance of it, and the whole Lila of the

Mahabharata war, with the Gita being the theatrical climax, was designed by

the Lord to be an everlasting Teaching...and so it has endured.

this is my view at least....pranams...

In Amma,

~sucetas mon~

om lokah samastah sukhino bhavantu

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February 11, 2003

I agree with Avinash, It really irritates me when people refer to India as land

of Gandhi and Teresa.

P.S. I have intentionally dropped the prefixes.

-

sucetas mon

Ammachi

Tuesday, February 11, 2003 9:46 AM

Re: Re: Bhagavadgita translation : [for dummies