Customer Reviews

The End of Sorrow: The Bhagavad Gita for Daily Living, Volume I [India's timeless and practical scripture presented as a manual for everyday use]

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I began reading the Gita in 1968 while in college. The book has been the one steady beacon in a live long quest for personal enlightenment. There are two outstanding Gita commentaries that I have come across. One is that of Swami Sivanda I found in a used bookstore in the early '70's (still available at sivanadadlshq.org). The other is this one. I discovered Eknath Eswaran's wonderful translation and commentaries in the mid-80's and though I have read several others, it is the one I keep on my nightstand, I take on trips, and give to friends. Eswaran's commentaries are by far the most helpful to the contemporary American. He is fully fluent in English, lives in the Bay area, and is from India where the Gita guided his life and the lives of his family and ancestors. He is not promoting a specific yogic school as most commentaries do, but is interesting in making the Gita ans useful and universal as possible. He does a great job. Reading Eknath Eswaran's translation is like gazing at the original Gita's spirit through clear, unruffled water. He also has a single volume version, without extensive commentary, that I also recommend highly (along with his volume of Upanishad translations and his translation of Buddha's Dhammapada).

I've read many translations of the Bhagavad-Gita; they range from mediocre to horrendous. Eknath Easwaran, however, has made this scripture not only accessible, but warm and inviting. The language is lucid, though always challenging. Even more helpful is Easwaran's extensive commentary on each verse of the Gita. He modernizes this scripture, and shows how very pertinent it is in today's turbulent world. Sri Easwaran is quite likeable--very funny, gentle, and unpretentious. The Bhagavad-Gita, simply put, is a book of two choices, and their consequences. It does not have a lot of do's and dont's, nor does it lead the reader to feel inferior or degraded. This book, in short, has tremendously shaped my life, and I believe it has the power to also do so for anyone who is lonely, confused, or simply wants some kind of guidance to lead them through life. Buy all three books; it will, I promise, be one of the best investments you'll ever make.

This book is one of the texts for my Eastern Spirituality class and it has made what could have been very difficult for Christians to understand (the Bhagavad Gita) into something simple and yet life-challenging at the same time. The Gita is indeed central to Hindu thought, and yet Christians can find much of value in it. Easwaran's modern translation and commentary can help any Christian who wants to go deeper into the spiritual life and follow the principles of Christ. Over and over again, meditation/prayer and service to others are emphasized, and if you have the discipline to read and apply these things to your own life it will be renewed and transformed.

This is the most influential book in my life. It delivers common sense, practical insights about why and how to overcome preocupation with self. This great spiritual classic has survived for a reason. I cannot recommend it highly enough. It has gotten me through 2 decades of life's trials.

I have been reading this book for 1 1/2 years now, and have almost finished it. The cover and first pages have been ripped off from wear when I fall asleep on it. Countless times I have lost my place (and my bookmark) and started reading at the page on which it opened -- it always seems relevant to something I or a family member is going through at that time. Just the other day I was upset with the children for spilling sunflower seeds all over, and that night read a passages about the author's two nieces spilling ice cream on him. He did not bring it up to them because he chose not to put a damper on their enjoyment of the ice cream. He made it clear that putting little children first is paramount, which has helped me to be more patient with them.

Not being an eastern scholar, I cannot vouch for the authenticity of the translation. Seems "true" to me, in that it reveals the underlying oneness of all and the battles and challenges we face to get to that actualization. This book is excellent for those looking for nightstand reading, and those trying to get an understanding of the Gita's analogy. Heck, it's excellent for anyone! n.b. I also love looking at the sanskrit letters above each stanza.

Mahatma Gandhi said that "we must be the change we wish to see in the world." To help, he referred daily to the Bhagavad Gita, which he considered "an infallible guide." I discovered Eknath Easwaran's three-volume translation and commentary of the Gita nearly 20 years ago and it's been a wonderful gift that keeps on giving. Easwaran relies on winsome humor, endearing anecdotes and folksy wisdom from his grandma. Simple without being simplistic, profound without falling prey to metaphysical abstraction and blessedly free of religious dogma, Easwaran gently prods us to live active, focused and spiritually fulfilled lives.

Easwaran, a contemporary Hindu spiritual teacher presents the Bhagavad Gita, explained verse by verse with the help of anecdotes that range from the classics of Indian and English literature to gently humorous stories drawn from his own life in India and in Berkeley, California.

This three-volume project took ten years; he did it out of inspiration for Gandhi who was said to have used the Gita as a manual of everyday conduct.

The Gita starts out with the young warrior-prince Arjuna facing an enemy host across a battlefield; he despairs because the enemy is his own extended family. How can he fight them?

His charioteer and good friend is Lord Krishna whom he apparently doesn't know is the avatar of God. Krishna gives him a pep-talk about his duty, and thus does the Gita explode into a huge metaphor about the battlefield within oneself where one must go to extinguish ego and "separateness" and realize that all things are one with God.

I don't know how easily I could read the unadorned verses because it just goes on forever with Arjuna occasionally asking a worried question which prompts yet more instruction from Lord Krishna. But with Easwaran's interpretations, it's very enjoyable and clear.

I can't read too much at one sitting because the message of unity in God becomes way too repetitive for me. But it's a nice edition with each verse shown in Sanskrit characters and then English. Volume One took me about a month to read, progressing at a few pages every night.

Without a doubt Ekanath Easwaran has superbly interpreted what could be considered as a difficult scripture in very simplistic terms interwoven with childhood anecdotes and mythological stories. His language is simple making it an easy read without having to battle confusing language and terminologies.

Every verse has something to offer. The best part for me was that right after I read one verse I could use his information immediately in how I live my daily life. The changes I made in my life because of his interpretations were challenging but the results were phenomenal. I was able to get the whole family to participate in making these changes, - meaning more than one person was transformed because of his words.

My advise to anyone looking for a translation or interpretation of the Bhagavad Gita, please start with Ekanath Easwaran's Three volume set. I can assure you that you will not go wrong. You could give them as a gift to get someone started on the path of spiritual awakening.If you have already read other translations, this will still open your eyes to mindful spiritual living and add to your existing knowledge. To all aspiring yogis and yoginis, this is worth your attention and respect.

Hari AUM.

This book is excellent!! Being a Hindu, I have read many translations before but this is the first that I found relevant to daily life. Excellent book....I cannt keep it down. I come back from work and cannt wait to read a verse.

After reading all three volumes of Sri Easwaran's Gita, I'm truly convinced that any problem which may arrive in one's life can be answered in the Bhagavad Gita. Easwaran's extensive commentary is warm, inciteful, and sometimes quite humorous. As for translation, the author is very knowledgeable in Sanskrit, and translates not for scholarly use, but for the layperson to apply to his or her life.