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32 of 35 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Modern Recast of Age Old Wisdom, February 8, 2007
The first version of the Gita that I read through completely, was a small book written by Christopher Isherwood. A disciple of Swami Prabhavananda (see 'My Guru and his Disciple' by Christopher Isherwood), it was given out by the Ramakrishna Math and Mission in California. In vers libre format, it burnished my budding apetite for genuine spirituality at the time (early 1980's) with new wings. I soared with the loftiness of the message deeply resonating with the glorious descriptions of the magnificience of the Self during those early and halcyon days of my quest.
26 years later, I find a new version of the same holy book. Also by a Westerner, but probably one who understands the Hindu religion and what it stands for, better than most practising Hindus do. Reading this book, got the same lofty feelings to well forth, but this time I sense deep undercurrents of feeling attached to the concepts of this age old treatise, yielding a new dimension and richness to the presentation of these holy truths. Having been born and bred an American, Kriyananda has been able to convey the holy message of this text in a way that is tailored to the demands of a fast paced modern society, going increasingly global every day.
In the early chapters of this book, the allegorical link between the five Pandava brothers and the chakra system is explained. This is relatively esoteric material that has never appeared before, at least to my knowledge. Later on, the Gita is analyzed, stanza by stanza, beginning with a Sanskrit paragraph and its literal English translation, followed by an extensive commentary in each case. In these commentaries, Kriyananda puts down in writing his own memories of his Guru's comments on the various passages of the Bhagavad Gita. For the benefit of those interested in reincarnation, Yogananda had said that he himself had been an incarnation of Arjuna, the Pandava prince, who received the information from Krishna firsthand. That fact could probably be one of the factors that account for the interpretational depth of these writings. Wherever possible, connections to other major religions are cited and the explanations are forthright and lucid. In particular, there is a section on the physical aspects of Kriya Yoga which is the science of breath as taught by Paramahamsa Yogananda and which has only been recently released to the general public. The physiological consequences of a regular practice of this process are explored. This is also material that has never appeared before.
One of the greatest strengths of this book is that it is a fast read and holds one's attention, even as these eternal truths unfold one by one. This work is unquestionably a labour of love, being Kriyananda's magnum opus after eighty plus books.
In closing, I would like to mention, that like all Scripture, the Bhagavad Gita is only a book. It is a miniscule version of the ecstasy that ISNESS emanates, although one may and does feel whiffs of the same from the reading. The real task of experiencing the ISNESS is, of course, a different story, but this book could be a useful tool along the way.
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24 of 27 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Even Krishna couldn't have said it better!, June 22, 2006
I have been a yogi for over 25 years, and have loved the Bhagavad Gita for almost as long. As a result I have read many translations, and quite a few commentaries, earnestly seeking to understand the depth of Krishna's message. Being a devotee of Yogananda's and having read all of SRF and Ananda's books over the years, I really didn't think I would learn anything new in reading this Gita. How very wrong I was! Swamiji explains at great depth, but with disarming (and charming) simplicity, what Krishna means "in essence," and how to apply these lessons in our thoughts, our actions, and in every aspect of our daily lives. He explains thoughtfully, clearly, how to think about our lives on this planet, what our goals ought to be, the pitfalls of limited choices. Best of all, he assures the reader why the only eventual result for all of us MUST be success, liberation, and returning to the Self and the Home we long for.
As someone who has hundreds of books, many of which have been my cherished teachers and friends, I can state with absolute certainty that if I could have only one book to read for the rest of my life, THIS would be it. If I knew everything Swamiji states in this book, as Krishna says in the Gita, "there would be nothing more to know."
Buy it, keep an open mind, and persist in reading it, even if an idea challenges the way you "used" to think about things. This book will change your life.
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21 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Finally - an "American" Gita, July 17, 2006
The Gita contains the distilled essence of religious practice. Too bad that all of the interpretations, so far, have been hemmed-in by the culture of India. Or, they've been so poetically terse or scholarly dry as to obscure their practical application.
I think of this book as an "American Gita" because it's just incredibly readable, continually interesting, and wonderfully plainspoken. It never talks down or becomes hazy or heavy, but speaks to the reader as a friend. I'm familiar with Yogananda, how he said of these Gita interpretations that millions would "find God through this book -- not thousands. Millions! I know, I have seen it!" This book has that kind of power. Reading it, one feels in touch with a sacred dispensation. It is a blessing to hold it in one's hands. Doubly amazing, then, that it is so open-hearted, joyous, and humanly compassionate. This is religion freed from old forms of doctrinal rigidity and sectarian hate; it's religion that speaks to the individual seeker directly - thatt calls to the human heart to form a direct, personal relationship with God. Best of all, it reveals the practical steps to that inner communion. I say thank heaven for Kriyananda and his Guru, Paramhansa Yogananda. They have left us a gift of great value.
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