Review on "Thoughts from the Gita" (5/5)

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Review By Shivakumar Viswanathan On 5/17/2011 11:11:22 AM

There are numerous translations and interpretation of the Gita. What makes this small 140 pager special? This w real saMpradAya (traditional) teachings in a concise way. The late author himself is teacher of the highest calibe the pen.

The first edition of this book was published in the 1930s. The author himself says in the preface of this work that expressions to a few thoughts suggested by the study of the Gita in a language as free of technicalities as possible work to be a companion to his earlier work titled Thoughts from the Vedanta. Though a beginner may read it and ideas presented in the Gita, a serious student with a background in vedAnta is likely to get more out of it. The bo chapters. These eighteen chapters don't necessarily follow the same sequence of the original text nor does the aut idea after another. This is not a word by word translation of the original work either. Where required the author h of the verse while freely translating it. In the first chapter named 'The context' the author first introduces the situ originally expounded. He takes the effort to then describe the mind and feelings of Arjuna, the warrior prince wh the teachings.

He wonderfully contrasts the state of mind of Arjuna against the likes of the venerable Bheeshma and Arjuna's o the calm Yudishtra and the noble Bheeshma and perhaps a few others, their grasp of what was dharma and what steady that they entertained no doubt about the propriety of engaging in battle when duty demanded it and their g firm even the when the foes they had to kill happened to be their kith and kin.' Arjuna's despondency is shown th of some of the original verses. Arjuna's doubts, failure to grasp the need of the hour and his fallacious reasoning renunciation is brought out by the author with which the reader is able to easily identify. In this quagmire of life don't have a clear understanding of dharma will tend toward a seeming renunciation at the time of such difficulti

What stands out for the reader is the logical presentation and development of the ideas presented within the chap 'Natural Activity', he shows the difference between the Self and 'Nature' due to which the individual acts. He quo 13th chapter of the Gita, 'He alone is a Seer who realizes all activities are done by nature alone and that the Self is aspirant reaches a stage of complete transcendence over this nature of the individual, none can remain idle even f refers to the 5th verse in Chapter 3 and 11th verse in Chapter 18 in support of the above thought.

He proceeds to say that for those who have not yet reached that transcendence the important question remains 'w which have to engage ourselves? Three alternatives present themselves to us:-

1. Are we to allow ourselves to be merely at the mercy of 'nature' and permit it to sway us as it likes?

2. Shall we confine ourselves to such activities as are agreeable to nature itself but at the same time tend to reduce i

3. Shall we engage ourselves in activities which aim directly at suppresing and annihilating that nature?'

The author proceeds to show which among the three is the best and what has the Lord Himself has prescribed. In 'Forced Activity' the author speaks about the path of devotion and path of knowledge. However any aspirant hop either of these paths needs to undergo a preliminary course of action. The way this need for this preliminary cour appeals to the rational minded students when he lays it out step by step.

The aspirant always retains a sense of doership in all his activities. He is at all times identified with the mind, the identification leads to lapses in remembering their real nature and leads to 'various acts of omission and commiss that he trains his will power and attain a modicum of stability that will help in the prevention of such lapses. The enumerate three stages in which the aspirant may acquire the requisite power of concentration and self control. T clear in simple language that makes the point so obvious that the reader can't but help marvel at the simplicity of to break the three stages into two sets called detachment and practice. He deals with these two in a matter of fact gives the reader hope that detachment may, indeed, be acquired one day!

Sri Jnanananda touches upon a variety of ideas including God's omnipresence, His imperceptibility and the reaso is mAya and how it is transcended and many other ideas. In the chapter titled 'God The substance of the universe' illustration of a chain of gold to show that God is in and through the universe at all times. He says, '

1. The chain is gold even when it appears as a chain 2. The chain cannot exist after the gold is withdrawn from it 3. The chain did not exist before it was made but the gold existed even then.

In other words, the gold existed as gold before the chain was made, exists as gold even when the chain is seen, w the chain as such ceases to exist.' The author proceeds to show that the universe arises out of God, is sustained by in God and refers to the 20th verse of Chapter 10 to support the logic.

The author has written many books in English for the benefit of seekers. Being a trained lawyer his ability to log students arrive at the right understanding is amazing. He had also studied under the Gurus of the Sringeri lineage

This is definitely a good book to have in one's collection. While the beginner may not find it as useful as a more aspirant there are definitely portions which deal with the basics of vedAnta including preparatory courses and the beginner would do well to systematically progress from one idea to another which this book does not aim to do. T some time in the study earlier is likely to find that the concepts he has already learnt will be clarified and that he book for contemplation. One cannot go wrong with any of the works written by Sri Jnanananda given his exposu his innate ability of presenting ideas logically and his command over words. This 5* book is highly recommende

About this book

The Bhagavad Gita is valued as one of the world's greatest spiritual classics. In India many take it as their guide to inner life. We have scholarly commentaries written from many diverse points of view on the contents of the Bhagavad Gita. Sri Jnanananda Bharathi Swamigal (who was popularly known as Tirunelveli Sri.R.Krishnaswami Aiyer prior to renunciation) has shared with us in this book, his valuable thoughts suggested by the study of the Gita. He was an uncompromising scholar, who enjoyed the felicity of pen to put his views in beautiful English. His logical presentation of various subjects discussed in the Gita will satisfy the minds of the young, who look for reasons for accepting the philosophical truths. Thus this book is valuable both as a spiritual stimulator and a as a literary work. Author Sri Jnanananda Bharathi (formerly Sri.R.Krishnaswami Aiyer)Order fromamazon.com Publisher Sr.K.Narayanswami Sri Chandrashekara Bharathi Brahmavidya Trust (Regd.)ISBN NADate Of Publication 1993