Best Bhagavad Gita
The Gita opens, dramatically, on a battlefield, as the warrior Arjuna turns in anguish to his spiritual guide, Sri Krishna, for answers to the fundamental questions of life. "No one in modern times is more qualified - no, make that 'as qualified' - to translate the epochal Classics of Indian Spirituality than Eknath Easwaran."
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Very informative."
"A classic everyone must read."
"This book as well as the Bhagavad Gita, The Upanishads and the Dhammapada, all by Eknath Easwaran offer excellent insights into the issues we all face throughout life and new ways to understand the challenges we all face from childhood to adulthood."
"Got this book for my husband, so, of course, I am reading it first.... (wink)."
"This was a great read."
"What I recommend is to read it complete, take notes and then read just the chapters without the introductions for a more fluent understanding of the book."
"Great translation and explanatory introduction before each chapter."
"This was the easiest to read and easiest to understand of any Gita that I have attempted."
His celebrated version of the Tao Te Ching is the most popular edition in print, and his translations of Jesus, Rilke, Genesis, and Job have won the hearts of readers and critics alike. It is the core text of the Hindu tradition and has been treasured by American writers from Emerson and Thoreau to T. S. Eliot, who called it the greatest philosophical poem after the Divine Comedy . Krishna, Arjuna's avatar and spiritual guide, points the way to the supreme wisdom and perfect freedom that lie within everyone's reach. In a bizarre mixture of praise and condescension, Mitchell disregards two millennia of Indian commentary, seeking illumination on the text from Daoism and Zen, with the Gita coming up just shy of full spiritual merit.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This book helped me to recognize how much Christianity has in common with other wisdom traditions."
"Great read and overview, yet even better if you can stop the narrative and truly work to answer each of the thought provoking, intentional questions."
"The use of the battlefield and conflict arising from people choosing to fight against members of their own family, provided an excellent backdrop for learning about Karma and the other beliefs of Hinduism."
"Best version of the Bhagavad Gita to read hands down!!"
"Clean, easy to read translation, with a very helpful introduction for readers (like me) with little or no prior exposure to the philosophy."
"I have several books translated by Stephen Mitchell."
"It helps explain wonderful how everything comes from the One source and returns to It."
The Bhagavad Gita tells the story of how Arjuna, the great warrior, is seated in his chariot about to engage in battle, when he sees his own kinsmen and his revered teacher arrayed in battle against him, and feels that he cannot fight. A much-loved teacher, well known for his combination of practical wisdom and spiritual insight, he gave his life to the service of humanity, demonstrating by his own example the means of finding abiding peace.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This is apt for modern readers, since... 1) It directly presents the shlokas in very simple English (so we can understand it). 2) Then explains Why Krishna/Arjuna recited that shloka. 3) Then explains how it relates to us in general (in case of some important shlokas). I always wanted to read a scripture that is an easy read, and I can understand the reasons behind the shlokas. This will help me re-read just the important parts later on, when I feel like reading the book again."
"It's true to the essence of yoga, which is finding bliss or the peace within all of us."
"These commentaries right up there with Eknath Esaran's Gita commentaries."
"Each verse is translated clearly and his commentaries which follow are explained in plain easy to understand English - amazingly easy to digest and once you pick up this priceless gem its near impossible to put it back down given its rich, inspiring, insightful, relieving, healing, encouraging, nourishing, nurturing content.. simply heart melting and at times way ecstatic you wouldn't know what to do with yourself :-)) Swami Satchidananda's commentaries go a long way in helping to practice/live the Srimad Bhagavad Gita!"
"Wonderful knowledge and a timeless perspective with which all, regardless of religious belief/pracice, should become familiar."
"One of the best that is out there."
"The translation is good, but seems too verbose at times."
"This is an amazing life changing book!"
Best Upanishads
In the ancient wisdom texts called the Upanishads, illumined sages share flashes of insight, the results of their investigation into consciousness itself. Easwaran recruited Michael Nagler to contribute notes to the translation and a lengthy afterword, which together with introductions to each Upanishad, guide us expertly through this strange and fruitful landscape.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Eknath was condensing the Upanishads to make it less repetitive (in a way I like it - abridge version) and many verses had missing parts/words/ideas/watered down (this repeats throughout the book and it is my biggest complaint). Here (Brihadaranyaka), the best parts were left out (a main issue), perhaps because another Upanishad touches on the same topic, but this is not mentioned or shown where. It would have been better if he gave the entire text of all the Upanishads and he did not condense (missing words or ideas) them so much, just a bit. This one is not as elegant/stylish looking on paper as Eknath's, but it is not missing important parts and the translation is soul touching... poetic... deep... for the most serious students. However, they do state it as such on the table of content, and more importantly, the best parts were selected and there is no deluding of anything, they rather added (to convey better the idea) than remove. But a good interpretation would not omit an idea, and in a text so deep like this, not leaving words/ideas out or "not watering them down" is critical... if we are serious about realizing these truths. Pay more attention to verse 3 on Eknath's translation where you can easily notice missing words/ideas, which leads to a different interpretation. Also, see how simple, yet beautiful, and direct is the translation by "The Upanishads: Breath of the Eternal": ORIGINAL - Sanskrit transliteration: kurvann eveha karmāṇi jijīviṣec chatāḿ samāḥ. evaḿ tvayi nānyatheto'sti na karma lipyate nare. Eknath (no original in Sanskrit in his book): Thus working may you live a hundred years. Sri Aurobindo (in his book, he provides the original in Sanskrit): Doing verily works in this world one should wish to live a hundred years. P. 57, verse 3. A.C. Bhaktivedanta Srila Prabhupada: The killer of the soul, whoever he may be, must enter into the planets known as the worlds of the faithless, full of darkness and ignorance. Sri Aurobindo": Sunless are those worlds and enveloped in blind gloom where to all they in their passing hence resort who are slayers of their souls. ---------------------------------. ORIGINAL: anejad ekaḿ manaso javiyo nainad devā āpnuvan pūrvam arṣat. tad dhāvato'nyān atyeti tiṣṭhat tasminn apo mātarisvā dadhāti. Eknath: The Self is one. P. 57, verse 4. A.C. Bhaktivedanta Srila Prabhupada: Although fixed in His abode, the Personality of Godhead is swifter than the mind and can overcome all others running. For a complete translation/interpretation (no Sanskrit or transliteration) of the main Upanishads get the F. Max Muller version & Swami Paramananda which can be freely obtained in PDF from "forgottenbooks" dot org."
"This is a beautifully done book that makes the Upanishads -- which take some getting used to but which are timeless and as relevant today as can be -- accessible through illuminating introductions, wonderful renderings in English, and an important Afterword."
"I heard monks compare Upanishads to mountains (of knowledge) one can not learn about upanishads in once lifetime but meditating up on “OM” it self is equivalent to knowing upanishads."
"I liked it but not loved it."
"I am reading through this book."
"After researching for a book about the Upanishads, this one is easy to understand and follow."
"Eknath Easwaran interpretation of the Upanishads is so comprehensive and deep."
Best Vedas
The Vedas are ancient texts that are sacred in India and reknowned the world over.There are four vedas,known as the Rig Veda,the Yajur Veda,the Sama Veda and the Atharva Veda.Vedas teach the three paths to salvation.These paths are jnana(knowledge),bhakti(devotion) and karma(action).The Rig Veda is identified with the path of knowledge,the Yajur veda with the path of action and the Sama veda with the path of devotion.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Just excerpts from the four Vedas."
"Purchased it."
"A good overview, yet much is actually left out from the Vedas."
"The printing was substandard."
"Will make a good reference of the vedas if you are into scriptural studies."
"Definitely a great read for a new devotee!"
"I've see many translations of the Vedas, but what impressed me about this book are: (1) Translation is extremely readable/fluent, in prose-style (not in verse), not monotonous/boring and uses modern English (no thou, didst and stuff). (2) Print is good, font is big and clear, pages are good quality, binding is hardcover and feels solid. (3) Translation is loyal to the original text. For example, this book has the Gayatri Mantra in the Yajur Veda, which is not incorrect, but everyone expects it in the Rig Veda since that's where it originally is from."
"The red cover has stains on it, I have pages 171-176 looks like someone crumpled the pages and dragged it across the floor."