Bhagavad Gita

[NikolaiI]

Nick, the book we have at our temple is about 900 pages, it is the Mahabharata retold by Krishna Dharma. I am not sure how that works exactly, I presume the original sanskrit is in verse form like the Gita, but it reads like a narrative with paragraphs. I think it's very good, having read the first 3 chapters. So far I just got to the part where Pandu died from his curse. Pandu had two wives, Madri and Kunti... Queen Kunti is also in the Srimad Bhagavatam, she is the mother of Arjuna, if I am not mistaken. This is why Krishna refers to Arjuna as the son of Kunti and the son of Pandu. If you search for "Mahabharata Krishna Dharma" you can find it on Google (Amazon pops up first).

[NikolaiI]

http://vedabase.net/bg/

This is the best site in my opinion for finding or reading Gita verses. There are other sites with Prahbupada's translation and purports, but this one gives them easily navigable; you can click on a chapter and have all the verses on one screen, I haven't found another site which has this.

[Madhuri]

Like all religious literature the Geeta also gives almost similar (or should I say the same) good message. However, some points are matters of controversy, such as 'reincarnation'. No one can claim to prove it.

Secondly, too much over-emphasis on 'renunciation' towards the diety or Krishna or by whatever name you call the Supreme being doesn't seem to going in the making of a 'complete person' and may be harmful for general public if they all opted for that. Material world is made for the use and benefit of men and senses are given them to enjoy those. There ought to be balance in matters of divine and worldly duties or works. It is only then a person becomes a true man!

The Geeta is not the only religious scripture in Hinduism. It is a part of the Dharma Shastra. There are several scriptures that complete Hinduism; there in no one book in this religion.

You have to read all other scriptures, like the Vedas, Puranas, Upanishads that talk about everything, including the material aspect of life.

Humans have senses and the material world is for them to enjoy. You can read Kamasutra, for example, to enjoy one aspect of the material world (you kno wwhat I mean). It is a part of Ayurveda (science of life), a Veda.

You must read everything, before coming to the conclusion that there is no balance.

[NikolaiI]

I disagree, Madhuri.. there is more to life than enjoying the senses. In fact the idea that we should try to be Lord is one that causes a lot of suffering. We try to be the lord of the material world, but we end up only becoming bound by it more and more. We are part of the marginal energy of the Lord, etc., and we can only be completely fulfilled if we regain our spiritual consciousness.

Srimad Bhagavatam states, "Life's desires should never be directed toward sense gratification. One should desire only a healthy life, or self-preservation, since a human being is meant for inquiry about the Absolute Truth. Nothing else should be the goal of one's works." SB 1.2.10

[mazHur]

The Geeta is not the only religious scripture in Hinduism. It is a part of the Dharma Shastra. There are several scriptures that complete Hinduism; there in no one book in this religion.

You have to read all other scriptures, like the Vedas, Puranas, Upanishads that talk about everything, including the material aspect of life.

Humans have senses and the material world is for them to enjoy. You can read Kamasutra, for example, to enjoy one aspect of the material world (you kno wwhat I mean). It is a part of Ayurveda (science of life), a Veda.

You must read everything, before coming to the conclusion that there is no balance.

Yes, I have read the Kok Shaster,,the illustrated one. I liked the Asanas! lovely! lol
There is nothing special there that we don't practice even in these times! lol

Who has the time and energy to read so many books not only of Hinduism but also other hundreds of religions and sects. I think moderation in religious beliefs should be the basic aim of a follower.
true, this world is made for the benefit of senses but sometimes as you grow up in age you like to find some food for the soul as well! Spiritual world is different and not for every body to traverse....especially without a 'guide'. In any case there ought to be a balance between the material and spiritual worlds.

[NikolaiI]

Message of Gita is Bhakti-yoga, it is the highest path of spiritual realization. There are many different yogas, including hatha yoga (physical), jnana-yoga (cultivation of knowledge). Bhakti-yoga, devotional yoga, means linking with the Supreme. The message of Gita is kind of like, "I love you" (God saying), "please come home."

[NikolaiI]

Some verses about the soul:

BG 2.12: Never was there a time when I did not exist, nor you, nor all these kings; nor in the future shall any of us cease to be.

BG 2.13: As the embodied soul continuously passes, in this body, from boyhood to youth to old age, the soul similarly passes into another body at death. A sober person is not bewildered by such a change.

BG 2.14: O son of Kuntī, the nonpermanent appearance of happiness and distress, and their disappearance in due course, are like the appearance and disappearance of winter and summer seasons. They arise from sense perception, O scion of Bharata, and one must learn to tolerate them without being disturbed.

BG 2.15: O best among men [Arjuna], the person who is not disturbed by happiness and distress and is steady in both is certainly eligible for liberation.

BG 2.16: Those who are seers of the truth have concluded that of the nonexistent [the material body] there is no endurance and of the eternal [the soul] there is no change. This they have concluded by studying the nature of both.

BG 2.17: That which pervades the entire body you should know to be indestructible. No one is able to destroy that imperishable soul.

BG 2.20: For the soul there is neither birth nor death at any time. He has not come into being, does not come into being, and will not come into being. He is unborn, eternal, ever-existing and primeval. He is not slain when the body is slain.

BG 2.23: The soul can never be cut to pieces by any weapon, nor burned by fire, nor moistened by water, nor withered by the wind.

BG 2.24: This individual soul is unbreakable and insoluble, and can be neither burned nor dried. He is everlasting, present everywhere, unchangeable, immovable and eternally the same.

BG 2.25: It is said that the soul is invisible, inconceivable and immutable. Knowing this, you should not grieve for the body.

BG 2.27: One who has taken his birth is sure to die, and after death one is sure to take birth again. Therefore, in the unavoidable discharge of your duty, you should not lament.

BG 2.29: Some look on the soul as amazing, some describe him as amazing, and some hear of him as amazing, while others, even after hearing about him, cannot understand him at all.

BG 9.2: This knowledge is the king of education, the most secret of all secrets. It is the purest knowledge, and because it gives direct perception of the self by realization, it is the perfection of religion. It is everlasting, and it is joyfully performed.

BG 7.7: O conqueror of wealth, there is no truth superior to Me. Everything rests upon Me, as pearls are strung on a thread.

BG 10.41: Know that all opulent, beautiful and glorious creations spring from but a spark of My splendor.

BG 16.1-3: Fearlessness; purification of one's existence; cultivation of spiritual knowledge; charity; self-control; performance of sacrifice; study of the Vedas; austerity; simplicity; nonviolence; truthfulness; freedom from anger; renunciation; tranquillity; aversion to faultfinding; compassion for all living entities; freedom from covetousness; gentleness; modesty; steady determination; vigor; forgiveness; fortitude; cleanliness; and freedom from envy and from the passion for honor — these transcendental qualities, O son of Bharata, belong to godly men endowed with divine nature.

And these four verses are considered by some to be the most important.

BG 10.8: I am the source of all spiritual and material worlds. Everything emanates from Me. The wise who perfectly know this engage in My devotional service and worship Me with all their hearts.
BG 10.9: The thoughts of My pure devotees dwell in Me, their lives are fully devoted to My service, and they derive great satisfaction and bliss from always enlightening one another and conversing about Me.
BG 10.10: To those who are constantly devoted to serving Me with love, I give the understanding by which they can come to Me.
BG 10.11: To show them special mercy, I, dwelling in their hearts, destroy with the shining lamp of knowledge the darkness born of ignorance.

[NikolaiI]

BG 18.65: Always think of Me, become My devotee, worship Me and offer your homage unto Me. Thus you will come to Me without fail. I promise you this because you are My very dear friend.

BG 18.66: Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear.

BG 18.68: For one who explains this supreme secret to the devotees, pure devotional service is guaranteed, and at the end he will come back to Me.

BG 18.69: There is no servant in this world more dear to Me than he, nor will there ever be one more dear.

For the Sanskrit verses or for Prahbupada's purports to the verses, you can find either at vedabase.net/bg

[NikolaiI]

Just some thoughts?

[Nemo Neem]

The work reminds me of a soul telling the body what to do.

[blazeofglory]

This is one of the ancient books surviving to this day and I claim no book, ancient or modern ever written embrace so many things as the Mahabharata. And since the Bhagabata Gita has been extracted from this great epic this is really a wonderful book that dazzles the rest in the world. If you do not believe read the Mahabharata in translation

[blazeofglory]

The work reminds me of a soul telling the body what to do.

You are absolutely right and you will be all the more right if you read the book

[Radha Krsna]

हरे कृष्ण हरे कृष्ण कृष्ण कृष्ण हरे हरे
हरे राम हरे राम राम राम हरे हरे

Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

(O Tuhan, O Tenaga Sakti Tuhan semoga hamba selalu disibukkan dalam kebhaktian kepada Anda)

[blazeofglory]

A very beautiful picture of Lord Krishna. Krishna is and has always been my favorite and I idolize him and I am tireless to say things in praise of him. He is really a great hero

[Radha Krsna]

A very beautiful picture of Lord Krishna. Krishna is and has always been my favorite and I idolize him and I am tireless to say things in praise of him. He is really a great hero

Yes, me too.