The End of Sorrow

The Bhagavad Gita for Daily Living #1

by Eknath Easwaran

The Bhagavad Gita for Daily Living is Easwaran's verse-by-verse commentary on the Bhagavad Gita.

Easwaran’s translation of the Bhagavad Gita is the best-selling English edition in the US. In this verse-by-verse commentary, Easwaran brings the Gita’s teachings into our own lives. Full of insights, stories, and practical spiritual exercises, each volume of this set covers six chapters of the Gita, and can be read on its own. The three volumes together form a comprehensive manual for living a spiritual life.

Easwaran was a professor of English literature and taught meditation and spiritual living for 40 years. He is an authority on world mysticism, and lived what he taught, giving him lasting appeal as a spiritual teacher and an author of deep insight and warmth.

This first volume in the three-volume set, The End of Sorrow , covers chapters 1–6 of the Gita, and concentrates on the the nature of our innermost Self, how it can be discovered in the depths of consciousness, and how this discovery transforms daily life. The introduction includes instructions in Easwaran’s universal method of passage meditation.

Genres: Spirituality, Nonfiction, Hinduism, Philosophy, Religion, God, India

432 pages, Paperback

First published April 2, 1993

About the author

Eknath Easwaran (1910–1999) is the originator of passage meditation and the author of more than 30 books on spiritual living.

Easwaran is a recognized authority on the Indian spiritual classics. His translations of The Bhagavad Gita, The Upanishads, and The Dhammapada are the best-selling editions in the USA, and over 1.5 million copies of his books are in print.

Easwaran was a professor of English literature and well known in India as a writer and speaker before coming to the United States in 1959 on the Fulbright exchange program. In 1961, he founded the Blue Mountain Center of Meditation, based in Tomales, California, which continues his work today through publications and retreats.

His 1968 class on the theory and practice of meditation at UC Berkeley is believed to be the first accredited course on meditation at any Western university. For those who seek him as a personal spiritual guide, Easwaran assured us that he lives on through his eight-point program of passage meditation.

"I am with you always”, he said. “It does not require my physical presence; it requires your open heart."

Please visit bmcm.org for a fuller biography.

Reviews

[John Burns · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read two types of Eknath book so far. Translations of Indian spiritual classics and pop-spirituality books that elaborate his 8-point program. This book presents itself as the former, as an extended commentary on an Indian classic, but really is more like the latter, a series of lectures on his own spiritual ideas. He presents one verse at a time and discusses the ideas inherent in the passage but typically he will quickly switch to some anecdote from his life or some observation of the modern world, of the habits of the mystics, y'know, his usual fare. Actual discussion of this ancient text accounts for a fairly small percentage of the content here. But that's OK if you enjoy his ideas and his eloquence.

This is similar to his other books (most notably Passage Meditation: Bringing the Deep Wisdom of the Heart into Daily Life) but i think where it varies is that, whilst those books were written as introductory works for a mainstream audience, this book is actually a transcription of the lectures that he would give in his own ashram, and so there is more of a hardcore, behind closed doors feel to things. He is more willing to openly and extensively discuss overt supernatural ideas, like karma, God, reincarnation etc. Essentially it's a bad book for the unconverted as some of these ideas will be a bit alienating; unpalatable in their non-secular nature. If you already like Eknath though, you won't be put off by any of this stuff and it is a nice experience to delve a little deeper into his teachings.

As I say, it's similar in content to his other books and even those other books tend to repeat a lot of the same ideas so I generally felt like I was reading re-phrased versions of ideas that I had read several times already.

This is book 1 of 3 volumes. Even though I enjoyed it and found it to be very insightful, I suspect that I wouldn't find much that was new to me in the remaining two volumes. I would like to read them but as they are £8 each (I rarely spend money on books at all) I probably won't bother.

[Brendan · Rating 5 out of 5]

makes you feel like you can do anything. but also makes you feel stupid for not realizing these things on your own

[Moon Rose (M.R.) · Rating 5 out of 5]

To dream the impossible dream
To fight the unbeatable foe
To bear with unbearable sorrow
To run where the brave dare not go..
---Impossible Dream, Man of La Mancha

The road to The End of Sorrow is a path chosen only by the few, usually turn away from, dismissed and neglected. It is a rough and difficult road to undertake, long cut, dark, dirty, dusty and filled with innumerable obstacles, gloomy and lonesome, its pavement is solidly made of insurmountable odds designed to paralyze any despondent wayfarer only with doubts and uncertainties. No one in his right frame of mind especially those whose existence are sensually attuned could possibly take this road for themselves even if it promises that at the very end, it will end as well all their sufferings. It is a human weakness to choose only what is easy, to believe only to what the eyes could see as no one for that matter can just look away from whatever gives him pleasure. It will require a lot of imagination and realization to those few, who without a thought will immediately pack their bags, leave everything behind to take on a journey to this mystical road less traveled, where the journey and not the destination really counts. For it is like seeing for the first time that there is something more to life than pleasure and pain, a glimpse of the abiding joy that resides neither near nor far, but somewhere beyond the domain of the mind and the senses, where the heart eagerly awaits in anticipation until its discovery.

There is a wonderful simile that could be found in the song Impossible Dream, which I was just reminded of when I heard it again for the first time after so many years just right after reading this book. It seems to me that the song as it plays is now presented in my mind with unequivocal authority. The lyrics are spoken with a profound certitude, conveying its meaning with such vividness and vitality, leaving me breathless with a new inspiration. The song seems to describe the very quest the book is talking about, which all of us will manage to tread someday one way or the other. It is a matter not only of time, but of the need that will soon rise up from each and everyone of us that will give eagerness and courage to have the strength to choose this road, this road to The End of Sorrow as each and every life will come to a point of yearning, whether in death, or while still living, this divine need that will appear greater than all our desires combined, something that is beyond our comprehension, beyond our world, which to be able to finally understand one should be more than willing to march into hell, for a Heavenly cause as the road to The End of Sorrow is the only road to the Kingdom of Heaven that is not without, but within. One must leave behind everything that is without and enrich only what is within. ☾☯

[Sean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easwaran has the uncanny ability of translating Eastern spiritual principles into language and practice that is contextually applicable to the Westerners experience. People from different places are different, and it's nice when someone understands that, and is effective at translating it into another cultures experience. This book can be tedious- sometimes it is very slow and very trying to get through. But much like the spiritual path itself, it tends to take it's time to drive home the lessons it intends the reader to learn. This book was very important to me at a certain point in my personal journey. I think it's a good book to read for anyone looking for more answers of a spiritual nature and for anyone wanting to be more open on their spiritual journey.

[Mark D'Alessio · Rating 5 out of 5]

An emotional and spiritual WOW

A gently powerful introduction to a profoundly great spiritual text. With Easwaran’s wise and loving companionship, I was able to enter into, and meditate and pray on these ancient chapters and verses in ways that came alive in my heart

[Lorraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

No one gives a better "everyman's" translation of the Gita. I have read many, many translations and find Eknath Easwarn's versions ever-fresh.

[Virginia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!

I would recommend this book to everyone! It ranks above the Bible, in my personal humble opinion. Well worth spending the money!

[Kit · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read a bit of this before bed over several years. It has such deep and thoughtful words that I could not go fast. I wanted to linger over the ideas and really let them sink in. At first, I was not quite ready to settle my mind into hearing what was being portrayed by example and direct translation - similar to my difficulties in getting used to meditation. Later, as I reached the middle of it, this book went with me wherever I traveled and was my companion for relieving strife at day's end. Its messages gave me pause and rest, allowing me to have a feeling of a fresh start each day.

[Steve Chisnell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will save my larger review for Volume 3, but this first read into the Bhagavad Gita has been most satisfying for having Easwaran as a guide. Sometimes writing a few pages for each line of the Gita, Easwaran helps us see not only the meaning of the lines but their broader contexts and applications, including plenty of examples from his personal life and reflections. It has made an abstract reading very "present."

[Allen O'Dell Harper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easwaran does an admirable job of drawing on the Gita as a manual for daily living. Unfortunately, I found that at a few points in the second and third volumes these commentaries do bog down. But this is still a noteworthy achievement. It is one of the more valuable modern commentaries on the Gita.

[Kathleen Vissers · Rating 5 out of 5]

very inspiring - very actual -
it's a spiritual book, don't take the things literally, you need to see through the 'story' that is told to understand what it is about.
it's not really about a war, literally, it's about the struggle, the war within ourselves....
I had to read it as part of my education to yoga teacher.

[Urvashi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing read if you want to understand the essence of The Bhagvad Gita.
Highly recommended!!

[Shankar Vohra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life changing, gives one a deeper insight into how to live more spiritually

[Neha Satapathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

First time reading Bhagavad Gita so not sure about other versions- but this one is EXCELLENT! Easwaran does a great job providing context on the writing in every chapter.

[Cheri Flake · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will read this over and over and over for the rest of my life. Truly. 🧡

[Malum · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are some real gems in here but there is just way too much about Ghandi, Jesus, being vegetarian, and covering your eyes if boobies show up in a movie.

[Evva Starr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Took a year to finish. Lots to digest.

[David Gene · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't think I would recommend this as a reference, as I read a couple other English translations at the same time, and found that this version likes to generalize the meanings of a lot of passages. However, as a source of daily insight, this book was immensely helpful for me. I was often challenged and inspired by Eknath Easwaran's vision of life.

[Muhammad · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will always be indebted to Eknath Easwaran for his accessible translation of the Bhagavad Gita, through which I have come to appreciate and revere one of the oldest Indian classics on Earth. I more so wanted to read his commentary in regard to Chapter 11: The Vision of the Universal Form, but on the way to that... If I have to read one more comment about the greatness of Ghandi, I may lose my mind! Like with anything, I started from the beginning and read Volume 1 instead of just skipping to Volume 2, not knowing that he was going to praise Ghandi from the beginning of the commentary, to the end of the commentary. His ability to make ancient practices understandable in modern day society earns this commentary 4 stars. I'm removing 1 star due to the repetitiveness of referring to someone who had very dim views on African peoples and thinking that this person is in anyway meaningful for African readers.

[Devadeep Gupta · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the few books I read in the past year in my quest to understand my own country's religion a bit better. I had shunned most "holy scriptures" in my youth as an atheist and then being agnostic. But now I feel being truly agnostic should come with an open mind. And I am glad I took time to read the Bhagavad Gita because it is one of my favourite books and not really "religious" in the sense it never asks you to follow a specific ritual, and focuses much more on one's internal struggle. This book was a fantastic interpretation of the Gita, making the language far more reachable. I used to read it every night for about a month and this book brought me peace, if nothing else. One of the key takeaways for me - a bit counter-intuitive - was that the more selfish we become, the less happy we will be with ourselves.

[Nagaraj · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book to read. Any of the books written by Sri Eknath Easwarn are excellent material to read and assimilate in daily life. Being an English teacher, his style of writing is captivating and he gives wonderful stories to read and remember. Must read for anyone who wants to know how to implement the teachings of Gita in their daily life.

[Jason Baldauf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eknath Easwaran's Bhagavad Gita for Daily Living series is a phenomenal translation and commentary. His presentation is tender yet powerful, and I find myself always going back. I have read through the series twice and always find new truths. A compassionate and inspirational author, I've treasured every one of his books that I've had the pleasure of reading.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Drew and I read this most mornings. It's a great way to start the day.

[Holly LaMora · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really good practical handbook to be read slowly and savored.

[Sean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Please do yourself a favor and read all three volumes. They will change your life for the better.

[Charles Frode · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great commentaries about the Gita. Includes a lot about meditation. Very good for contemplative reading. Anything by Easwaran is great.

[Marcee · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS SERIES! I have read all three volumes, and I will read it again. I use them as a reference constantly for teaching my yoga classes.

[Fawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful interpretation of the Bhagavad Gita.