Schedule, translations and Background material

[Thomas]

The discussion proper won't begin until August 20, but this is the thread to discuss translations and background material for the Bhagavad Gita.

The Gita is a classic of Indian spirituality that finds a home within the gargantuan Mahabharata, an epic which is about ten times longer than the Iliad and Odyssey combined. It is useful, but not necessary to know what happens in the Mahabharata, and most editions of the Gita will summarize the pertinent details.

I am starting out this time with the translation by Eknath Easwaran, one of the most popular editions in English translation, and I can see why. I like it quite a bit. In the past I've also read through a prose translation by J.A.B. van Buitenen, Stephen Mitchell's verse translation, and Winthrop Sergeant's painstaking edition which includes the Sanskrit, transliteration, literal word-for-word interlinear translation, and English translation in verse. It even parses the Sanskrit for you.

For now I think I will stick with Easwaran, unless someone can convince we otherwise.

The Bhagavad Gita is not a particularly long book, but it is incredibly rich, so we will take it fairly slowly, at a rate of three chapters per week or so. There will be a lot to discuss.

August 20 - Chapters 1-3
August 27 - Chapters 4-6
September 3 - Chapters 7-9
Septemnber 10 - Chapters 10-12
September 17 - Chapters 13-16
September 24 - Chapter 17 to end with discussion of the Gita as a whole.

Please let us know if you have a preferred translation!

[Susan]

I’ve got a translation by J.A.B. Van Buitenen to read.

[Anmol]

Hello everyone!

I am not a regular contributor to this group, but I am glad to see that you all are taking up a reading of the Gita. For context, I am Indian, and growing up in a Hindu family, I've read the Gita multiple times in Hindi and English translations, and recently, for the first time in the Sanskrit original.

With every reading, I get some more access to the philosophical depth of this text. On your first reading, it may be worthwhile to just look at it simply as a piece of literature, or as a philosophical interlude in an ancient, epic poem. However, do keep in mind that the Gita is considered a very rigorous, philosophically dense text, and Indian philosophers have spent over a thousand years in active debate over its meaning. We have a whole library's worth of commentaries on the Gita, from Adi Shankara in the 8th century to Sri Aurobindo in the 20th. There is a whole system of philosophy called Vedanta, which is primarily based on the Gita, along with a few other scriptures.

I do not wish to intimidate or confuse all of you with these details, but feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions! Excited to see what you think of the book :)

[Kay]

I have the translation by Laurie L. Patton. Since this is my first experience with this work, I have no translation preference. I look forward to being exposed to different ways of thinking.

[Roger]

Anmol wrote: "Hello everyone!

I am not a regular contributor to this group, but I am glad to see that you all are taking up a reading of the Gita. For context, I am Indian, and growing up in a Hindu family, I'..."

Perhaps you can recommend a translation?

I've got Flood and Martin, 2012.

[Neil]

I have the translation by Swami Gambhirananda with Shankara commentary, is this any good?

[Ashwin]

Hey Neil, the translation by Swami Gambhirananda with Sankara commentary is indeed very rich philosophically. You can go ahead with this !

[Anmol]

Roger wrote: "Anmol wrote: "Hello everyone!

I am not a regular contributor to this group, but I am glad to see that you all are taking up a reading of the Gita. For context, I am Indian, and growing up in a Hi..."

I don't have acquaintance with that translation, but I think the Eknath Easwaran translation is quite good for beginners. The Gambhirananda translation may be a bit more difficult one for a first read, and it might also create the notion that Shankara's interpretation is the "authoritative" or "only" interpretation of the Gita. One can of course read that translation, but while being aware of this issue. Hope that helps!

[Thomas]

Anmol wrote: "On your first reading, it may be worthwhile to just look at it simply as a piece of literature, or as a philosophical interlude in an ancient, epic poem. However, do keep in mind that the Gita is considered a very rigorous, philosophically dense text, and Indian philosophers have spent over a thousand years in active debate over its meaning.."

Thanks Anmol. I think this is great advice. For most of us this will be our first time reading the Gita and we will only be scratching the surface of a very deep text.

That said, the Gambhirananda translation is available in a Kindle version for only $2.99 so I snapped it up.

[Susan]

Reading the Gita, this poem came to mind, and I remembered learning that Eastern philosophy had an impact on both Emerson and Thoreau.

Brahma
BY RALPH WALDO EMERSON

If the red slayer think he slays,
Or if the slain think he is slain,
They know not well the subtle ways
I keep, and pass, and turn again.

Far or forgot to me is near;
Shadow and sunlight are the same;
The vanished gods to me appear;
And one to me are shame and fame.

They reckon ill who leave me out;
When me they fly, I am the wings;
I am the doubter and the doubt,
I am the hymn the Brahmin sings.

The strong gods pine for my abode,
And pine in vain the sacred Seven;
But thou, meek lover of the good!
Find me, and turn thy back on heaven.

[Thomas]

Susan wrote: "

Brahma
BY RALPH WALDO EMERSON

If the red slayer think he sl..."

Thanks for posting this, Susan. It's quite lovely, and it actually makes some sense to me now!