davehershey's review against another edition
5.0
I feel like I should title this review: “The Bhagavad Gita: One Christian’s Perspective.”
After all, I am a Christian. This is not the religious book of my tradition or my people, so I want to come to it as a curious visitor. In some ways its not much different than visiting a different culture - you want to learn and receive, perhaps find some things in common with your culture while also noticing differences. Of course, that’s where the “one Christian’s perspective” comes in. A Christian who reads the Gita will not have the same response as another. Twenty years ago (maybe less) I would have approached this text very differently. I was more confident, believing I knew the truth and had a duty to push it on others. To use my culture analogy - back then I was certainly willing to see the good in others, but only so I could have an “in” so I could then show the bad and where my culture is better.
This year I’ve set out to read some of the texts of different religions; so far I’ve read this and a couple of Taoist texts. My goal is simply to learn something. Rather than seeing others as objects to change, I am trying to see them as fellow travelers who I may learn from and thus better myself in my own discipleship. In other words, I actually think other religious texts may have something to teach us Christians.
I highlighted quite a bit and can’t go into all of it. Before I share a few quotes that stuck out to me, I will say that this is a beautiful text that I certainly enjoyed reading.
“The wise man lets go of all
results, whether good or bad,
and is focused on the action alone.
Yoga is skill in actions” (2:50)
Too often we humans are pragmatic, means-to-an-end people. I see wisdom in this text as it reminds us to live virtuously, to do the right thing with no concern for the result. Of course, sometimes we should consider the result. If you’re hiding a Jewish family in your basement, do you lie to the police to keep them safe? I’m pretty sure Kant said no, you must tell truth. Would the Gita agree with Kant? It looks like it here.
I recognize the irony that I said above that I wanted to learn from the Gita and the first quote I shared is something I disagree with. I mean, I find it thought-provoking and think there is wisdom there. It is certainly a theme throughout. But that’s the thing with moral philosophy, ethics and spirituality - there always has to be a little wiggle room next to any supposed absolutes. Right?
Another quote:
“However men try to reach me,
I return their love with my love;
whatever path they may travel,
it leads to me in the end” (4:15).
This is Krishna speaking and certainly fits in with my understanding of Hinduism. But is it that much different than Christianity which sees God as Truth and that all who seek will ultimately find? Whether it is that Calormen soldier at the end of Lewis’ Last Battle or the early church fathers arguing that philosophers like Socrates were Christians before Christ, this is something we find in our faith. We recognize true faith is not about being part of an exclusive club over against all others (though plenty of Christians think that) but instead is about following Jesus as a disciple and being surprised by some of the folks we see on the path next to us.
Lastly, there was a lot in chapters 9-11 about the identity of God that blew my mind, as well as being quite similar to a theistic understanding:
“I am the ritual and the worship,
the medicine and the mantra,
the butter burnt in the fire,
and I am the flames that consume it.
I am the father of the universe
and its mother, essence and goal
of all knowledge, the refiner, the sacred
Ôm, and the threefold Vedas.
I am the beginning and the end,
origin and dissolution,
refuge, home, true lover,
womb and imperishable seed” (9:16-18)
“ I am the source of all things,
and all things emerge from me;
knowing this, wise men worship
by entering my state of being.” (10:8)
It reminds me of words I’ve read from various church fathers, mystics and Christian scriptures - God is the ultimate reality, the one we conceive as inconceivable, the beginning and end and incomprehensible light.
After all, I am a Christian. This is not the religious book of my tradition or my people, so I want to come to it as a curious visitor. In some ways its not much different than visiting a different culture - you want to learn and receive, perhaps find some things in common with your culture while also noticing differences. Of course, that’s where the “one Christian’s perspective” comes in. A Christian who reads the Gita will not have the same response as another. Twenty years ago (maybe less) I would have approached this text very differently. I was more confident, believing I knew the truth and had a duty to push it on others. To use my culture analogy - back then I was certainly willing to see the good in others, but only so I could have an “in” so I could then show the bad and where my culture is better.
This year I’ve set out to read some of the texts of different religions; so far I’ve read this and a couple of Taoist texts. My goal is simply to learn something. Rather than seeing others as objects to change, I am trying to see them as fellow travelers who I may learn from and thus better myself in my own discipleship. In other words, I actually think other religious texts may have something to teach us Christians.
I highlighted quite a bit and can’t go into all of it. Before I share a few quotes that stuck out to me, I will say that this is a beautiful text that I certainly enjoyed reading.
“The wise man lets go of all
results, whether good or bad,
and is focused on the action alone.
Yoga is skill in actions” (2:50)
Too often we humans are pragmatic, means-to-an-end people. I see wisdom in this text as it reminds us to live virtuously, to do the right thing with no concern for the result. Of course, sometimes we should consider the result. If you’re hiding a Jewish family in your basement, do you lie to the police to keep them safe? I’m pretty sure Kant said no, you must tell truth. Would the Gita agree with Kant? It looks like it here.
I recognize the irony that I said above that I wanted to learn from the Gita and the first quote I shared is something I disagree with. I mean, I find it thought-provoking and think there is wisdom there. It is certainly a theme throughout. But that’s the thing with moral philosophy, ethics and spirituality - there always has to be a little wiggle room next to any supposed absolutes. Right?
Another quote:
“However men try to reach me,
I return their love with my love;
whatever path they may travel,
it leads to me in the end” (4:15).
This is Krishna speaking and certainly fits in with my understanding of Hinduism. But is it that much different than Christianity which sees God as Truth and that all who seek will ultimately find? Whether it is that Calormen soldier at the end of Lewis’ Last Battle or the early church fathers arguing that philosophers like Socrates were Christians before Christ, this is something we find in our faith. We recognize true faith is not about being part of an exclusive club over against all others (though plenty of Christians think that) but instead is about following Jesus as a disciple and being surprised by some of the folks we see on the path next to us.
Lastly, there was a lot in chapters 9-11 about the identity of God that blew my mind, as well as being quite similar to a theistic understanding:
“I am the ritual and the worship,
the medicine and the mantra,
the butter burnt in the fire,
and I am the flames that consume it.
I am the father of the universe
and its mother, essence and goal
of all knowledge, the refiner, the sacred
Ôm, and the threefold Vedas.
I am the beginning and the end,
origin and dissolution,
refuge, home, true lover,
womb and imperishable seed” (9:16-18)
“ I am the source of all things,
and all things emerge from me;
knowing this, wise men worship
by entering my state of being.” (10:8)
It reminds me of words I’ve read from various church fathers, mystics and Christian scriptures - God is the ultimate reality, the one we conceive as inconceivable, the beginning and end and incomprehensible light.
tyboarder's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
4.25
quinndm's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed the first half of this book - the lessons are beautifully poetic and deeply profound, all while being subjective and instructive. But, the last couple of chapters seem overly-repetitive and too preachy. What started out as a profound poem seemed to unravel into a preachy sermon.
BUT, having said that, I still think this is an important read. Especially, Gandhi's thoughts and opinions at the end of the book.
BUT, having said that, I still think this is an important read. Especially, Gandhi's thoughts and opinions at the end of the book.
shuashwa18's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
4.0
prixkri's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
hotlizard's review against another edition
Uhhh well the caste passage threw me off but okay.
katkeyes's review against another edition
4.0
Ghandi said it first, Stephen Mitchell said it again in this interpretation. The first 2/3s of this are so compelling and soul-filling. The final portion isn't as compelling and I sort of had to labor through. Even though this translation makes it more accessible than other versions.
That said, it's still beautiful. And good to reread each year.
That said, it's still beautiful. And good to reread each year.