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A review by cuppa_curiositea
The Bhagavad-Gita: Krishna's Counsel in Time of War by Barbara Stoler Miller
4.0
Even though this work is only a small section of a much larger volume, the Mahabharata, this tiny chunk of it gives so much insight to Eastern beliefs. Most Americans have tried things such as meditating, yoga, dieting, praying, and gaining knowledge for knowledge's sake, but reading this work puts all of those things into a perspective of a higher scheme of things. We typically do those things, or at least try them out once or twice, to see what we can gain from them: lower stress, flatter tummy, healthier body, being well-educated and/or cultured, and sometimes even simply for bragging rights.
However, after reading Krishna relate Arjuna's current plight of the war to eternity, spirituality, and self-edification, it makes you start to think about the origin of the Eastern traditions that have been Westernized in America: "What is the greater value of diet restriction, what can I gain from sitting still that will benefit me as a whole, what is the greater value of being knowledgeable?" Though at face value Krishna may be spurring the warrior Arjuna on to fight and do his duty, it is important to realize that he is also trying to reveal to Arjuna the essence of an enlightened man who has reached the epitome of self, and that he is trying to help Arjuna (as well as the audience) attain this level of spirituality.
However, after reading Krishna relate Arjuna's current plight of the war to eternity, spirituality, and self-edification, it makes you start to think about the origin of the Eastern traditions that have been Westernized in America: "What is the greater value of diet restriction, what can I gain from sitting still that will benefit me as a whole, what is the greater value of being knowledgeable?" Though at face value Krishna may be spurring the warrior Arjuna on to fight and do his duty, it is important to realize that he is also trying to reveal to Arjuna the essence of an enlightened man who has reached the epitome of self, and that he is trying to help Arjuna (as well as the audience) attain this level of spirituality.