Thread: Bottoms Part 80
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Old 07-24-2008, 05:47 PM
  # 341 (permalink)  
Krissy41
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Join Date: Oct 2004
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According to this review it might be coming soon:


I was curious to read this translation of one of the greatest religious scriptures in the world by yet another westerner to see what wisdom he might possibly have to add to the numerous excellent translations written by so many excellent Hindu scholars and the answer is: little, if anything!

It is a real shame that westerners often miss the entire point of the Gita which is devotion to The Lord, instead feeling more "comfortable" and "politically correct" with the impersonalist mayavadi philosophy propounded by translators who have absolutely no concept of its profound message. There is nothing to be gained by interpreting the Gita as some sort of psychological "inner struggle" or figurative mythology. That is merely mind-stuff and drivel. The Gita is exactly as it is written.

The Gita is not to be "walked through" casually - although that is a good start and hence the 2 star rating I have generously given this effort since it might encourage a reader to actually read a real translation of the Gita. However, rather than reading dumbed down versions like this, I would encourage "westerners" to take the time to study the Gita, learn the Roman transliterations of the actual Sanskrit words and stop being so lazy as to having to be constantly spoon-fed - it really is rather pathetic.

Unfortunately I have yet to read a worthwhile translation of the Gita by any westerner and this one is no exception.

What's next, Bhagavad Gita for Dummies? (Oh no, I can see it coming now...)
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