Isherwood, Christopher

How to Know God: The Yoga Aphorisms of Patanjali

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Union with God
Yogic Flying
A Gem of a Book
Get it for Isherwood's commentary
Beautiful Translation Captures the Essence of Yoga

How to Know God: The Yoga Aphorisms of Patanjali
Patanjali
Manufacturer: Vedanta Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0874810418

Customer Reviews:

Union with God.......2007-06-11

This book teaches yoga in its true form. Yoga in America is not the same; it is Hatha Yoga that is used solely to have a healthier body. It is godless yoga. The Yoga Aphorisms of Patanjali reminds us the goal of yoga. How did the Western world forget that yoga means union with God instead of extensive stretching and standing on your head? When people talk to me about yoga, they don't see it as union with God. Yoga is a way of life, and can be applied in all areas. Hatha Yoga is body preparation, Bhakti Yoga is devotion, Karma Yoga is dedicated work, Jnana Yoga is spiritual discrimination, and even though it is not talked about in this book much, Tantra Yoga is using sex to reach this union! As you can see how yoga falls into so many categories and different aspects, of our life, Patanjali has created his own yoga: Raja (or Royal) Yoga, which incorporates all other yogas. When reading this book, you will see how, through yoga, anything can be accomplished. The power of God is omnipotent, ans through this union with Him, you will also have this omnipotence. This book is the manual to true yoga.

Yogic Flying.......2006-12-31

"How To Know God: The Yoga Aphorisms of Patanjali" (from my understanding)is required reading for anyone interested in beoming a Sidha and practicing Yogic Flying. The process of Samyama (concentration, meditation, and absorption) creates a clarity of mind that is highly focused. A fascinating study and is an essential reference for anyone who teaches and practices Yoga.

A Gem of a Book.......2006-09-16

The Yoga Sutras (thread of aphorisms) of Patanjali are one of the six darshanas of the Hindu or Vedic schools. "How to Know God" is a beautiful translation of those. The book is relatively short (pocket sized with just over 200 pages) and very readable. It offers one of the clearest explanations of the practice of yoga and meditation that I have read. It is surprisingly practical. I value it almost as much as I do "The Art and Science of Raja Yoga: Fourteen Steps to Higher Awareness: Based on the Teachings of Paramhansa Yogananda" and Osho's "The Book of Secrets: 112 Keys to the Mystery Within" as a practical guide to specific meditation techniques. For those who have a Christian background, the book references familiar Christian concepts, making the book all the more readable for the typical Westerner. While one can read the entire book in one sitting (and maybe this is a useful strategy for its first reading), I prefer to digest it slowly, contemplating and savoring each aphorism. I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to enter into a deeper level of spiritual consciousness.

Get it for Isherwood's commentary.......2006-05-21

Patanjali's Yogi Sutras are well known now in both east and west. For a western mind, the commentary of Christopher Isherwood is especially valuable in interpreting and explaining the Vedantic approach, which is somewhat obscure in the original Patanjali.

It's a very small book, easy to pack around, and is great for quick reference.

Beautiful Translation Captures the Essence of Yoga.......2005-09-29

Swami Prabhavananda and Christopher Isherwood have collaborated to create this simple and yet poignant translation and commentary of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras.

The Yoga Sutras which were written approximately 2000 years ago and form the basis for the Yogic tradition. Originally, the Sutras were passed down orally (Sutra in Sanskrit means "thread")with commentary from the teacher or master. Isherwood is a masterful writer and clearly captures the essence of this tradition in both the cadence and style of the work. Much of the commentary is borrowed from greatly esteemed Vivekananda whose deep wisdom and honest razor sharp insight are true gift.

There are many translations of the Yoga Sutras, some arguably more literal, scholarly, and technically accurate. However, this work is one of the most accessible, and beautifully captures the essence and wisdom of the work.

The Berlin Stories: The Last of Mr. Norris and Goodbye to Berlin (New Directions Book)

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"Even now I can't altogether believe that any of this has really happened."
Interesting look at pre-war Berlin
Welcome to Berlin
Berlin Berlin
Weimar's Characters

The Berlin Stories: The Last of Mr. Norris and Goodbye to Berlin (New Directions Book)
Christopher Isherwood
Manufacturer: New Directions Publishing Corporation
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0811200701

Amazon.com

Christopher Isherwood was a diverse writer whose accomplishments included The Mortmere Stories (Edward Upward Series), A Single Man and a translation of The Song of God (Bhagavad Gita). But many critics hailed The Berlin Stories, the reissue of two of his best novels, as his finest. In the book, a man named Christopher Isherwood, who is and is not the author, writes a story of exile, combining the best of Isherwood's real life with the best of the life he imagined.

Customer Reviews:

"Even now I can't altogether believe that any of this has really happened.".......2007-05-17

Christopher Isherwood's "Berlin Stories" is perhaps most famous for having inspired the stage and screen masterpiece Cabaret, but those who are looking for an exact match between the two will be disappointed. The divine Sally Bowles does make an appearance (her charisma and verve are the book's high point), but only briefly, and her story only contains only seeds of what would become Cabaret's plotline. The primary similarities between the musical and its source material lie in the characterization of the aforementioned wannabe diva (who is every bit as vibrant on the page as she is in performance), as well as in the central themes and setting.

Berlin, 1930 - 1933: a city caught helplessly in an inexorable rush toward history as warring political factions fight for control and the Nazi party begins its rise to power. Violence and danger lurk in every street, and yet life goes on for the citizens of Berlin - who struggle to keep a degree of normalcy in their lives and food on their tables. They desperately cling to their traditional way of life as Germany's bloodthirsty future in WWII becomes more and more a nightmarish present. They are utterly unprepared for what lies ahead for them and their beloved nation. Could they have stopped Hitler? Almost certainly, if only they had taken the threat seriously. And therein lies the tragedy at the heart of Isherwood's masterpiece: that while it may be human nature to bury your head in the sand and hope for the best when trouble comes knocking, doing so will make you a passive co-conspirator and only allow the worst-case-scenario become a fully realized reality.

"The Berlin Stories" consists of two novellas that have been published together. "The Last of Mr. Norris" delves into the failure of Germany's communist party and, through the character of Mr. Norris, shows us the war profiteer at its worst. Norris doesn't care who ends up in power or what they do to Germany so long as he can use them to turn a profit and maintain his lavish lifestyle. The one complaint I have about it is that William Bradshaw's immediate friendship with the shifty Mr. Norris requires a suspension of disbelief on the reader's part. Why would he so readily trust Norris when his every instinct reveals him to be a charlatan and a swindler? Perhaps we are meant to see in William's willingness to trust Norris the larger concept that Germans eventually embraced Hitler despite their better instincts, but if that was Isherwood's intention it is a little too vague. "Goodbye to Berlin" is a series of vignettes with a writer named Isherwood (!) as its central character. The vignettes begin when it was still possible to hope for the best, and end in a cloud of violence as Isherwood is forced to leave Berlin, his once-and-still beloved city, in 1933.

"The Berlin Stories" is, ultimately, an elegy for the lost Germany that Isherwood had once fallen in love with, and the reader will be hard pressed not to mourn with him as the once vibrant city of Berlin descends into chaos and bloodshed. What is truly terrifying is that it actually happened, and it is incumbent upon us to make sure that it never happens again.
Grade: A

Interesting look at pre-war Berlin.......2007-01-31

While nowhere near as fleshed out as "Cabaret"--the film that was constructed from this and "I am a Camera," THE BERLIN STORIES are still great entertainment and a valuable look into pre-war Berlin and Germany.

Isherwood brings to life the squalid conditions and the "many families in one place" atmosphere that adds to the gloom and doom, and also the human interactions that makeup these stories.

If you're planning to delve into the land of Christopher Isherwood, I highly suggest this writing of his, along with his wonderful, though extremely extensive autobiographies. Great fodder about Stravinsky, Los Angeles, Arthur Kallman, and a host of others around the "LA roundtable" that is also a time capsule of an era we will never see again.

Welcome to Berlin.......2006-11-02

Forget all about Mr. Norris. He might have changed trains, but he never takes off. Goodbye to Berlin on the other hand is wonderful. Modernism at its best. Isherwood watches, as a bystander, how the roaring twenties Berlin slowly decays and how the Nazis are creeping out of their holes and take over public spaces.

Berlin Berlin.......2005-12-24

Guess what this book is about? Paris? Correct! Really? No, not really! This compelling collection of stories, narrated by Isherwood, recreates the glamour and drudgery of Berlin. The reader is invited to enter into a world filled with colorful characters, like the irrepressible Sally Bowles and seductive Otto. For all those who shun history textbooks, "Berlin Stories" is a wonderful way to get acquainted with the politics of Berlin in the late 1920s and early 1930s.
The eccentric characters within this book add to its many layers. I personally love the character Sally Bowles. As "The New Woman," Sally epitomizes the attempt by women to adopt a style of comportment based on an idea about what "The New Woman" was like instead of "who" she actually was.
Christopher Isherwood has a way with words and can wrap a story around you so that when you look to the beginning, you are already in the middle.
References to Weimar Germany and the encroaching Nazi Germany will have you on the edge of your seat. This book is perfect for literary buffs or anyone who loves an engaging story.

Weimar's Characters.......2005-12-17

Every reader seeks some form of entertainment or enlightenment. Whether it is the newest romance novel or the most cutting edge work of science the reader expects to finish a printed work with a sense of fulfillment. Christopher Isherwood more than fulfills his assigned role as entertainer in his work The Berlin Stories. Using the setting of Weimar Berlin he weaves a tale of hope, heartache, and tragedy. However, Berlin Stories is not a novel about Weimar German culture, it is a novel about humans interacting and conflicting with their environment. Isherwood's work is not brilliant as a historical work; it is a brilliant character study not seen in literature of its time. The reserve that the author shows in narrating what the person says, and what he or she does allows the reader to step into the story and analyze the characters that Isherwood sees for ourselves.
Isherwood's characters are magical and memorable. Sally Bowles and her eternal search for fame and fortune, Natalia and her naive ways, and the confused Fräulein Schroeder, and many others show us the height of the author's art. He has taken the people he has known and loved and eternalized them without any damnation. Isherwood's world is a world of decadence and tenderness, heartlessness and love. All of these qualities make The Berlin Stories a fundamental work of fiction, and an easy read.

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timeless wisdom for today
Beautiful and flowing...
lucid poetry
Avoid this printing
Kessington edition is illegal

Bhagavad-Gita:: The Song of God

Manufacturer: Signet Classics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Classics | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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The Bhagavad Gita According to Gandhi

ASIN: 0451528441
Release Date: 2002-07-02

Book Description

The Bhagavad-Gita is the Gospel of Hinduism, and one of the great religious classics of the world. Its simple, vivid message is a daily inspiration in the lives of millions throughout the world and has been so for countless generations.

Here is a distinguished translation that can be read by every person, not as an archaic monument to an ancient culture, but as a living contemporary message that touches the most urgent personal and social problems.

Customer Reviews:

timeless wisdom for today.......2007-05-10

I haven't read any other translation of the Gita, so I don't have any opinion about this translation vis a vis any other translation. However, I can say that this translation is simple to read and understand, and that the message of the Gita has had an enormous impact on my life. I read it every day for guidance and inspiration, and it is a wonderful antidote to the toxic messages that bombard us daily from advertisers and the media. I highly recommend this book.

Beautiful and flowing..........2007-01-14

This was my first true introduction to Hinduism. I was very moved by the Gita. It is very beautiful writing and is among the greatest books that I have ever read. It is an excellent addition to the library of a spiritual seeker. The messages are so significant and deep that it deserves additional readings in the future. I believe that a lot of these ideas found in the eastern traditions and western gnostic traditions are so incredibly important in our day. I hope more people discover these messages within themselves.

lucid poetry.......2006-11-11

This is arguably the best translation of the Gita. Most translations are too scholarly (in an attempt to be precise with the original sanskrit) but since there is no modern language to actually translate sanskrit word for word, it typically results in text that is both heavy and inaccessible.

This one is different. A masterful collaboration of both a hindu and a westerner, this Gita is both verse and prose (in an almost mystical balance) and flows like the river. It is in this verse/prose balance that keeps the reading moving forward where the deeper (and most important) messages of the Gita seem to drive it home.

Avoid this printing.......2006-10-14

I have this book in hardback (bought 30 years ago and it is the best translation) and wanted to get one for my son, but as I couldn't find anything but paperback I ordered this one. Big disappointment. The paper is cheap and coarse, the lettering is thick and indistinct, and there are no margins. Its visually difficult and unpleasant to read. This is published by the "Signet Press", I will be avoiding their books in the future.

Kessington edition is illegal.......2006-07-07

This version of the Bhagavad Gita is an illegal printing of Kessington Press stolen from Vedanta Press. The Vedanta Press edition is available from Amazon at a MUCH lower price.

Please do not buy the Kessington edition.

The Complete Works of W.H. Auden: Plays and Other Dramatic Writings, 1928-1938

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The Complete Works of W.H. Auden: Plays and Other Dramatic Writings, 1928-1938
W. H. Auden , and Christopher Isherwood
Manufacturer: Princeton University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0691067406

Book Description

In 1928 Stephen Spender hand-printed thirty copies of a small volume of poems by his friend W. H. Auden--the first published book by a man who was to become the dominant literary figure of his generation and one of the century's greatest poets. Sixty years later, Princeton University Press inaugurates an eight-volume edition of the complete works of Auden, which is intended to serve as the definitive text for all the works Auden published or intended to publish in the form in which he expected to see them printed: his plays and other drama, libretti, essays and reviews, and poems.

The Complete Works of W. H. Auden will provide a unique opportunity to solve the numerous textual problems connected with the severe revisions Auden made in his own works. The texts will be newly edited from Auden's manuscripts by Edward Mendelson, the literary executor of the Auden estate. As presented in this edition, they will be absolutely clean, with the notes appearing only at the ends of the volumes, along with variant readings from all published versions, as well as hitherto unpublished drafts or revisions. Also included will be introductions placing the works in the context of literary traditions and relating them to Auden's life and times.

As planned, the first volume of the series contains plays and other drama, and the second volume will include the libretti. The essays and reviews will appear in the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth volumes, and the seventh and eighth volumes will contain the poems.

Plays and Other Dramatic Writings, 1928-1938

This volume contains Auden and Christopher Isherwood's dramatic extravaganzas The Dog Beneath the Skin, The Ascent of F 6, and On the Frontier. It also includes the two versions of Paid on Both Sides--which are so different as to constitute two works--and Auden's satiric revue The Dance of Death. Two plays appear in print for the first time, Auden and Isherwood's The Enemies of a Bishop and Auden's The Chase. Also included are Auden's prose and verse written for documentary films, a cabaret sketch, and an unpublished radio script. Many of the texts include poems by the young Auden that have never been published before. The extensive historical and textual notes trace the complex history of the production and revision of these plays, including full texts of rewritten scenes.

Book Description

A classic text on the path to God through knowledge. The basic teaching is that God alone is the all-pervading reality; the individual soul is none other than the universal soul.

According to Shankara, it is the ignorance of our real nature that causes suffering and pain. The desire for happiness is essentially a longing to awaken to who and what we truly are.

Through the path of self-knowledge, Shankara clearly teaches how to awaken from ignornce created by the mind, and abide in the peace of our true nature.

Customer Reviews:

Non-Duality Teaching of Shankara.......2007-06-11

The Crest Jewel of Discrimination teaches about Atman and Brahman, and how they are the true existence. Everything else is illusion. Atman and Brahman are a state of non-duality, which means that our physical existence is not real. It is the equivalent of a dream. Our life purpose is to realize the Atman, the Self.

The teachings of Advaita Vedanta are meant for everyone. Even though Shankara was a Hindu philosopher, this is applicable in every religion. A Course in Miracles teaches non-duality as well.

A must for those on the spiritual path.......2007-03-09

Shankara's Vivek Chudamani is a classic text orignally written in Sanskrit and is a must of anyone on the spiritual pathway to enlightenment (Hindu/Buddhist pathways). It makes you take a hard look at your beliefs and practices, social norms and customs and helps you separate the wheat from the chaff. Swami Prabhavananda and Christoper Isherwood have done an excellent job of translating it into English. The translation is easy to read, although the material is by no means a light read and is meant for someone who is serious about the pathway. It is a great book to read again and again as your awareness grows.

Foundation book of non-dualism.......2006-01-14

In my library Shankara's Crest Jewel of Discrimination (Viveka Chudamani) is the companion of Narada Bhakti Sutras. They are equally essential. Even though every World Religion teaches the otherness of God (in one way or another) nevertheless the concept of our identity with the Absolute makes some appearance in each of them. This is the foundation book of that belief in Hinduism and, as such, it is a vital part of the world's spiritual heritage.

Discrimination Between the Real and the Unreal.......2005-11-16

It is a matter of debate whether Viveka-Chudamani was actually written by Shankara, due to dissimilarities with Upadesa-Sahasri, which was almost definitely written by Him. Never the less, this is still a nice book on non-dual teachings.

There is a good introduction to both Shankara, and non-dual philosophy, before the Crest-Jewel of Discrimination starts. All of the basics of Advaita philosophy are covered in the Introduction, written so that the beginner should have no problem assimilating them. The brief account relating who Shankara was, and some of the events of his life are helpful and enjoyable to read also.

The basic premise and message of the book is about discriminating the real from the unreal, the Atman from the Non-Atman. According to the Crest-Jewel of Discrimination, the aspirant after Self-Realization should have a spirit of renunciation for the world, and a distaste for sense-pleasures, materialism, etc; basically all things that are not-Atman, and therefore, not Eternal. Aspirants should disassociate themselves from the body, and instead always associate themselves with the Eternal Atman, which is identical with Brahman. Helpful examples from everyday life are used to demonstrate the principles, such as the snake and the rope demonstrating Maya, or superimposition on the Brahman.

Once halfway through the Crest-Jewel of Discrimination, it seems to become very repetitive, stating over and over again that our true nature is the Atman, identical with Brahman, and how everything else is unreal. Even so, this is a nice inspirational book, and makes for a good introduction to non-dual philosophy as well.

little book, big wisdom.......2002-04-08

Shankara was a 7th century hindu mystic/saint. he founded a number of monastic orders in his short life,[32 yrs], and showed remarkable spiritual talents and insights from a very early age. this book is a true classic in the field of the jnani yoga tradition. his directives are clear, succint, and leave no doubt in the readers mind he knew where of he spoke. i wouldn't say this should be your entry level book into the advaita philosophy but if the idea of your oneness with brahman, the impersonal ground of being, appeals to you and you're ready for the genuine article, then this little book is for you and will reward your careful study. i'll be quiet now and let the master have the last word with a few quotes from the book: "when the vision of Reality comes, the veil of ignorance is completely removed. when our false perception is corrected, misery ends." and "the self controlled man is illumined when he enjoys eternal bliss. he is entirely merged in Brahman. he knows himself to be the unchangeable reality". and, "teachers and scriptures can stimulate spiritual awareness. but the wise disciple overcomes ignorance by direct illumination, through the grace of God". and, "the treasure i have found cannot be described in words, i am one with Brahman".

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Stunning
Life Is A Cabaret

I Am a Camera
John Van Druten , and Christopher Isherwood
Manufacturer: Dramatists Play Service Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Cabaret

ASIN: 0822205459

Customer Reviews:

Stunning.......2000-08-03

I'm a sucker for plays, and this play is no exception. I was fascinated by the title and read it without having any idea as to what the content was. It is wonderfully written and stark for the time it was written. It tells the story of Christopher Isherwood and the time he spends in Germany during the Second World War. You confront frank subjects and controversial topics in this book, and you realize that during World War II, people worried about some of the same things today, such as unwanted pregnancy and racism, to name a couple. Everything you once viewed in an idealized way during this time period unravels, and you don't really mind.

Life Is A Cabaret.......2000-01-19

In all its forms (plays, movies, and books) the legacy of the radical Sally Bowles will live on forever. It is the lidicracy of the times that makes this spectackle a spectacle. A starving artist in Berlin that on New Years Eve met a wild and (quote-on-quote) "Perfectly Marvelous Girl" in a drab nightclub in the mist of the third reich. The spirit of the girl in this grim country is one of the reasons that her story will live forever. And also, seeing a performance in Davis, California starring Matt Dunn as the Emcee, and Rebecca Tosca Grey as the ever so taslented Sally Bowles releived me of all my stress, as well as "mind matter."

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aptly named, "the song of God."
Awesome!
Beautiful Interpretation
Core of Hinduism in pure form.
Most lyrical translation into English of this classic

The Song of God Bhagavad Gita
Swami Prabhavananda
Manufacturer: Vedanta Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

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Sermon on the Mount According to Vedanta

ASIN: 0874810434

Book Description

Uses the beauty of verse to express the highest truths of Vedanta. Includes an introduction to the Gita, and a study of non-violence versus the need to fight a just war.

The critics have singled out this translation:"The book is self-contained. A complete stranger to the Hindu Gospel can pick it up and in one or two evenings follow the poem from its terrific beginnings to its sublime end." -- New York Times

Customer Reviews:

aptly named, "the song of God.".......2002-02-18

Perhaps the greatest piece of truly inspired spiritual literature ever written. Considered by many to be the epitome of the vast collection of writings that is Vedanta. Its the story of Lord Krishna's holy teachings and advice to a warrior whose heart is in great distress on the eve of battle. And aren't we all warriors on the eve of the battle of daily life? Lord Krishna explains the various ways a person can seek and find and know God. He speaks directly to each one of us from that transcendent Eternal One point of view, "when goodness grows weak, when evil increases, i make myself a body. in every age i come back, to deliver the holy, to destroy the sin of the sinner and to establish righteousness". and, "though a man be soiled with the sins of a lifetime, let him but love me, rightly resolved, in utter devotion: i see no sinner, that man is holy". and, "give me your whole heart, love and adore me, worship me always, bow to me only, and you shall find me: this is my promise, who love you dearly." I love the book very much indeed and have read it many times over the past few decades. This particular translation is a thing of sheer beauty and power. This is by far my favorite translation of the several i've read. [Prabhavanana and Isherwood, translation] This book belongs on the reading table of every sincere spiritual seeker. Its simply sublime.

Awesome!.......2001-02-02

This is one of the most beautiful books I have ever read. If you're at all curious about Hinduism - this book has it all. Now I don't personally believe that a blue-skinned guy named Krishna ever really existed. But I do believe he is an excellent allegory, or character, used to convey the beliefs of Hinduism and the experience (and non-experience) of Brahman(God). My favorite thing about this book is that Krishna is active in everyday life. The story is actually an excerpt from the epic "Mahabarata". It takes place in the middle of a battlefield. Arjuna, a warrior, does not want to fight because he sees that all the guys on the other side are his relatives - his brothers so to speak. Krishna tells Arjuna to fight and then goes on to explain why it's ok - all the while expounding the ideals and beliefs of the Hindus. What's cool is that even though they express that God is in everyone and everything - it's ok to participate in ordinary life according to your nature. Arjuna has the nature of a warrior so he is supposed to fight when there is a battle. Not everybody needs to sit around meditating and smoking hemp.
The book is a masterpiece and it is beautifully done. Check it out.

Beautiful Interpretation.......2000-06-06

This is not a translation of the Gita as much as an intepretation. Scholars will find much to irritate them here as direct translation was not Isherwood's aim, but rather an interpretation of the text in such a way that was best suited to Isherwood's own aim's of self-enlightenment. This volume is easy to read, and many sections have been put into a semi-poetical form to recall the feel of the original (a big plus, as few modern translations have attempted to do the same). Also, quite interesting is the introduction by Aldous Huxley, in which he relates his "Perennial Philosophy" to the Gita and speaks in detail about Hinduism as well as it's relation to other faiths. An appendix on various Hindoo ideas is included that makes some potentially foreign concepts a little bit easier to assimilate. For anyone who loves the Gita as I do, this book is a treasure trove.

Core of Hinduism in pure form........1999-02-20

"All religious texts are subject to interpertation". That's a popular belief most people like to cling to. The way "The Bhagavad Gita" has been translated in this book, it is absolutely clear. This book delivers the message of this religious text in most lucid form.

A must reading for those people of the West, who want a quick and correct glimse of Hinduism.

And also for those Hindus, who are taking their first steps in the quest for thier spiritual indentity.

Most lyrical translation into English of this classic.......1998-09-21

Isherwood took his love of the message of the Gita, and the knowledge he gained from his Teacher to bring the wonderful meaning of the Bhagavad Gita into beautiful English.

This work of faith and philosophy gains so much from the beautiful use of words! Other translations may be more accurate of more satisfying to scholars, but this is the one for the reader who wants to understand this message.

Vedanta for the Western World
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Understanding religion in spite of years of Sunday School

Vedanta for the Western World
Christopher Isherwood
Manufacturer: Vedanta Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
General | Hinduism | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
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Vedanta: A Simple Introduction

ASIN: 0874810000

Customer Reviews:

Understanding religion in spite of years of Sunday School.......2003-10-28

For thirty years I have read and inquired about the major religious traditions in the world, studying them like the historical linguist I was, trying to find the common threads that would reveal to me the basic truths of the universe. I read history by Trevor Ling, theory by Bhagavan Das, practice by Tarthang Tulku and Lama Govinda, commentaries and scriptures in translation.

This collection of essays gathered by Christopher Isherwood is by far the most lucid commentary on the common currents between Christianity and the writings that form the basis of both Hinduism and Buddhism that I have ever found. The essays are short, mostly, only three to five pages and easy to digest in a short sitting. This is not a book that needs to be read cover to cover, but you will be tempted to do just that. Then you will want to read it again, but more slowly.

Mr. Isherwood, in a wonderfully written introduction asks the question, how does one achieve the divinity we are taught is already ours? The answer -- by ceasing to be oneself -- is not one commonly taught in church. (I was raised a Protestant). A rather spirited imaginary dialogue follows this answer, and it is supported not only by the Eastern teachers represented here, but also by the Christians, who illuminate areas of our familiar religion that we seldom explore.

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