title: Universal Message of the Bhagavad Gita: An Exposition of the Gita in the Light of Modern Thought and Modern Needs, Vol. 1
author: Swami Ranganathanananda
description: Among the several modern commentaries on the Gita, this one is unique in the sense it is both down to earth and fascinatingly erudite. In explaining every verse, the author relates its real connotation and significance to not only what Shankaracharya said in his introduction to the Gita, or how Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda interpreted it in terms of practical Vedanta, but also how it conforms to the thinking of some of the greatest Greek philosophers like Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. The author weaves every verse into the requirements of modern life and throws light on how man should lead his life while involved in his daily chores and fulfil his duties in accordance with the philosophy of action as taught by Sri Krishna. --Sri Ramakrishna Math/Chennai<br /><br />I have read several translations of the Gita in English-from Sir Edwin Arnold's to Annie Besnat's,to Gandhiji's,Vinobhaji and Radhakrishnan's and some others also...I find the exposition of Swami Ranganathananda in many respects unique:it is both down to earth and fascinatingly erudite.In explaining every shloka Swamiji relates it's real connotation and significance to not only What Adis Shankara said in his introduction to the Gita or how Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda interpreted in terms of Practical Vedanta but also how it conforms to the thinking of some of the Great philosophers like Socrates,Plato and Aristotle,Swamiji takes you,while expalining the depth and intricasies of Sri Krishna's teachingsmon an enlightening voyage of discovery,where you meet Buddha,Mahavira,Tao,Christ and most of the thinkers in the West and relates their thoughts by an ingenious interactionwith the message of Sri Krishna.Even the greatest scientists like Einstein or famous neurologists like Sir Charles Sherington and poets like Wordsaworth and Shelley and Philosophers like Julian Huxley and bertrand Russell are brought in by Swamiji to give us an indepth understanding of the real meaning of the real meaning of these shlokas.Swamiji weaves every Shloka into the requirements of modern life and throws light on how man should lead his life while involved in nhis daily chores or business deals or academic pursuits and fulfil his duties in accordance with the philosphy of action taught by Sri Krishna ,which is a marvel of the elevation itself. --Dr.Rafiq Zakaria/Muslim Scholar of Mumbai
zlib_text: Produced by the Department of Education                                             The Theosophical Society in America 
   
   
   
  The Bhagavad Gita 
   
   
  A Study Course 
  By John Algeo 
   
   
  Analysis and commentary in 28 lessons 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  © 2000 The Theosophical Society in America 
  P.O. Box 270, Wheaton, Illinois 60189-0270 
   
  
  The Theosophical Society in America  
   
    The Bhagavad Gita 
  © 2000 The Theosophical Society in America 
  2
  THE BHAGAVAD GITA,  Lesson  1 
   
  A. Preface to the Bhagavad Gita 
   
   
  The Bhagavad Gita is one of the world’s most important books—indeed, one of the great 
  books of human culture, Eastern and Western alike.  
   
  In India, the Gita is many things: it is the major guidebook to the spiritual life in the 
  Hindu tradition; it is an eirenicon—a work that harmonizes the diverse views of life that find 
  a place within traditional Indic religious philosophy, and it is an inspirational and culture-
  defining book that is to Indian society what