Bhagavad Gita, The MP3 CD – MP3 Audio, January 4, 2016

The Bhagavad Gita is an ancient Indian scripture that has captivated the hearts and minds of millions worldwide. Composed over two thousand years ago, its timeless wisdom and profound teachings continue to resonate with seekers of truth and spiritual liberation.For Westerners encountering the Gita for the first time, its unfamiliar concepts and Eastern philosophical framework can seem daunting. This walkthrough aims to provide a simplified and accessible introduction to this sacred text, highlighting its key themes and essential teachings.Background and SettingThe Gita is a dialogue between Krishna, an incarnation of the divine, and Arjuna, a warrior facing a moral dilemma on the battlefield of Kurukshetra. As the battle rages, Arjuna is overcome by doubt and confusion. Krishna guides Arjuna through various teachings, ultimately revealing the true nature of reality and the path to liberation from suffering.Key Themes* Karma and Dharma: The Gita emphasizes the importance of fulfilling one's duties (dharma) without attachment to the fruits of actions (karma). This concept of selfless action promotes moral conduct and inner peace.* Samsara and Moksha: The Gita recognizes the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth (samsara). It offers the path of liberation (moksha) through knowledge, devotion, and meditation.* Spirit and Matter: The Gita distinguishes between the eternal, unchanging spirit (atman) and the impermanent, changing material world (maya). It teaches that the spirit is our true identity, beyond the limitations of the body and mind.* Bhakti Yoga: The Gita advocates for the path of devotion (bhakti) as a powerful means of spiritual realization. It encourages surrender to the divine and unwavering love for God.Essential Teachings* Do Your Duty: Perform your actions with dedication and without concern for personal gain.* Control Your Senses: Master your senses and resist distractions to attain inner peace.* Meditate and Practice Self-Knowledge: Cultivate inner silence and seek knowledge of yourself and the divine.* Surrender to God: Let go of your ego and attachment to outcomes, placing your trust in the divine will.* Aim for Selfless Action: Engage in activities that benefit others, not just yourself.Approaching the Gita as a WesternerWhile the Gita is rooted in ancient Indian traditions, its teachings can be universally relevant. Westerners may find it helpful to approach the Gita with an open mind, seeking to understand its core messages rather than strictly adhering to its cultural context.Consider the Gita's philosophical concepts as invitations for reflection and personal growth. Its teachings on karma, dharma, and detachment can help us navigate our own challenges and find greater purpose and fulfillment in life.ConclusionThe Bhagavad Gita is a profound and transformative scripture that offers invaluable insights into the nature of reality, the human condition, and the path to liberation. For Westerners, it can be a source of inspiration, wisdom, and guidance on the journey toward spiritual awakening. By embracing its teachings and applying them in our daily lives, we can unlock our potential for inner peace, clarity, and a deeper understanding of our place in the universe.

This is a very enjoyable and accessible version of the Bhagavad Gita. Thank you very much, Jack Hawley, for writing this and performing this. It's accompanied by peaceful, meditative music that enhances concentration and elevation of the spirit. I appreciate the preface, forward, introduction and afterword. The forward speaks about the universality of the Gita, and puts some of the concepts in a useful context. The introduction speaks to the historical context and how it relates to a modern and Western life, and how this "walkthrough" was written. Thank you for sharing how this project effected you and your wife during this project. I look forward to listening many more times._/|\_Also, making this available as an MP3 audiobook without DRM is really, really appreciated. It's the only way to actually own a recording, and it makes playback more convenient in many situations.(I hope Amazon decides to permit DRM-free audiobooks on Audible someday too, so we can also enjoy nice features like Whispersync and convenient access from multiple devices from cloud storage and an app specialized for seeking within content and annotating.)

Speaking as someone who was raised as a Christian in America, this is my favorite version of the Gita. Compared to other versions, the author tells the story in a simple, interesting way, and often shares or re-shares the meaning of words I’d never heard of before, which is helpful.

I bought this book as a gift, which they were happy to receive. Arrived on time.

I very rarely write reviews, but wow what a gem this book is! I grew up Christian but have always been fascinated with learning about other cultures and religions, and a lot of what’s in this book (and other famous religious texts, like the Tao Te Ching for example) are strikingly similar to a lot of the things Jesus said. We really are all connected and share much more similarities than differences. I respect everyone’s path they choose to take to our Creator, and for all you narrow minded fundamentalists out there, get out of your Christian bubble, stop being afraid of the world, and expand your mind past the dogma you’ve been taught! The world is a big beautiful place to explore, learn, and grow! This book is beautiful and so rich with wisdom. Very satisfied with this purchase! Buy it and you will be blessed!

This translation was super readable. Non-cryptic and easy to follow along. Thank you for this great publication. I can see reading this over time and again.

Jack Hawley writes a wonderful version of the Gita - it is easy to understand both in text, and with his commentary and complimentary experiences. The book itself deserves 5 stars, but the ecopy gets *maybe* 2.Unfortunately, this ebook copy is VERY poorly done. First of all, there are several words stuck together without spaces, and misplaces letters and numbers throughout the text. There is no Table of Contents available, making it difficult to flip back through read pages/chapters. Additionally, you are unable to return to (or find) bookmarked pages without literally leafing back through each page. Finally, the book pages stop at 170 (where the Gita itself ends) however, the book is only 3/4 of the way through at that point. From page 170 on the numbers are "location" 2754-3847.You will LOVE J. Hawley's text, but don't buy the ebook - at least not here. Although I enjoy my kindle app this text causes me to question whether to continue buying their ebooks...I'm not sure whether others have had this experience, however.

Beautiful book visually and written by Jack Hawley; something I return to over and over. The ease of reading thru Jacks interpretation makes you feel as if you are a part of the story (spoiler alert, you kind of are!).

Me gusto el servicio que me proporcionaron y la rapidez del envío.

In Kombination mit täglicher Meditation sehr zu empfehlende Lektüre. Einfach ein bisschen täglich vorurteilsfrei lesen und wirken lassen. Der Rest geschieht von alleine.

The book is a wonderful summary of the Gita; it resonates with me.I find the writing to be clear, crisp & enthralling! I recommend it.

Good product

This is a book I will keep as long as I live in this body, I will go back to it often .I have a habit of underlining all the sentences that speak to me in a profound way when I read my personal spiritual books and this one is full of these underlined truths . There is so much wisdom, in nugget form,in this version, written in an easy to understand language and style . Hawley studied over 30 versions of the Gita over many years and distilled it all down for us in a way, as the title implies , for western minds . It is very intriguing from the beginning to end . If you want to understand the concept of "the innermost True Self , the Atma seated in the hearts of all beings " (page 94) , this is the book that explains it very well. I also have a copy of Eknath Easwaran's The Upanishards which makes a good companion book to this one . I like it just as much as this one . These two books will be in my top ten most liked books for life. However, if I had to recommend just one book for the spiritual seeker it would be Tolle's "The power of now " But these two mentioned in this review would also be second and third . All three of these books will wake you up spiritually like no others can .