Bhagavad Gita, A New Translation and Commentary, Chapters 1 - 6

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi

This was first published in 1967. As Maharishi points out in the preface, truth and eternal wisdom are available in the Veda. The absolute, unchanging nature of truth underlies the relative, always changing nature of the manifest universe. Although the underlying truth is independent of time, man’s perception of truth changes with time. There are times when mankind and societies are closer to the truth, and other times when the truth is obfuscated by the blinding influence of the phenomenal world. Mankind has been fortunate to enjoy the revival of truth from time to time as the great teachers and masters of different epochs have expounded it. However, because ultimate Truth is subtle and non-linear in nature, language is an inadequate medium to convey Truth. For example, that which the Buddha knew, he may have been able to communicate to his closest disciples, but as the message gets passed on from one generation to the next inevitably it is subject to change and a diminution of its accuracy and efficacy. The analogy most commonly used is of the party game, called the "telephone game", when one person tells a story which is passed on to each person, one at a time, until it arrives back to the originator in a very distorted manner. It is Maharishi’s purpose in writing this commentary "to restore the fundamental truths of the Bhagavad Gita, and thus restore the significance of its teaching." In my opinion, one of Maharishi’s greatest contributions to the intellectual grasp of enlightenment or higher states of consciousness, is his explanation of how for many generations seekers have been confusing the path with the goal. Maharishi does an incredible job of explaining how the concept or doctrine of non-attachment has been misunderstood by most seekers as referring to "an attitude" when in fact it refers to a state of consciousness. Rather than my trying, in my inept way, to explain this in greater detail, I say go right to the Master, and read this wonderful book. If you have read other translation or commentaries on The Gita, but you have not read this one, you have a real treat in store. This was another "no-brainer" to include in our selections of "Books You Can’t Live Without".

Review by Len Oppenheim.

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