Essays on the Gita, New U.S. Paperback Ed.

Sri Aurobindo clearly states his intentions towards this text in the introduction: to put the teachings of the Gita in a modern context, that is, to see how they can be made relevant to readers in the present day.

In addition, he asks for a more objective look at the text than certain other interpretations. While I found that he, in general, carried this out, it is not dry, nor is there any vacillation: the book is imbued with the author's ideas about evolution and the role of man in relation to the divine and the author is clear in his interpretive bent.

Most important, however, is that his explinations of the meaning of the scripture are truly magical. He clarifies confusing points with such ease and lucidity, I often found myself thinking "Ah, but that's so clear! How'd I ever have a problem with it?"

This is NOT, however, an easy text to read. Sri Aurobindo went to Cambridge during the 1890's and the language he uses is not what most people are used to. He is deliberately thorough and has no inhibitions about repeating himself with slight variation if there is an even slightly different context shedding light on the passage. He uses long sentences when expressing large, transcendent ideas (that is, most of the time) and it is easy to get lost in his paragraphs.

In addition, the scope of the Gita when expressed in this way is tremendous. Not all of the text can possibly be relevant to someone's life, and at times it can seem as if he's belaboring the point. Often, however, such troubling passages become the ones that are most inspiring when reread in a different context.

Therefore, I strongly recommend this book, but only to people who are interested in serious, deep study of the Gita and are willing to invest a lot of time and effort into it. The rewards can be truly fabulous.


A masterly exposition   January 28, 2000
 10 out of 10 found this review helpful

This book occupies the highest place among the modern commentaries on Gita because it is original, profound and written in a language that is powerful and poetic. There are no digressions from the main argument of the Book. All the complexity, subtle beauty, grace and the vast synthesis of Gita is captured perfectly. The last chapter titled "Message of the Gita" provides such an excellent summary that reading it gives the satisfaction of the study of the entire Gita. This book is a treat for both the beginner as well as the scholar. The normal commentaries which give interpretation for each stanza usually miss out the connecting themes, underlying ideas and the progression in the argument of the eighteen chapters of the Gita. This book is an exception. It is unique in form and style among the modern commentaries of the Gita.


In 5000 years nobody has better interpreted the Gita   April 3, 1999
 3 out of 4 found this review helpful

The most truthful, profound, exact, powerful and sincere interpretation of the Gita. It would be safe to assert that only the original author of the Gita could have come up with such an interpretation. No other interpration of the Gita comes close.


Comprehensive and true to the text   February 26, 1997
 6 out of 6 found this review helpful

Sri Aurobindo is definitely among the most notable of Indian authors in the recent past. In this collection of articles on the Srimad Bhagavad Gita, he has brought out the essence of the doctrines of sanAtana dharma, popularly known as Hinduism, that is described in the Gita. The english is old style and the sentences are often long, but the serious student of Hinduism will certainly enjoy reading the book. This book is a definite departure from the usual 'introductory' texts on Hinduism. In his inimitable style, he discusses the exposition in the Gita of God (as three purushas) and His relationship to the world, the Divine manifestation (sambhuti and vibhuti) as well as the scope of the doctrines of karma, svabhAva, svadharma, the three gunas and yoga.