One of the most easy to read translations with an introduction by one of the 20th century giants of literature aldous huxley. This edition comes with an introduction by aldous huxley, a background history of the gita and mahabharata, 2 appendices, and the text has footnotes to aid in the meaning of certain words and personages. 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. In 1944 huxley wrote the introduction to the bhagavad gita. Alongside its importance in the hindu faith, the bhagavad gita has influenced many thinkers, including mahatma gandhi, aldous huxley, henry david thoreau. Huxley, has contributed the brilliant introduction. Hence its enduring value, not only for the indians, but also for all mankind.
Aldous huxleys introductory piece includes the following. The song of god bhagavd gita aldous huxley, intro mentor 1951. Translated into english from the original sanskrit into english, along ancient manuscripts, and various other sources and research material split up reading transliteration word for. The perennial philosophy more than twentyfive centuries have passed since that which has been called the perennial philosophy was first committed to writing. Introduction to the bhagavadgita translation of bhagavadgita by swami prabhavananda and christopher isherwood. The content of the gita is the conversation between lord krishna and arjuna taking place on the battlefield of kurukshetra before the start of the war between the two clans of brothers the kauravas and the pandavas. Madhvacarya has stated that the bhagavadgita is apauruseya which means of divine origin and eternal. Introduction to the bhagavad gita by aldous huxley.
Bhagavadgita prabhavananda, christopher isherwood, aldous huxley on. It is perhaps the most systematic spiritual statement of. Huxley clarifies this relationship in his introduction to the bhagavadgita prabhavananda and isherwood. The significance of the bhagavad gita yoga chicago. Aldous huxley, asserts that the bhagavad gita occupies an intermediate position between scripture and theology. Even though huxley maintained ambivalence with regard to the adoption of a guru, he nonetheless strove to master his practice. Aldous huxley had agreed to prepare an introduction to this translation. The bhagavad gita is the most systematic statement of spiritual evolution of endowing value to mankind. The bhagavadgita is the gospel of hinduism, and one of the great religious classics of the world. Alongside its importance in the hindu faith, the bhagavad gita has influenced many thinkers, including mahatma gandhi, aldous huxley, henry david thoreau, j. The prabhavanandaisherwood translation of the bhagavad gita was published in 1944, a time when some of the fiercest battles of wwii were being fought.
Quotes in praise of the bhagavad gita learn religions. Mahatma gandhi and the bhagavad gita american vedantist. The gita is one of the clearest and most comprehensive summaries of the perennial philosophy ever to have been done. He wrote nearly fifty books both novels and nonfiction worksas well as wideranging essays, narratives, and poems born into the prominent huxley family, he graduated from balliol college, oxford with an undergraduate degree in english literature. A study of the introduction to the bhagavad gita by aldous huxley the introduction is in the translation of bhagavad gita by swami prabhavananda and christopher isherwood. It considers a few areas of agreement charity, purity of heart, humility, divine edification between the major world faiths and.
Bhagavadgita is the manifest quintessence of all the teachings of the vedic scriptures. The bhagavadgita is the most systematic statement of spiritual evolution of endowing value to mankind. Ironically, both aldous huxley and christopher isherwood were conscientious objectors, and yet they contributed to a book where god, in the form of sri krishna, urges a warrior to do battle. So i started to translate, and then chris helped me. The british novelist and essayist aldous huxley considered the teachings of krishna in the bhagavad gita as the most systematic scriptural statement of a perennial philosophy common to all the religions 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. Lbs national academy of administration total pages. Bhagavadgitatranslators preface introduction by aldous huxley gita and mahabharata. The bhagavad gita is perhaps the most systematic scriptural statement of the perennial philosophy, wrote aldous huxley in his introduction to the translation of the gita by swami prabhavananda and christopher isherwood. The main source of the doctrine of karma yoga is obviously bhagavad gita.
The teacher of the bhagavad gita is lord krishna, who is revered as a manifestation of god, the bhagvan, parabrahman. At the core of the perennial philosophy we find four fundamental doctrines. When i read the twelfth chapter, i felt that the meaning had not been brought out. Since it was first published in 1944, the swami prabhavanandachristopher isherwood bhagavad gita, with an introduction by aldous huxley. The song of god by huxley, aldous and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. The bhagavadgita occupies an intermediate position between scripture and theology. Apr 12, 2014 fantastic quote from aldous huxley on the bhagavad gita from the hindu religion. Once i was away for a rest in palm springs i had a gita translation with me. Bhagavad gita famous people inspired by bhagavad gita. The bhagavad gita in english the sacred song translated by philippe l. Christopher isherwood reads from the bhagavad gita youtube. The song of god mass market paperback jan 01, 1960 huxley, aldous. The bhagavad gita is a condensation and a simplification of the older.
The song of god swami prabhavananda, christopher isherwood, aldous huxley on. Christopher isherwood and sami probhavananda have captured the gita without any overblown dramatics and without intellectual poobahisms, keeping to a smart, simply flowing modern translation that seems very genuine. The term was popularized in more recent times by writer and mystic aldous huxley in his book, the perennial philosophy, published in 1945. Prabhavananda, swami, christopher isherwood, swami prabhavananda, aldous huxley. A study of the introduction to the bhagavad gita by aldous huxley the introduction is in the translation of bhagavadgita by swami prabhavananda and christopher isherwood. Hindu scripture, vedas, bhagavadgita hindu heritage. One of the central tenets of all religions, then, is that. Aldous leonard huxley 26 july 1894 22 november 1963 was an english writer and philosopher. From 1941 through 1960 huxley contributed 48 articles to vedanta and the west, published by the society. Aldous huxley english writer the bhagavadgita was spoken by lord krishna to reveal the science of devotion to god which is the essence of all spiritual knowledge. Robert oppenheimer, ralph waldo emerson, carl jung, bulent ecevit, hermann hesse, heinrich himmler, nikola tesla and others. He who is free from delusion, and knows the supreme reality, knows all that can be known. The bhagavad gita a number of quotes from the bhagavad gita appear on our mysticism quotations pages. Aldous huxley 26 july 1894 22 november 1963, one of the great modern thinkers, philosophers, and social commentators of the 20th century, is often hailed as an inspirational figure of the human potential movement and the subsequent development of transpersonal psychology.
Full text of the bhagavad gita in english see other formats. The supreme lord krishnas primary purpose for descending and incarnating is to relieve the world of any demoniac and negative, undesirable influences that are opposed to. It is one of the most clear and comprehensive summaries of perennial philosophy ever revealed. In 1944, huxley wrote the introduction to the bhagavad gita. Some western scholars have expressed opinions that the bhagavadgita was written after jesus christ and the idea of devotion was taken from him. The song of god, translated by swami prabhavanada and christopher isherwood, which was published by the vedanta society of southern california. Aldous huxley stated that the bhagavadgita is the most comprhensive statement of perennial philosophy. Details about the song of god bhagavd gita aldous huxley, intro mentor 1951. Bhagavad gita discourses listen to podcasts on demand.