Bhagavadgita: The Celestial Song (Aurea Vidya Collection) - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1931406138 ISBN 13: 9781931406130

Publisher: Aurea Vidya, 2012

Synopsis

The Bhagavadgita belongs to the VI book of the Mahabharata, the great Indian epic attributed to the legendary Vyasa. It is a poetic and philosophical work which in time is placed in the V century B.C. Together with the Brahmasutra and the classical Upanisads it constitutes the Prasthanatraya, the Threefold Science of Vedanta. The Bhagavadgita came to light in a moment of both contrasts and new inner requirements of the Indian people. It contributed to the vitality of the upanisadic flame of Knowledge, while it pacified the prevailing philosophical and spiritual debates of the times. The Gita clarified the unity of Truth in its multifarious aspects, and in so doing it provided everybody, in a wise and enlightened way, the opportunity to follow without doctrinal conflicts the most appropriate path for everyone. In the Preface to the book, Raphael indicates four points which are essential to the comprehension of the text in the appropriate dimension: Traditional comprehension of the concept of the Divine. Comprehension of the moment and event that determined the birth of the Gita. Traditional comprehension of the social orders. Comprehension of the right approach to the various ways leading to the Divine. The value of the Gita is paramount, if one just thinks that it hinges on action, which is at the base of life and which cannot be avoided or relinquished by anyone, as it reveals, in a world permeated with movement and conflict, the secret of action without action . Under this perspective it can be of fundamental importance to the Westerners who are essentially more in favor of action than of contemplation.For one who is on the plane of action, not to become enslaved and dominated by activism, it is necessary to comprehend perfect acting devoid of the imprisoning attachment-desire, and to transcend individual qualifications. In fact, where the individual separating ego rules, there also are revealed its aberrant attributes which cause conflict and pain; and, sooner or later, the individual who places itself in such a condition cannot but find, like Arjuna, its battlefield (kuruksetra) or the field of discipline and energetic re-education (tapahksetra). Raphael s commentary unfolds along a psychological, philosophical and initiatory thread with specific reference to the ksatriya (the lawmakers and warriors social order) initiation. Raphael points out that under certain aspects we are all ksatriyas, because we are all engaged in a struggle, at times unequal, between knowledge-vidya and ignorance-avidya. The Bhagavadgita, as all authentic traditional teachings, is not indicating quietistic or finalistic attitudes, nor possible flights, but it nails us down to our responsibilities ( Forced by karma inherent in your nature despite your will, one day you will do that which, being now at a loss, you refuse to do , XVIII, 60) and to our unavoidable duty-dharma: that of comprehending, transforming and transcending ourselves.

About this title

About the Author:

VYASA is the Rsi who ordered the texts of the Vedas, the Mahabharata and the Puranas. Vyasa is also the fourth member of the Rsi Parampara of the Advaita Vedanta Guru Parampara of which Adi Shankara is the codifier. RAPHAEL (Asram Vidya Order) is author and Master in the Western Metaphysical Tradition as well as the Vedanta. For over 35 years, he has written a series of books on the pathway of Non-duality (Advaita). He has translated directly from the original Sanskrit and Edited a number of key Vedanta texts. His entire work is a conscious reunification of both Western and Eastern Traditions into Unity of Tradition.

About this edition

• Publisher: Aurea Vidya
• Publication date: 2012
• ISBN 10: 1931406138
• ISBN 13: 9781931406130
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 468
• Editor: Raphael (Āśram Vidyā Order)