The End of Sorrow: The Bhagavad Gita for Daily Living, Vol. 1

I bought the full three volumes (there are 6 of the 18 chapters of the Gita in each volume) about 30 years ago. Of all the spiritual/metaphysical books I have ever bought, these are the ones I keep going back to. Every new reading brings new insights. The way I see and interpret things at age 65 is very different than at age 35.Over the years, I loaned out volumes 2 and 3, and never got them back, so I decided to get the Kindle versions so I would always have them to read, even when I travel. No more lugging around such large books. The Kindle version lacks the Sanskrit printing of the Gita verses that the hard copy books have, but unless you are a Sanskrit scholar that may not be a huge problem.I think the challenge with the Bhagavad Gita for westerners that are interested in eastern thought, is that the Gita story is an allegory. How does one take an allegory written with the references of a foreign culture, and translate the story into terms that can be understood in one's own culture? With his brilliant commentaries, Easwaran has done that for the reader. He makes the story completely readable, understandable, and relatable. You will see a couple other reviews that complain that his commentaries are repetitive (they are) and that his translation is not precise (it is not), To me, these issues are major benefits, not problems. When dealing with complex metaphysical ideas, how many of us can grasp a concept on the first attempt? The repetition and the real-life experiences that Easwaran shares insure that by the time you get to the end of the Gita, you have really picked up the essence you need. And if you have ever worked with foreign languages as a practitioner and not a scholar, you probably realize that precise translations often obscure the underlying meaning. A looser translation is often better. Easwaran was not only a scholar of the Gita, but also an English professor with a superlative literary ability and extensive English literature knowledge. This background greatly benefits his readers.There are translations of the Gita that are more poetic (Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's, for example), but the commentaries tend to fall short for a western trained spiritual seeker.I have several translations of the Gita, both with and without commentary. I find Easwaran's to be the best for me. I cannot say it is the best one for you, but I recommend you consider it. If you have never read the Gita before, Easwaran's translation and commentaries are so very accessible, personal, and friendly that you will find them beneficial. Read Easwaran's volumes not just with your mind, but also your heart. They will touch both and enrich your life.

This book is an interpretation of Bhagavad Gita, great Indian spiritual classic. This is the first volume of three volumes. This volume covers first 6 chapters of 18 chapters that are there in the Bhagavad Gita.For many people, Bhagavad Gita may come across as a set of verses which do not make much sense. There is certainly a need for scholarly interpretation for common people like us to understand this classic. Many great scholars have attempted to interpret this classic with a sole view that the extraordinary wisdom hidden in Bhagavad Gita becomes available to common people. However, the need of the hour is to be able to interpret timeless wisdom in a way that is applicable to current life conditions. Bhagavad Gita, which must have been first developed thousands of years ago, if read in verbatim may not make much sense to people of today.That's the void Sri Easwaran fills in this three volume commentary on Bhagavad Gita. Easwaran has very nicely developed these volumes. Having been trained in English and Sanskrit and more importantly having the benefit of spending his life time in the 20th century, he is in the best position to help us understand and gain from the wisdom of Bhagavad Gita. It is one thing to be able to give a scholarly commentary. It is altogether a different thing to be able to describe the gist of Gita from self experience. Easwaran being one of the great spiritual masters is able to drive home the point effectively because he is no mere a scholar full of intellectual hot air but someone who spent more than 50 plus years of his fruitful life practicing the spirituality based on timeless principles of Bhagavad Gita.If you have been wanting to know more about Bhagavad Gita, this is the set of books you want to try reading. The book is organized in short essays which take one verse at a time and Easwaran comments on each verse using day to day parables, anecdotes and how the particular verse applies to our lives today - What we can learn from it. What we can take out of that verse and apply to our lives today. No wonder this books has been considered one of the best books on Bhagavad Gita and has been translated to more than 20 languages.More information about Easwaran, his spiritual foundation and life can be found at [...].This is a life changing book. Changing life for better. So, pick it up and immerse yourself in it and see your life change for better.

Easwaran’s translation of the Bhagavad Gita for Daily Living is a great source of inspiration and hope, filled with humor and compassion. The writing illuminates ancient Hindu teachings in a way that they can be easily understood by people from all cultures and backgrounds today. Using tales from his own childhood, and examples he sees in the world, Easwaran gives meaning to concepts that might otherwise seem remote.I have been reading and rereading this three-volume set of books for many years, just a few pages each morning. There is always a kernel that sheds some light on how I can better navigate my daily challenges, both the ordinary ones and the moments of crisis. This is more than a translation of an ancient text for me – it is a practical handbook for living.

Voor iedereen die de essentie van de Gita wil begrijpen. Met de praktische voorbeelden wordt de inhoud beleefbaar en praktisch hanteerbaar.

Superb and clear, he really helps explain in language and concepts I can relate to in the modern world. Could not put it down.

I like Eknath Easwaran a lot, but this book was not at all the Gita...except for his explanations line by line.Still I read the original one and then this one. I found it very moving spiritually and although it's his view and opinions in this book, I still find it a nice lecture.But just be aware that it's not the Bhagavad Gita, but his own interpretation.

A well written book that can provide deep insights into Bhagavadgita. The Sanskrit slokas in both Sanskrit and English scripts would enhance the value even more.

There is real insight, into the meaning of life and the teachings of theis great Indian Scripture. Warmly recomend this series of 3 books