Guest guest Posted April 4, 2004 Report Share Posted April 4, 2004 Om Namah Shivaya, I have been a member of this group for a while, but this is my first post. Recently, there was some talk within the group about reading or not reading scriptures. I would like some guidance, because I am very interested in studying the Bhagavad Gita and Vedanta as a whole. While I would like to attend a class, I do not know of any in my area. I am also very interested in studying the Devi Mahatyam, but again I am faced with the same issue. Should I ask Amma about this? Are reading scriptures necessary on the path? If someone out there has a suggestion, I would love to hear it. Thanks so much! Vimala Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 4, 2004 Report Share Posted April 4, 2004 Om Namah Shivaya Vimala, Amma has says in Awaken Children Vol. 1 or 2 (I forget wich exactly, but I've only read those two) that if we read only one scripture it should be the Srimad Baghvatam, especially the part about Krishna. She said we will find everything we need to know in that portion of the text. A member of this group recently sent me a copy of a very readable version by a female scholar in India. I like this one because it is not a translation by another guru/Satguru with their own set of teachings included. Not that those teachings aren't relevant, but each path is slightly different in the gross sense and I prefer to stick with Amma's teachings. This one simply tells the story, in easy to understand English, without commentary. I recommend it! Srimad Bhagavatam Kamala Subramaniam Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan (Publishers) You might be able to buy it here, but the copy I got was only $20: http://www.bluedove.com/Hindu_Srimad.htm The Bhagavad Gita is VERY readable, VERY short and VERY perfect in its teaching of vedanta. It's the first scripture I've read and it's stuck with me the longest. I have heard by many on this list that a good version is the one translated by Christopher Isherwood. I have it, but haven't read it yet. I've read the one by Stephen Mitchell. I did get a good copy of the Devi Gita, but haven't read it yet. I thought I'd want to devour it, being a follower of Devi, but I find that reading the Amma books has everything I need. Devi is HERE for us NOW, so I don't feel pressed to read the Devi Gita. I highly recommend the Awaken Children series of Amma books. She uses so many examples from Vedanta that you can't help but pick it up. If you read the Baghavad Gita, and the Kirshna part of the Srimad Baghavatam, you'll have a reference for many of her examples in Awaken Children. Coincidentally, I read the Gospels in the Christian New Testament recently and found it VERY moving and relevant for my day-to-day attitude in life. I hope this helps. Om Namah Shivaya, Gabriela Small Business $15K Web Design Giveaway http://promotions./design_giveaway/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 4, 2004 Report Share Posted April 4, 2004 I have Stephen Mitchell's Bhagavad Gita too, and it IS a beautiful translation. I read from it to my students frequently. I especially like his translation of Chapter 11, where Krishna reveals himself. "With innumerable mouths and eyes, faces too marvelous to stare at, dazzling ornaments, innumerable weapons uplifted, flaming- crowned with fire, wrapped in pure light, with celestial fragrance, he stood forth as the infinite God, composed of all wonders. If a thousand suns were to rise and stand in the noon sky, blazing, such brilliance would be like the fierce brilliance of that mighty Self. Arjuna saw the whole universe enfolded, with it's countless billions of life-forms, gathered together in the body of the God of gods." --- Gabriela Rios <gabriela1027 wrote: > Om Namah Shivaya Vimala, > > Amma has says in Awaken Children Vol. 1 or 2 (I > forget > wich exactly, but I've only read those two) that if > we > read only one scripture it should be the Srimad > Baghvatam, especially the part about Krishna. She > said > we will find everything we need to know in that > portion of the text. > > A member of this group recently sent me a copy of a > very readable version by a female scholar in India. > I > like this one because it is not a translation by > another guru/Satguru with their own set of teachings > included. Not that those teachings aren't relevant, > but each path is slightly different in the gross > sense > and I prefer to stick with Amma's teachings. This > one > simply tells the story, in easy to understand > English, > without commentary. I recommend it! > > Srimad Bhagavatam > Kamala Subramaniam > Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan (Publishers) > You might be able to buy it here, but the copy I got > was only $20: > http://www.bluedove.com/Hindu_Srimad.htm > > The Bhagavad Gita is VERY readable, VERY short and > VERY perfect in its teaching of vedanta. It's the > first scripture I've read and it's stuck with me the > longest. > > I have heard by many on this list that a good > version > is the one translated by Christopher Isherwood. I > have > it, but haven't read it yet. I've read the one by > Stephen Mitchell. > > I did get a good copy of the Devi Gita, but haven't > read it yet. I thought I'd want to devour it, being > a > follower of Devi, but I find that reading the Amma > books has everything I need. Devi is HERE for us > NOW, > so I don't feel pressed to read the Devi Gita. > > I highly recommend the Awaken Children series of > Amma > books. She uses so many examples from Vedanta that > you > can't help but pick it up. If you read the Baghavad > Gita, and the Kirshna part of the Srimad Baghavatam, > you'll have a reference for many of her examples in > Awaken Children. > > Coincidentally, I read the Gospels in the Christian > New Testament recently and found it VERY moving and > relevant for my day-to-day attitude in life. > > I hope this helps. > Om Namah Shivaya, > Gabriela > > > > > Small Business $15K Web Design Giveaway > http://promotions./design_giveaway/ > Small Business $15K Web Design Giveaway http://promotions./design_giveaway/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 4, 2004 Report Share Posted April 4, 2004 Om Namah Shivaya - That IS INCREDIBLE! Thank you for reminding me that I need to read it again. > > "With innumerable mouths and eyes, > faces too marvelous to stare at, > dazzling ornaments, innumerable > weapons uplifted, flaming- > > crowned with fire, wrapped > in pure light, with celestial fragrance, > he stood forth as the infinite > God, composed of all wonders. > > If a thousand suns were to rise > and stand in the noon sky, blazing, > such brilliance would be like the fierce > brilliance of that mighty Self. > > Arjuna saw the whole universe > enfolded, with it's countless billions > of life-forms, gathered together > in the body of the God of gods." Small Business $15K Web Design Giveaway http://promotions./design_giveaway/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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