Re: A Reading List for Newcomers
Namaste KH,
Originally Posted by
KasparHauser
I have sort of been reading around Hinduism so far (often scholarly works by westerners), but recently I was gifted a Bhagavad Gita in the street by a Hare Krishna - and now I feel an urge to read the Mahabharata. So which one? And what else?
It would have been better if you would have given your background in spirituality. See, Hindu Dharma is like an Ocean and many Hindus even the born ones never know how vast it is in their lifetime. Are you an intellectual type spiritual person or just a strong believer in God ? In this Dharma you will find some paths who preach entirely different and even conflicting ways to reach the Ultimate !
My intention is not to scare you away but I would like you to be ready before you get confused by listening to different points of views on one issue from different Hindus. As far as Bhagwad Gita is concerned, it has been commented upon by teachers of many sects in their own ways and you find vast difference in their understanding.
My suggestion is that you should start with Bhagwad Gita but keep in mind that its actual meaning might not have been conveyed in the commentary that you are reading. The best is that you pick up translation which is least tampered with opinions. I really don't know the best one as I found that it is better to study Sanskrit and translate it yourself as far as you can do. Still, you may try these translations :
http://www.dlshq.org/download/bgita.pdf
http://www.gitapress.org/books/gita/...Gita_Roman.pdf
http://www.auro-ebooks.com/wordpress...gavat-Gita.pdf
OM
"Om Namo Bhagvate Vaasudevaye"
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