This post is a review about the English translation version of the Ancient Indian work of literature named Bhagavad Gita. This English version was translated by Jack A. Hawley in 2001. Hawley is a consultant and writer as well as a student, teacher, and lecturer of the infusion of new energy, heart, and spirit into everyday life. Before his career as a consultant, Hawley spent ten years as an executive in the high-tech and service industries. He studied at Cornell University and Columbia Pacific University, and holds a doctoral in organization behavior and has taught part time in several universities. In the late '70s, Hawley took his studies to India, where he fell in love with Eastern wisdom. Jack and his wife now lives half of each year in an ashram of rural southern India and the other half teaching executives and others the wisdom they have obtained. This translation of Gita is one of Hawley's most successful and praised works in his collection. The Gita, categorized as a self help book, is an Ancient Indian scripture containing many philosophical and logical theories and passages. Its message is for all, as the meanings woven into its sentences are wide and fits everyone's life, regardless of where they came from or who they are. The messages are broad and general yet still so penetratingly impactful to one's life and morals. Thus, the intended audience can be anyone. Ones that need motivation, ones that may need a push in the direction, anyone looking for clarification in life.
Jack Hawley, 2018
Its influences are wide and far, inspiring and impacting historical figures across centuries. Heinrich Himmler kept a German translation of the book by his side at all times and considered himself as Arjuna, and Hitler as his Krishna. Julius R. Oppenheimer, American physicist best known for being the director of the Manhattan Project, quoted a verse from the Bhagavad Gita while witnessing the very first nuclear detonation test in history. The book was an inspiration for Ghandi, a revolutionary for Indian culture and history. Ironically enough, it even inspired his assailant to carry out his actions, citing the Gita as one of his motivators. A seemingly small novel containing hard-hitting truths and tales about life and its mysteries, about Hinduism and what it all revolves around, about the inner soul and how to recognize oneself. A stack of pages offering precious knowledge that can be interpreted in any way possible leading to world-changing effects by ripple. That, is what the Gita is.
J. Robert Oppenheimer's Remarks After the Trinity Nuclear Test
A Pair of Black and White Dice, Small yet Powerful.
The Gita opens with a story about a grand battle that takes place in Northern India. Two sides, the Pandavas and the Kauravas, clash at what is presumed to be an internal conflict, a civil war for control over the kingdom. All of this happened due to Yudhishthira, one of five brothers of the Pandavas, losing everything they ever owned in a series of dice games. It would be known that Yudhishthira had a huge gambling problem, and the dice games were rigged from the start by Sakuni, an uncle of Duryodhana, the leader of the Kauravas. Enraged by this aggression and left without choice, the Pandava brothers were exiled for thirteen years into the wilderness, away from the kingdom. Thirteen years later, they returned and demanded the kingdom back. Duryodhana however was firm as can be and would not give up a millimeter of land. Thus, the two sides had no choice but to go to war. On the day of the battle, a warrior by the name of Arjuna, known to be the greatest archer of all time, leads the war band of the Pandavas. Before the fight, he asks his charioteer to carry him out into the battlefield to get a good look at what he's going up against. Shockingly, he sees the faces of old friends, teachers, patrons, peers. Faces he recognized as friendly and dearing to him, now on the opposite side of the battlefield ready to do what it takes to kill him. Arjuna throws down his bow, and refuses to fight. Krishna, a Hindu god, just so happens to be Arjuna's charioteer. He thinks for a moment, then starts speaking to Arjuna. The proceeding conversation would be known as The Gita.
The Gita would offer some extraordinary advices and theories that everyone and anyone can apply to their lives. Here are some of my favourites. "It is even better to die doing one's own duty than attempt to do the duty of another." (Hawley 35). A rough translation of the original Sanskrit, but approximately meaning that it is better to live your own life with imperfections rather than to imitate another life flawlessly. This quote refers to the concepts of dharma, one's duty, and atma, one's true inner self. Later in the story, Arjuna tests Krishna by asking what if his efforts of meditation and spiritual dedications are wasted due to his eventual and unavoidable mortal death. Krishna laughs and responds with, "Through constant spiritual effort over many lifetimes a person becomes purified of all desires and achieves the ultimate goal of becoming one with God." (Hawley 64). This quote refers to the concept of reincarnation and the 'ultimate goal' in Hinduism, which is to transcend above this materialist world and become eternally one with God, the creator of all. Spiritual work is never wasted. It is instead carried over with every mortal form in one's atma, and follows them throughout their journey. The human form, the one with the most opportunities when it comes to spirituality, is the top of the ladder and an opportunity for those at the verge of enlightenment to finally step across and cross worlds. After transcendence, the painful cycle of birth, disease, suffering, and death finally ceases, and one will finally become united with God. After an eventful conversation with Krishna and a convenient freeze in time, Arjuna picks up his bow and morale fills his heart once more. He is ready to abide by Krishna's instructions and prepared to fight.
Krishna Followed by His Disciple, Arjuna
These quotes, although simple at first glance, offer so much in terms of interpretation and messages. One can interpret them at face value, another can compare them to a real-life dilemma as an analogy and seek their own path from there. One can gather the fruits of these texts as peace and seeking welfare for all, another can use these texts to justify their violent and discriminative actions. The way one can take these quotes can have astronomical effects on them and the world around them. This is what makes the Gita so powerful, so inspiring, such a monumental giant in the development and formation of the world to what it is today. Thus, I encourage you all to pick up a copy of the Gita and have a thorough read at it, or just skim online for some interesting chunks of texts and quotes. It's a gem in the world of literature, and I hope you all have an eye to appreciate it for what it offers.
Works Cited
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Krishna.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 12 May 2020, www.britannica.com/topic/Krishna-Hindu-deity.
Ghosh, Palash. “Heinrich Himmler: The Nazi Hindu.” International Business Times, 9 Nov. 2012, www.ibtimes.com/heinrich-himmler-nazi-hindu-214444.
Hawley, Jack. “The Bhagavad Gita A Walkthrough for Westerners.” About the Author Jack Hawley, 2006, www.gitawalkthrough.com/jhawley.htm.
Hawley, Jack. The Bhagavad Gita: A Walkthrough for Westerners. New World Library, 2011.
Rossenfeld, Carrie. “J. Robert Oppenheimer ‘Now I Am Become Death...".” J. Robert Oppenheimer "Now I Am Become Death..." | Media Gallery, 2013, www.atomicarchive.com/media/videos/oppenheimer.html.
The Indus Civilization was one of the oldest civilizations to ever roam the Earth, occupying it during the times of the Ancient Egyptians and Mesopotamians. Thriving around the Indus River, this civilization spread its wings and stretched from modern day Afghanistan, through Pakistan, all the way to northwestern India.
A Map of The Indus Valley Civilization at its Peak, C. 2600-1900 BCE.
In Bresnan's Awakening, An Introduction to the History of Eastern Thought, chapter 1, India Before the Vedas, focused on the history of the Indian subcontinent, its various ethnic groups, theories surrounding how it all came to be, and the caste system. It only barely touched up on the undecipherable script of the Indus Valley Civilization. On the flip side, the video titled Indus: An Unvoiced Civilization covered topics such as geography, engineering, and history. However, it all revolved around the Indus Scripts. Its title suggesting a muted voice of the Indus, and the content covering in-depth information about such scripts.
Hello! My name is Shuhan, you can call me Shu, or Peter, or Shuhan, or whatever. I'm in no right to limit your voice and what you choose to say. This is my little corner of the internet where I will be expressing my ideas and interpretations of humanities. I am 100% Han Chinese, born in Fushun, China and moved to the United States in the third grade. Being thrown into a completely new world and culture was frightening and very overwhelming, but I can't be any more grateful for it happening to me. I picked up English, adapted to the Western way of life, and started living a dual culture lifestyle. I'm very fortunate to be in this position, and I have a lot of interesting (hopefully) ideas and stories to share with all of you. Thank you for joining me for this ride, stick around if you like what you see :)
