С ommentary by Swami Sadashiva Tirtha

Professional Praise for this Commentary:

Masterful… meaningful to contemporary readers...raises important questions for reflection...useful spiritual advice...useful for learned readers, and scholarly specialists... excellent example of a contemporary attempt to make his classic work relevant for people of today who are looking for answers to the problems and meaning of life.”

- Carl Olson, Professor of Religious Studies, Allegheny College

“Finally, a much-needed and sure to be cherished resource. If you’ve never read the Bhagavad Gita, this book is a perfect starting place. If you’re a devotee of the Gita, this commentary will open new doors as you apply its teachings to our current struggles and realities...clear writing and compelling examples...shed tremendous new light on the universality and humanity of these teachings...essence of the Gita in examples which are compelling and real without compromising the power of the original. The story, so familiar to me, became completely new and completely familiar all at once. What a treasured resource this is sure to be.”

- Claudia Horwitz, Author, Spiritual Activist

“There have been many translations and commentaries on Bhagavad Gita. Each one of them highlights a life that has been not only deeply touched but also inspired to touch others. (The author) is one of those touched souls.

...having absorbed this celestial song (he) brings us this translation... His style is different to that of many others. He has simplified a thousands of year old text and has restated its contents in today’s non-sensical, logic driven, simple to use context. This translation of Bhagavad Gita is suited to such souls when they cry out for a meaning of life, its apparent joys and its apparent failings.”

- Surinder Jain, Vice Chairman, Hindu Council of Australia

“Those of us who found other translations of the Bhagavad Gita more challenging will appreciate (Swamiji’s) efforts. His translation allows us to gain insight into this great text and apply the knowledge to our everyday lives immediately! ”

- Vicki Beilharz: Anusara Yoga Certified, Owner - Woodlands Yoga.

 

For His Holiness 1008 Sri Sri Srimat Swami Narayan Tirthaji Maharaj [1915 - 2001] who teaches me love of God, humanity, and nature.

 

 

Secrets to Attaining

Inner Peace & Harmony

commentary by Swami Sadashiva Tirtha

Sat Yuga Press

New York

Bhagavad Gita for Modern Times

Secrets to Attaining Inner Peace & Harmony

Swami Sadashiva Tirtha

(author of The Ayurveda Encyclopedia)

© Copyright 2007 Swami Sadashiva Tirtha.

All rights reserved. First Edition: 3, 000 copies

Illustrations © Copyright 2007 Jayanthi Noronha

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be used or reproduced or transmitted in any way without written consent from the publisher except or brief quotations used in critical articles and reviews.

Softcover Edition:

An audio-book edition is also available

Sanskrit Reviewer: Hari Prasad Bhatt Shastri, M.A. (Sanskrit).

Professor of Sanskrit, Mahavidhayalaya, Uttarkashi

Cover Design by Linda Parks:

The leaves of the sacred Peepal (Ashwatthama) tree.

Publisher: Sat Yuga Press

P.O. Box 94 Bayville, NY 11709 USA

http: //satyuga.com

 

Sat Yuga Press is an eco-positive publisher. We use only 100% recycled, non-chlorine/non-acid paper and soy-based inks. For all our energy usage we purchase carbon offset credits, plant trees, and support our local waterway organization: for the love of earth ahimsa. See our ‘socio-eco-positive’ publisher policy online.

 

Table of Contents

 

 

Dedication

Acknowledgements

Introduction

 

Chapter 1 Realizing the Consequences of War

Chapter 2 How to Attain Peace Through Spiritual Understanding

Chapter 3 How to Attain Peace Through Action

Chapter 4 The Eternal Path to God

Chapter 5 How to Attain Peace Through Desire less Action

Chapter 6 How to Attain Peace Through Selfless Service

Chapter 7 How to Know God

Chapter 8 How to Attain Salvation

Chapter 9 Secrets to Attain Self-Realization

Chapter 10 How to Find God in Daily Life

Chapter 11 Seeing God’s Universal Form

Chapter 12 How to Love God

Chapter 13 How to Distinguish Soul From Body

Chapter 14The Yoga of Guna Distinctions

Chapter 15 How to Uproot the Cause of Illusion

Chapter 16 How to Manage Divine & Demonic Traits

Chapter 17 Understanding the 3 Forms of Faith

Chapter 18 How to Realize the Ultimate Truth

 

About the Author

Resources

 

Dedication

This book is for my students who, for the past decade, have been requesting I write a commentary on Bhagavad Gita; and for those who are looking to understand the wisdom of Gita as it directly applies to their daily lives;

This book is for all people seeking greater peace, harmony and balance of their spiritual priorities with their worldly goals and responsibilities.

This book is for all bhaktas (those of a devotional bent) who are seeking how to integrate Vedanta and Bhakti (balance intellectual and emotional spiritual development).

This book is for all those seeking some insight into the universality of religions, spirituality, nature, and ethics.

 

 

Acknowledgements

I’m grateful to a number of people who have helped bring this book into creation; the many students over the years suggesting I write this book, Ray Noronha who showed me an actual need to write it, Jayanthi Noronha for her inspiring drawings used at the end of each chapter, and Victor Simon who inspired me to actually seek its publication.

Also I am grateful to Guru Amrit Kaur Khalsa for her personal care in editing the manuscript; Hari Prasad Bhatt Shastri who ensured my translation of the Sanskrit slokas was accurate, Linda Parks who put her soul into designing the cover; and to Curt Matthews of IPG and his staff, Mark Noble, Mary Rowles, Erin McGee, Elisabeth Malzahn, and Jen Wisnowski, for their caring guidance while preparing this book.

 

 

Introduction

 

Why Another Commentary

 

For the past decade or so, many of my students have asked me to write a commentary on the Bhagavad Gita. Since great saints of the past like Adi Shankara have written superior commentaries, I saw no need. However in 2005, one of my students said, “I have not found any commentary on Gita that relates it’s concepts to my religion. How does karma relate to Christianity, and how can I apply these insights in my daily life? ’ Moreover, he noted that many of his friends also have the same questions.

At first I was surprised, since it was my sense that simply by reading the Gita, one’s contemplation would yield insights into how this wisdom relates to a modern life and religion. Still, since so many questions about the Gita remain unanswered, it suggested a need for this commentary.

Not fully convinced that it was necessary or even possible ― couldn’t imagine telling people how they should interpret the Gita ― I agreed to write an introductory essay to help readers find a modern application for this ancient text. When I finished writing, I found that I had written a commentary for the entire Chapter 2. It seemed as though there was a book waiting to be written. So I cautiously tried another entire commentary was complete.

Thereupon, I sent the work to people around the world, including the United States, Australia, and India, who had earlier requested a commentary to see if my musings answered their questions or clarified anything. The feedback was quite positive, and with some additional rewrites, the students felt they had the book they were looking for. I then set out to give seminars on the topic, here and abroad, for further live feedback. And I gave advanced copies to several Gita study groups for their reaction. People found the ideas useful and applicable to their own lives. Thus, it seemed the book addressed the issues of a wide international audience.

Still, as I feel one’s best insights come from one’s own private contemplation, this commentary is designed merely as a starting point and not as ‘the way’ to understand the Gita. It is a template, providing one way to integrate ancient universal ideas with today’s issues.

With this in mind, I humbly present a commentary of the Bhagavad Gita that may speak to the modern reader’s life experiences. I pray to Veda Vyasa, the author of this text, that my work be true to the essence of his wisdom.

May you, dear readers, find some insight and solace from this book and may you grow ever more rapt in God-love. Namaskar, the God/

highest spiritual state in me, honors the God/highest spiritual state in you.

Bayville, NY USA.

February, 2007

Chapter 1

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