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Hinduism Book Recommendations
- Thread starter Madhuri
- Start date
SaintAugustine
At the Monastery
The Bhagavad Gita: A Walkthrough for Westerners by Jack Hawley.....its done in narrative style, in lowdown English with explanations for words not known to westerners....i
I've picked up Autobiography of a Yogi, Swami Yogananda; Eknath Easwaran's Bhagavad Gita (commented and uncommented versions); Eknath's Easwaran's Upanishads; The Parables of Sivananda; A bunch of other translations of the Bhagavad Gita, one by Swami Tapasyananda; Srimad Bhagavatam Canto X; the Ramayana; Ramayana of Tulsidas; Mahabharata; books from Ramana Maharshi; Ramanuja; the biography of Vivekananda; and I can't remember what else. In fact I've been buying books at such an alarming rate that I bought two copies of one, days apart and had to return one. 
I hope I can read all this in one lifetime.
I hope I can read all this in one lifetime.
I posted here http://www.religiousforums.com/forum/2915236-post1.html that I'm delving into the Upanishads. I understand that the Brahma Sutras pull them all together (I think sutra is cognate with suture, via Latin sutura from Smskrt or PIE meaning to join together, to sew).
I found this version BARNES & NOBLE | The Brahma Sutra by S. Radhakrishnan, Literary Licensing, LLC | Paperback, Hardcover but I don't know if this is a good version or if I should even attempt it.
I found this version BARNES & NOBLE | The Brahma Sutra by S. Radhakrishnan, Literary Licensing, LLC | Paperback, Hardcover but I don't know if this is a good version or if I should even attempt it.
Ah, because some people are like pitbulls, and tenacious; not letting go until they do comprehend. That may take referring to other sources, and having 2 or 3 books open at once, or putting it down and coming back to it later after thinking on it. Other people, however, will give up.
Not a question of giving it up at all. Here's the analogy ... I could read 15 textbooks, 25 textbooks, on differential calculus ... it wouldn't help my understanding one iota.
For example, a person who gets angry all the time about whether or not his version of the Gita is the right one ... seems to me he hasn't understood some of the more very basic messages, like detachment, or what ever. So spouting off from memory various verses has done no more for increasing his character than say, going for a long walk in nature every day.
A good scripture is like a lifetime on the planet, and reincarnation, ... you can read it over .. and over ... and over ... each time gaining something new, adding a bit more. So its quality over quantity.
Many teachers simple say "Be still." Nothing more, nothing less. So the wandering mind runs all over the place looking for the right moment or time, or place to be still. There's some irony there, methinks.
Learning how to practise those two words is more than 1000 books.
For example, a person who gets angry all the time about whether or not his version of the Gita is the right one ... seems to me he hasn't understood some of the more very basic messages, like detachment, or what ever. So spouting off from memory various verses has done no more for increasing his character than say, going for a long walk in nature every day.
A good scripture is like a lifetime on the planet, and reincarnation, ... you can read it over .. and over ... and over ... each time gaining something new, adding a bit more. So its quality over quantity.
Many teachers simple say "Be still." Nothing more, nothing less. So the wandering mind runs all over the place looking for the right moment or time, or place to be still. There's some irony there, methinks.
Learning how to practise those two words is more than 1000 books.
OK, now I gotcher meaning.
Wannabe Yogi
Well-Known Member
For some of us it is just a more healthy activity to read books, then lets say, watching TV. At least those types of books makes you think about God.
Very true. I'm not saying don't read. I write for the same reason you state ... healthy, good for the mind ... maybe more.
I found a website with an online English translation of the Harivamsa. It's a bit messy, but its better than nothing.
harivamsham - mahaabhaarat khila parva
harivamsham - mahaabhaarat khila parva
Wannabe Yogi
Well-Known Member
PJHarmonic
New Member
Just to add a couple...
"Living With The Himalayan Masters" by Swami Rama
"Play of Consciousness" by Swami Muktananda
"The Teachings of Ramana Maharshi"
"The Knee of Listening" by Sri Adi Da (Franklin Jones)
"Living With The Himalayan Masters" by Swami Rama
"Play of Consciousness" by Swami Muktananda
"The Teachings of Ramana Maharshi"
"The Knee of Listening" by Sri Adi Da (Franklin Jones)
spiritualhitchhiker
neti, neti, neti
Does anyone know any websites from where I can download full versions of Mahabharat and Ramayana in Sanskrit. I have both in English.
Nyingjé Tso
Dharma not drama
Vanakkam,
I would recommend those books
The Supreme Mother Goddess Durga: Amazon.co.uk: Dr. Kishore. B.R.: Books
It's cheap, and a good material for devotees and beginners/intermediary. It may not interest the advanced ones in scriptures, but well, the price worth the curiosity.
I am looking into good and cheap books about general Saiva (siddhanta/pasupata?) and I am also interested to know more about Saktism. Does anyone have good recommendations ?
Aum Namah Shivaya
I would recommend those books
The Supreme Mother Goddess Durga: Amazon.co.uk: Dr. Kishore. B.R.: Books
It's cheap, and a good material for devotees and beginners/intermediary. It may not interest the advanced ones in scriptures, but well, the price worth the curiosity.
I am looking into good and cheap books about general Saiva (siddhanta/pasupata?) and I am also interested to know more about Saktism. Does anyone have good recommendations ?
Aum Namah Shivaya
Books by Himalayan Academy - The Master Course Trilogy, What is Hinduism? and more - Hinduism in modern American English, most are free on-line http://himalayanacademy.com/
Nyingjé Tso
Dharma not drama
Just to say that these books are awesome, and free, and read them. This is really must-read
Aum Namah Shivaya
Indeed, they are very good.
Gaura Priya
IRL
I have a few Vaishnava sources for anyone interested, absolutely free online, in .epub/.pdf files!
GAUDIYA VAISHNAVISM
* SCS Math, Srila Sridhar Maharaj's books; they've deepened my understandings so much! Try 'Search for Sri Krishna: Reality the Beautiful' and 'Subjective Evolution of Consciousness'
* Tripurari Swami's books are available here. He is very academic and queer-friendly guru and founder of Sri Chaitanya Sangha. You can download his entire 'Bhagavad-gita: Its Feeling and Philosophy' with translation and commentary as well!
* Srila Narayana Maharaja's ebooks in pdf
* ISKCON, Srila Prabhupada Not all his purports are very applicable in today's world, but the commentaries are quite nice, and a very comprehensive site!
vedabase.net
iskcondesiretree has free ebooks too! Try their library for pdf access to Gaudiya Scripture translations and commentaries.
Swami Gaurangapada's book collection, although some are from the other gurus listed above!
GAUDIYA VAISHNAVISM
* SCS Math, Srila Sridhar Maharaj's books; they've deepened my understandings so much! Try 'Search for Sri Krishna: Reality the Beautiful' and 'Subjective Evolution of Consciousness'
* Tripurari Swami's books are available here. He is very academic and queer-friendly guru and founder of Sri Chaitanya Sangha. You can download his entire 'Bhagavad-gita: Its Feeling and Philosophy' with translation and commentary as well!
* Srila Narayana Maharaja's ebooks in pdf
* ISKCON, Srila Prabhupada Not all his purports are very applicable in today's world, but the commentaries are quite nice, and a very comprehensive site!
vedabase.net
iskcondesiretree has free ebooks too! Try their library for pdf access to Gaudiya Scripture translations and commentaries.
Swami Gaurangapada's book collection, although some are from the other gurus listed above!
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