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I just published my new book yesterday, September 11, 2019. The name of the book is ‘Discovering God: Bridging Christianity, Hinduism and Islam’. It is available in both kindle and paperback. Kindle version is live but the paperback version is still under review. I will add the link to it once it is ready. This book is a step towards bridging all religions. Out of 100 readers, I am sure that it will make a difference to at least 10 people. This book explains the central nerve, the essence of all religions. I have written this book hoping that it will contribute something towards religious tolerance, unity of mankind and the ability to really see that all religions lead to the same truth. I am a running a free promotion for the book from Thursday, September 12, 2019, 12:00 AM PDT to Friday, September 13, 2019, 11:59 PM PDT. During this time, you can download the book for free. You don’t have to have a kindle. You can download kindle app for android, create a free amazon account if you don’t have one, login and download the book for free during the period of promotion. Please leave your reviews after you read the book, to let the world know about this book. This book was possible only by Grace. Here is the book description as it is given in Amazon: ” God is the most misused and misunderstood word in the world. There are thousands and thousands of religions in this world but the major religions that stand out in the list include Hinduism, Islam and Christianity. Do they have anything in common or they are completely different from each other? In this book, I will show you how all the major religions of the world have the same central core and point to the same truth. I have quoted numerous verses from the Bible, Bhagavad Gita and Quran and have given a detailed commentary on them in the process of explaining the truth about these religions. I have unraveled the secrets of Greek mystery schools, Upanishads, Kabbalah, Hasidism, Sufism and other mystic traditions in the book. But this book needs a complete open-mindedness and patience from your part. By buying this book and sharing it with your friends, you are contributing something to the world peace. I strongly believe that this book will bring a change. “ US readers, click here to get the book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07XRJ3GWS Indian readers, click here: https://www.amazon.in/dp/B07XRJ3GWS

A synopsis of what follows wouldn't do it justice, and I suspect would leave too much room for ambiguity relayed through my particular lens of understanding. Besides, the Swami's notes on the Gita are most excellently and lucidly expressed. I will however take the liberty of highlighting key points with emphasis, and may occasionally attempt to expand a bit on the meaning of terms used. It is shared here in the 5 parts it was translated into. Part 1: to be continued...

A dear and venerable friend of mine wrote this wonderful essay which I wanted to share with my beloved friends here -- http://www.mukti.world/2018/05/paramam-yo-mahat.html

Gita 2nd chapter talks about "stitha prajna" in length -- beautiful words on being steadfast, unshakeable. Not letting external factors (example: as simple as weather -- seedoshna ) affecting the inner core, resulting in suka and dukha. Letting them happen at surface level, sounds easier said than done. I had a transitory experience for few days last month, it felt like nothing can touch the inside or core it was separate & unshakeable, things were happening around it. The state reminded me of "stitha prajna" from Gita. Can such steadfastness come and go? It was like I was given me free sample packet, that lasted only few days --perhaps to show me what I need to work for! Now, I want that back (lasting) and willing to pay the price. This brought up another question. When I want 'something' (anything), what is standing in between me and the attainment of that 'something', assuming I am willing to put in the effort or pay the price. The obstacles, are these karma? lack of will power? if anyone would to share, how or what it takes to attain this state. Is it tapas (austerities) that makes one get to that state? I am looking for an answer that is more than "just do the karma yoga...". Perhaps an illustration or example, how to get to that point B (stitha prajna), from point A, how some one got there.

I know that there are many gitas in the puranas. Evern Krishna has given at least one more gita. The uttara gita, I think it was given to Uddhava. I have even a book on the Bhikshu Gita. That's right, a Gita given by a beggar or a mendicant, that imparts knowledge. Doesn't matter who imparts knowledge essentially, that removes ignorance. The word or even the dictionary definition for Gita, has become synonymous with the Bhagavad Gita, the one that was imparted to Arjuna during the war. Definitely, there is charm in this Srimad Bhagavad Gita that shines among others. When I first attempted to interpret on my own, just with english translated words, that did not go really well. The bhashya or commentary by teacher's certainly help. There are numerous bhashyas, commentaries, interpretations and translations of gita or talks given on gita. Sri Adi Sankara's commentary was later used by many to elaborate. From Sri Vaishnava tradition, there is the Taathparya Chandrikai by Vedanta Desikan (something I have heard only very little on talks). I believe all of these commentaries have their own merits. Each one serves us in different way at different times. I wanted to share some of the one's that I turn to when I want to read or refer on gita. The following 3 are some. 1) Talks given by Swami Chinmayananda on Gita, later compiled as books. 2) Commentaries by Swami Dayananda Saraswati later compiled as book 3) English translation (from Marati) of Jnaneshwar Maharaj's gita Assuming you have Bhagavad Gita, in any format, in any language, I am just curious to know which one's you have? Which one's touched your heart or made a transformation, that you would you like to share with others? It can even be one or few verses from a certain book.

I've been reading some discussions that compare different approaches to the Spiritual quest. One camp seems to consider the intellectual inquiry method (aka Jnana Yoga) to be superior to others, while the other camp seems to prefer the body-mind-energy method (aka Raja Yoga). I bring up the four yogas because this topic has been addressed in the Bhagavad Gita a few thousand years back. The Bhagavad Gita covers four different approaches to the spiritual quest - The devotional way aka Bhakti Yoga, The action without desire way - aka Karma Yoga (which essentially is Wu Wei approach) The mind-body-energy way - aka Raja Yoga The intellectual inquiry way - aka Jnana Yoga If you read a good commentary on the Bhagavad Gita (or if you know sanskrit the original document), you will realize that all the four ways are considered equally good. Paradoxically, the translations of the verses on each way says "This < > way is the superior way". When one reads only one section, they might come back with the impression that, that specific way is preferred over others. However, when taken into context of reading the entire book, it will become evident that specific characteristics are also mentioned about the type of person who might benefit from any one approach over the others. It depends on the mental, energetic and physical make-up of the seeker and no one way is absolutely better than another...it all depends