The Essence of the Gita

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As with many of the world's most significant scriptures, the Bhagavad Gita's rich metaphorical gems have been misconstrued by the masses. The Bhagavad Gita stands alone in describing the human predicament - our erroneous identification with our bodies and minds that prevents us from recognizing our divine heritage. It teaches us the way out of this mortal dilemma, and it details the paths that lead to freedom and immortality. However, when reading the Gita, one can easily overlook the profound spiritual truths that are subtly cloaked in the retelling of the Mahabharata battle.
Swami Shriyukteshwarji loved the Bhagavad Gita and held its lofty teachings in the highest esteem. He also understood that to mine its underlying message, it must be read with two sets of eyes: the physical eyes and the eyes of the soul. Disheartened by the many commentaries on the Gita that barely skimmed its surface, Shriyukteshwarji felt compelled to write a book that would help seekers access its infinite depth. The original version of his book, the Gitar Tattua, was written in Bengali. Paramahamsa Prajnananandaji cherished it for years and was inspired to translate it into English so seekers around the world could benefit from its teachings. The Essence of the Gita will gently lift your mind from the mundane world to soar in the heights of the inner divine realms.

The lives of the great masters are comprised of their innumerable teachings, practical spirituality, and selfless service. Thus passed the dedicated and disciplined life of Swami Shriyukteshwarji. To read the teachings and writings of this great master is elevating. Two books of Swami Shriyukteshwarji came into my hands when I was young: The first was The Holy Science, which is available in English and Bengali. The second was a spiritual interpretation of the Bhagavad Gita. For the last three decades I have traveled all over the world with this small booklet written in Bengali, the Gitar Tattva ("The Essence of the Gita"). Until recently, the thought of translating it had never entered my mind.
Last year, when I was reading this book, Swami Nirgunanandaji, an elderly monk in our ashram, borrowed it from me to read, and then translated it into Odia. Now as I sit to translate the great master's text, his lofty thoughts vibrate in my mind. Years ago, as a college student, I read about Swami Shriyukteshwarji in Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahamsa Yogananda. Later, when I came to my beloved Shri Gurudev, I heard a lot about him and his lifestyle as well as his love for the Bhagavad Gita. Swami Shriyukteshwarji always carried a copy of the Bhagavad Gita published by the Arya Mission Institution. In his leisure time and in his talks, the teachings in this book were his source of inspiration. Swami Shriyukteshwarji's interpretation of the Bhagavad Gita, published long ago by Swami Satyananda Giri, is still available in Bengali. Swami Shriyukteshwarji started the Gita Sabha (Bhagavad Gita Study Group) in many parts of Bengal and thereby popularized the study of this beautiful text.
The Essence of the Gita provides the background of the Bhagavad Gita as well as the metaphorical meanings of the principal characters' names and their yogic significance.
Although this book is small in size, it offers an eternal message of the Gita in the words of a great realized master. It is my hope that this new English publication will now reach more seekers and help them on their spiritual path.