:: March/April 2005 Volume 4/Number 2

Media Reviews: Books

Reviewed by Marie Black and Julie Deife

Paths to God: Living the Bhagavad Gita By Ram Dass Harmony Books, New York 2004

The Bhagavad Gita, part of the epic Mahabharata, is one of India’s classical texts for leading a spiritual life. Literally hundreds, maybe thousands, of translations of the Gita are available but probably none of them make you laugh out loud like this one. But then, Ram Dass has never been known to do anything in an orthodox manner.

Never have I had so much fun with “The Song of God,” learning the lessons that Krishna imparts to Arjuna on the famous battlefield of Kurukshetra. Ram Dass is simply a great storyteller and in 1974 when he presented a series of lectures, on which this book is based, at the newly established Naropa Institue (now Naropa University), he was feeling his oats. So for those of us who listened to him lecture during those wild years of the 70s and early 80s, reading “Paths to God” is hearing his voice once again, as it was then.

Fundamental to this one of a kind narration, is that Ram Dass’ guru, Maharajii, is quite possibly the central figure here. Just as in the Gita Krishna finally gets Arjuna to see and understand Brahman, the “unknowable, unmeasurable, indefinable,” so did Majarajii through various antics reveal Brahman for Ram Dass, enabling this superb interpretation.
Karma and reincarnation, karma yoga, jnana yoga, sacrifice and mantra, renunciation and purification, devotion and dying are all made real not only through the cast of characters in the Gita, but through the experiences of Ram Dass’ life and his own supporting cast members, like Timothy Leary. Ram Dass says that this is a “symbological study of all human interactions,” and he invites us to explore our own lives by shamelessly revealing how he arrived on the path to God.

For Ram Dass, dare I say, “devotees,” there will be great pleasure in reading “Paths to God.” For others who have feared opening a Gita, now’s your chance.
—Julie Deife

The Gherandha Samhita Translated By James Mallinson yogavidya.com, 2004

Yoga is not merely an oral tradition, passed from teacher to student. There is also a wealth of written wisdom in Sanskrit. For those of us not fluent in the ancient sacred tongue, there are a number of English translations of yoga’s source texts that describe the practices. The available editions vary in quality of their translation and accessibility of the language. Now entering onto the yoga text scene is a new version of the important medieval Hatha Yoga text The Gherandha Samhita, translated by James Mallinson.

The Gherandha Samhita describes seven limbs or aspects of the practice. These are: kriyas, or cleansing techniques; asana for developing strength; mudras physical positions for cultivating steadiness; methods for practicing pratyahara, control of the mind which brings calmness; pranayama, or use of breath, which clears the mind and creates lightness; dhyana, concentration to focus the mind and allow a person to find self-realization; and samadhi, the ultimate reunion with the divine nature.

Mallinson’s translation of The Gherandha Samhita includes the Sanskrit Devanagari script paired with clear, succinct English verses. The translation is lucid, making the threads of the teaching easy to understand. But even with the clarity of the written word, a teacher is vital for interpretation.
For illumination, Mallison includes a collection of full-page photographs demonstrating the asana or mudra as described in the text. These photos are an asset to this version. All 32 mentioned asana are illustrated, while only some mudras are depicted.

Lest the reader think that there are 32 asana only, Shiva himself is quoted, asserting that there are as many postures as there are living beings; Shiva taught 8,400,000. Of these, 84 are preeminent, and 32 invaluable for mortals. This new translation of the Gherandha Samhita itself is invaluable for students seeking an accessible entry into the written tradition of yoga practice.
—Felicia M. Tomasko

Managing Expectations and Comparisons: A guide to go Beyond Stress By Athmo Moksha publications 2004

This beginner’s meditation guide sets out with an intriguing and helpful definition of stress. Athmo tells us that stress is “the difference between what is and what is expected.” He explains that both expectations and comparisons keep our heads busy with chatter about the future and the past, away from the moment and that most of today’s diseases stem from this agitated state.

Throughout the book, Athmo combines photographs, poetry, quotes from masters of various lineages, Qi-gong exercises, yogasanas and some western science to explain how to unwind and be more present. His instructions are simple and non-threatening. The font is large and easy to read and at times I flipped through the pages just to read the quotes and enjoy the pictures.

Unfortunately though, as a long-time yoga practitioner and teacher I found most of his explanations too basic. His less than average performance of the yoga asanas while non-threatening was also uninspiring. Moreover, Athmo covers too large a range of topics: physiology of digestion, ayurvedic theory, meditation principles, the education system, sports philosophy and more, without much depth or penetration. His very basic more-is-less style leads me to question the author’s mastery of any of these topics.

Furthermore, throughout the work Athmo uses hollow analogies creating a mood of alienation rather than warmth and understanding. For example, he asks readers to “imagine cleaning dirt off a table in the dark” or to “imagine driving without headlights.” A more concrete approach using examples readers can relate to would have made the book more practical and less remote and theoretical.

The most compelling chapter was his personal story of transformation from alcoholic to Osho devotee and a meditative life path. Fortunately, at times Athmo was able to abandon his meditation teacher affectations and refreshingly he then became more personable.
—Laura Faye

Peace Is The Way By Deepak Chopra Harmony Books, 2004

Peace is the Way is the most personal heartfelt revealing book Deepak Chopra has ever written. He has always been a truth teller and incredibly present; now he is human, opinionated and just slightly pissed.

But as he himself says in this (by my count) his 39th book, “Moral outrage has little power to change a hierarchy.”
So instead Chopra embarks on a logical, rational only marginally mystical 250 page essay describing the old hierarchy that got us to this point and the new hierarchy that can lead us home. The new hierarchy is dependent on you and the way you live, breath, think and act – moment to moment.

There is of course the Seven Step plan. But it is a really a side bar, Chopra here is really more like a yogic Tom Friedman, the incredibly astute New York Times Foreign affairs columnist. Chopra delves into the politics of Iraq, the Bush Presidency and the “entanglements” of everything one with the other; greed, fossil fuels, terrorism, famine, war, life styles of the rich and famous - all are interconnected he tells us – a giant “tangle of matter and energy.” There is no “way” to untangle them, just as there is no “way” to peace; “peace is the way”, as he tells us throughout, a phrase he borrows from Gandhi.

Jesus and Buddha, Chopra tells us, “were primarily thinkers who believed that their mental process could alter reality.” Now it is up to each of us to do the same – each of us. This is not a movement, this is an individual personal act, an everyday act we perform from our heart without anyone looking.

I have always considered Chopra something of a genius, a kind of Beethoven at explaining consciousness from the stage. Now he has taken off his Master’s Hat, set his baton aside and handed the world of unlimited potential to his heirs in Quantum Physics. Reading this book one feels like you are really with Chopra your next door neighbor.

It is as though he said to himself, “enough is enough,” I’m tired of beating around the bush, I’ve tried hard science, I’ve tried fairy tales, I’ve tried coaxing you though Seven Steps to success, I’ve even tried tying spirituality to golf – there is a war going on - America is in trouble, the world is in trouble, we have the power, let’s apply it to the only thing that really matters right now – peace.
—Bob Belinoff

 

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