Comments on: Holy scriptures… yeah right !! ??

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Sun, 25 Jun 2006 23:34:20 +0000

I have realised that there are many interpretations of the Bhagavad Gita and hence many versions of it in translated form. So my comments above are not directed at the Gita per say, in its original and uninterpreted state. Rather my comments and observations are directed toward this particular man’s interpretation of the text.

I mentioned that I see parallels between this and the Bible. Again, the Bible and what people make of it is a matter of interpretation. It is the interpretation that I see as being limited and less than what the original text/words were conveying.

I trust this is clear, and I have edited the above article to reflect this more accurately.

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Wed, 15 Jun 2005 09:59:43 +0000

Thanks Andrew. Got the email and I will be reading the document with interest.
I should perhaps make it clear that I do not wish to imply that all “holy scriptures” are ego-distorted and manipulative, such as my experience of the two texts I have mentioned.

The translation of the Gita that I was referring to is by an Indian dude that always strikes me as looking rather miserable (my judgement of his appearance, I know)… I don’t recall his name… but I understand he is the main guy behind the Hare Krishna movement. Most Hare Krishna establishments I have visited have his picture around the place.

I suspect that in all instances where I have poked my nose into the B. Gita it has always been one of these Hare Krishna editions. If this guy I have mentioned is A.C. Bhaktivedanta then you were correct with that guess. I must say I did get the impression that what I was reading may have been very much slanted by the translator, and that other translations might be very different. I found it have to imagine that such a famous and influential text would — in its original language — be so distorted. Although, then again, the Bible is by far one of the most influential “holy texts” and it’s pretty distorted (in my experience) so popularity is no way to determine if such a text might be twisted or not.

Without doubt I have experienced great enjoyment and consciousness expansion through reading and exploring various texts and scriptures. I am certainly not writing all such things off based on the one experience I have mentioned in this article.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Wed, 15 Jun 2005 08:39:24 +0000

Interesting article and so was you article on time.

If you are referring to A.C. Bhaktivedanta’s version of the Bhagavad Gita, then I have to agree with you. I take issue with a lot of what he says too. However, I have found with other transltions that the Gita is a very beautiful and divinely inspired text with a lot of depth.

And there are a lot of other ‘Holy Scriptures’ that are wonderful and direct. I’ve spent many delightful hours reading them – it’s just a matter of finding the good ones. I’ll email one that you might appreciate. I hope you don’t mind me sending it to you, but it is one of my favourites and I’d like to share it.