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The Gita Way- Secret Recipe to achieve the purpose of life

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'The Gita Way' is an irreligious take on the tenets of the Bhagavad Gita. Without delving into either mythological or God-centric discourse, the book attempts to understand and explain various insights from the Gita through, in the author's words, derived theory and application. The Gita Way attempts to shed light on matters of self-realisation, and identifying and following the path to achieve the purpose of life.

Within the framework of Vedic philosophy represented by Gita, this book explores:
How to discover the swa-bhava, the inherent natural strength of our real-self?
Is my profession aligned with my swa-bhava? What is my purpose of life?
What is the real meaning of moksha, the liberation? How the realization of individual purpose leads us to attain supreme purpose we are born to achieve?

Using the principles of Gita, this book presents innovative findings on theory of prarabdha, the luck or destiny, role of knowledge and karma, continuous improvement, yoga of universal harmony and yoga of devotion. To highlight few, in chapter combined discipline of knowledge and karma, authors introduce most important part of their research—Centring. Centring summarizes power of combined application of yoga of knowledge and karma along with simplified theory of spirit and supreme spirit. Chapter Vision of Universal Form and Yoga of Liberation simplifies the meaning of moksha, the state of liberation by linking it to the attainment of supreme purpose of life. Chapters on Yoga of Devotion and Continuous improvement focus on recipe of staying on the unique path of achieving individual goal.

Unlike other books on Bhagavad Gita, the Gita Way is not a chapter wise discourse. Instead it presents deduced concepts in first place supported with relevant reference from the whole Gita. For example, in the first chapter of the Gita Way, you may get a reference of last chapter of Gita relevant to the topic of discussion.

Contents:
1. INTRODUCTION TO ‘THE GITA WAY’ 11
Development of ‘The Gita Way’ 17

2. DEVELOPING A SENSE OF PURPOSE IN LIFE 25
Goal 28
Finding Unique Strength and Developing It 32
Joy of the Self-Hobby vs Profession 35
How to Set a Goal? 39
Doubt in any form is the Biggest Enemy
to Self-realisation 45
The Story of Barbarika: Why was Barbarika Sacrificed? 47

3. YOGA OF KNOWLEDGE 51
Knowledge of Self 54
Elements of Self 56
Consciousness of Self-Identity 57
Intellect 60
Primordial Matter 62
Source of Perception and Action,
One Mind and Five Senses 63
Physical Body and Fitness 63
False Goals such as Desire, Aversion and Pleasure 64
Required Qualities in Self 64
How Does One Achieve ‘Absolute Knowledge’? 67
Lack of Knowledge is Ignorance which creates Fear 71

4. KARMA YOGA 74
Prescribed Act and Prohibited Act 76
Yoga and the Attributes of a Yogi 79
How does One Achieve Equipoise? 80
Desire-Entrap 84
Hierarchy of Control 86
Theory of Prarabdha or Destiny 88
Butterfly Effect 90
Hurdles in the Path of Karma-Yoga 93
Vikarma 95
Law of Growth 96
Ultimate Dispassion: Nishkam Karma 97
How to stay on the Path of Karma-Yoga? 99

5. COMBINED DISCIPLINE OF KNOWLEDGE AND KARMA 101
Self-Realisation 102
Wisdom 104
Sacrifice 108
Centring and Power of Real-Self 112
Power of Real-self 113
Centring 116
Yoga of Self-Control 119

6. YOGA OF DEVOTION 121
The Cycle of Liberation 123
How does devotion come to us? 127
Devotion to Tame the Mind 129
Relevance of Devotion to the Theory of Prarabdha 130
Symptoms of Lack of Devotion 134

7. VISION OF THE UNIVERSAL FORM 136
Universal Form of Goal 140
Concept of Self 147
Redirecting the Purpose of Desire 150

8. CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT ON THREE MODES OF NATURE 152
Inner Purification by Knowing Sattva, Rajas and Tamas 159
Sattva 159
Rajas 161
Tamas 164
The Gita Way of Continuous Improvement 165
Elimination of Waste 166

9. YOGA OF LIBERATION 170
How is Sattva linked with the Supreme Goal? 173
How does one attain sattva? 174
Non-violence in thoughts and Action. 175
Absence of Pride 175
Internal and External Purity 176
Steadfastness of Mind 176
Control of Body, Mind and Senses 176
Sincerity 177
Forbearance 177
Uprightness of Speech and Mind 177
Devout Service to the Preceptor 177
Austerity of Mind 178
Sattvika Intellect 178
Sattvika Sacrifice 179
Leadership by Creating Order Around 180
Yoga of Liberation 182

192 pages, Paperback

First published April 26, 2016

99 people are currently reading
777 people want to read

About the author

Shweta Chandra

6 books5 followers

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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
Profile Image for Falgun.
1 review
October 1, 2016
This is one of the best book I've come across in a long time. That's saying a lot given what it has to compete with and given the times we live in, there can't be a better time for this book to get publish. This book is just awesome. It has some really spiritual parable to which we can easily correlate to. One of the best parts about this book is that just when you think it couldn't get any more entertaining or profound, it surprises you by being even more of both. Overall a great work and presentation by the Authors. Highly recommended to all.
Profile Image for Akshita.
1 review1 follower
October 1, 2016
One of the best read of recent time,its awesome ,really something new and creative writing,Must read in today's fast pace life...........
All the best for this new writer......
Profile Image for Tamanna.
1 review2 followers
October 1, 2016
I found this book extremely motivational. It provides solutions to everyday problems and guides a way in right direction. We can relate our daily life situations with Gita. Author has done wonderful job by explaining concept of “self-realisation” and making us understand purpose in life in Gita way.
This book has given me real insights on goal-setting, developing strength and finding the right way to make the right decisions. Wonderful book, must read. Highly recommended.
3 reviews
August 24, 2016
Heard a lot about the Gita and its teachings but was always skeptical to start reading it. This particular book makes so much sense from the first ten pages that you are hooked. I read and then re read it again to see how all the teachings applied to real life.
Profile Image for Urvashi Tandon.
3 reviews1 follower
August 4, 2016
A very new and kind approach to Gita. I am glad that for the first time we aren't being religion-centric. I recommend it to all!
Profile Image for Divya.
1 review
August 24, 2016
The author may have intended to address a wide range of audience, some of whom may not be familiar with the basic tenets of Hindu philosophy.
125 reviews7 followers
August 6, 2017
long story short: Don't read if you already appreciate Gita. This book is for those who have never read the original Gita.

After reading certain good books by Indian authors about Mahabharata, I thought this book would be as good. But it is not. For starters, Bhagwad Gita in it's original form is in no way a religious text, it is a purely philosophical work so there is no need for a non religious interpretation of Gita. Just stay clear of the religious translations of the epic. If you have read the Gita then there is absolutely no need to read this at all. Just a massive waste of time. But if you read Gita, don't read the translation which glorifies a single deity, such translation I'd going to be a bad one.
Profile Image for Dhwaneet Bhatt.
69 reviews3 followers
March 1, 2022
Thought provoking book that aims to simplify Gita for the common man living in this world today. The author translates and maps the concepts of Gita in the everyday life and how a common man can achieve it.

Some chapters just make you pause and think. The explanation of the purpose of life and how it drives everything in context of happiness was a good read.

The language could've been a little more simplified.
Profile Image for Saurabh.
2 reviews
March 8, 2017
Excellent and mind blowing conversion of Gita

The book is very simple translation from Gita to practical implications of it in our real life. Both the authors have written in very nice and concious manner.
1 review
June 10, 2018
Good

Good book for general information about gita, informative and logical. Nice for beginners about mythology and people interested about knowing gita.
Profile Image for Manoj Saha.
280 reviews17 followers
September 13, 2018
Good technical and non-religious explanation - a very good effort to explain the Gita Way.
Profile Image for Mjdrean.
374 reviews6 followers
February 14, 2017
Oh that I could practice this with regularity. It makes so much sense.
Profile Image for Arun Acharya.
Author 7 books1 follower
October 24, 2016
Not an average book that you can finish in a day or two. It is kind of working through the past and present. Analyze each chapter and follow what the author is trying to say, apply it to your life (try to relate to your material or spiritual life), and then move to next page/chapter.
A bit tough mental exercise, this is a good book where the author(s) present Gita in an unusual way so that even the people having no knowledge of the original can understand concepts of life.
1 review
August 24, 2016
I have not read any other version of the Bhagavad Gita. I picked up the current book on recommendation from my professor at IIM Bangalore. The author explains the deep philosophy of the Gita in lucid language.
Profile Image for Sahana.
18 reviews
January 22, 2017
indeed thought provoking.. inspirational...of course it needs a re-reading to understand it's nuances..worth reading.a must read..the concept of explaining a holy book in an unspiritual way is worth laudable
1 review
August 24, 2016
Overall, this is a great first book to comprehend the involved Hindu philosophy narrated in the Bhagavad Gita.
1 review
August 24, 2016
I always liked the idea of performing and staying in present and then attaining nirvana, rather than leaving your role and responsibilities to reach the goal. The Gita explains just that.
1 review
August 24, 2016
The author has taken the essential teachings of gita and explained them in simple terms...excellent for starters and for one to keep coming back to.
1 review
August 24, 2016
I refer to Bhagwad Gita whenever I am confused. I find this book holds true & teaches what can't be learnt through text books.
4 reviews1 follower
June 18, 2017
Good interpretation of Gita

This elaboration with modern day examples of the principles of Gita hold true and significant for anyone who wants to take account of the greatest philosophy in the world.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews

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