The Heart of Awareness: A Translation of Ashtavakra Gita (Shambhala Dragon Editions) Paperback – November 13, 2001

I never heard of this classic of Hindu philosophy until it came up in a search a few months ago. Thomas Byrom's translation is sensitive and poetic, just like his translation of the Dhammapada. Very inspiring.

A book to be read without any prejudice of opinion. All we are is awareness (God having a human ordeal).

As the many reviews in this page testify, the translation of this Gita is superb. There are many translations of the Ashtavraka Gita. This translation excels in its utter simplicity, style, and grace. The translator, Thomas Byrom, understands this Gita to have the poignancy of verse and lays the stanzas in that manner. Other translations simply render the stanzas in prose, a big mistake. As poetry the content stands out and is easy to follow.This edition also stands out in an insightful introductory essay by J.L. Brockington. This essay gives this Gita a much needed context, both in its date, author and philosophical leanings. The date of this Gita is not precisely known, but thought to be from the latter additions to the Mahabharata. Its author is unknown, but probably a contemporary of Adi Shankara.Its philosophical placement is much more interesting. Vedanta in reality is a very diverse philosophical movement. On one end of the spectrum, Vedanta believes that there is no reality other than Brahman, and that other than Brahman, all else is illusory. On the other end is Shankara himself, who affirmed the existence of the material world to the extent that it was a point of departure towards Brahman, the sole reality of all. In the middle lie the Yoga Vasistha and Suresvara. It is in this middle ground that the philosophical basis for the Ashtavraka lies.Eve if you have other translations for the Ashtavraka Gita you will not go wrong by the purchase of this translation.

Great book and very readable.Really enjoy reading it.

Great and well written book of a lesser known Gita from India. My only quibble is that its one of those books which could have probably been a quarter of its size with this having often only a few sentences or a paragraph or 2 for an entire page. If a chapter is only 3 paragraphs long why extend it over several pages?Still well made, well done and well worth reading...

Like new; received soon after ordering.

Very insightful and thought provoking read

This translation of the Ashtavakra Gita is perhaps the clearist and most eloquent description of the state of pure awareness which is itself enlightenment. The author clearly was in the state of pure awareness he describes, and was clearly a Boddhisatva in that he attempted to pass on the teachings to the rest of us. This translation is beautifully done and transmits the light like few other books have ever done. I consider this one of my very favorite books on the subject of the highest state of awareness, or awakening. You will LOVE this book!!!