'Art of Life: Timeless Wisdom from the Gita'

Online, November 11, 2013 (Newswire.com) - Carrying forward the tradition of introducing the mortal human to the ancient wisdom of The Bhagwad Gita, here's another erudite interpretation of the eternal scripture by renowned author Mr. J.S. Mishra. 'Art of Life: Timeless wisdom from The Gita', recently published by Rupa Publications throws further light on the sacred words spoken by Lord Krishna and attempts to relate their essence with the life of the modern man.

Synopsis:
Science has it that nature is run by its own self-regulating rules, which contribute to the ever ongoing process of life and the order of the universe. Here, the obvious question is - 'What's the force that drives the universe?' Occidental & Oriental thinkers alike have been pondering over this issue since eons. Based on experiments, logic and analysis, they have endeavored to derive some conclusions. Vedic sages go much beyond the level of body and senses - tackle these questions at the level of consciousness and try to establish the source of creation based on logical analysis and realization. Thus have emerged the ancient gems. The Vedic hymns and the Upanishads are the most valuable treasures given to mankind.

The essence of the Vedas & Upnishadas is the human quest to achieve an eternal union with the Atman (The Almighty). Scriptures present multiple paths to achieve this goal. The most profound of these paths is elucidated in The Gita. In its shlokas, the sacred book contains the quintessence of the philosophy propounded in the Vedas and Upanishads.

The key characteristic of the Gita is that along with being the eternal philosophy of life, it is a poetic recitation, a divine song, and an enlightening conversation. Though it's presented as a dialogue, the Gita does not render linear arguments. Rather, it's the manifestation of a very natural flow of questions and answers, leading thereby to an understanding of the eternal truths and sagaciousness contained in scriptures and eastern philosophy. In fact, Gita can be taken as the essence of all scriptures and divine knowledge combined, propagating a practical approach to life.

The Bhagwad Gita is one of the most renowned scriptures in the world; available in almost all languages of the planet. The Gita is spread over seven hundred shlokas in chaste Sanskrit and its numerous commentaries with varying interpretations are complex to understand for the common man. Till date, countless treatises have been penned down on the Bhagavad Gita with widely differing views on the essential. From Adi Shankaracharya to Mahatama Gandhi, many have related key messages and interpretations of the words of Gita to their context, circumstance and era. Here, 'Art of Life' takes the stage.

'Art of Life: Timeless Wisdom from the Gita' by Mr. J.S. Mishra, is a painstaking effort to easily understand and convey the true message of The Bhagwad Gita, keeping in view the propensities and cultural inclinations of the common man as is relevant in the contemporary world. The author has carefully selected one hundred and twenty-one shlokas which form the core of the Gita and are extremely relevant to the everyday life-issues faced by the modern society. The shlokas are presented with their core message, and relevant interpretation both in Hindi and English. The presented message is a synthesis that the author has painstakingly culled from multiple sources of the text, commentaries, academic research, and related traditional wisdom of myths and legends. This work builds a bridge between the current civilizational mind & the ancient erudition.

About The Author: A civil engineer from IIT Roorkee and an Indian Administrative service officer, Mr. J. S. Mishra has published five collections of Hindi poems-Yeh Dhoop Chanv, Yeh Aakarshan; Ho Himalaya Naya, Ab Ho Ganga Nayi; Chand Sirhane rakh; Banh Kholo, Udo Mukta Aakash Mein and Bas Yehi Swapana, Bas Yehi Lagan and four widely acclaimed books-A Quest for Dream Cities; mahakumbh: The Greatest Show on Earth; Hapiness is a Choice:Choose to Be happy and 24X7 Anand Hi Anand.

He has received numerous state honours, citations and certificates for his meritorious and scholarly achievements.