I have always believed that the Universe has too many ways to communicate with us. It might not be too soon or too late but right on time. Out of many ways, one is through books. I am so convinced with this based on my own experience of stumbling upon a book and realizing how much I needed to read it. I tend to accidentally buy books that I don’t not really want to but something pushes me to buy and read them at the right-est time, in all honesty, one such book is My Gita by Devdutt Pattanaik. I cannot stress on how I am happy to have read it.
Author’s magic
Before I start discussing about the book, I would like to acknowledge and shower my love on the author’s narrative. Every writer is different, has a unique story to present and connects with you differently. Devdutt Pattanaik stands out in terms of connecting quite accurately. Simple at the language, minimalist approach and makes the most complex concepts perceivable. A good writer or a storyteller is the one who enables you to visualize. Devdutt Pattanaik, throughout his narrative, presents you the picture. This keeps you engaged as a reader. He is any reader’s writer and by that I mean ANYONE can read and understand what he is trying to convey.
My Gita to the rescue
There are times when you are pensive and perplexed, almost in a dilemma about many things in life. You seek answers for so many questions that linger over your mind. I experienced this. Just when I thought I am lost without a beginning or an end, My Gita came to the rescue. The personification here comes from the feeling of almost having a conversation with someone more than a book. I was answered. Yes! I could relate to every alternate passage and verse. In a way, I was able to recollect similar experiences or those that made more sense after reading the book. I will be sharing a few quotes from the book to relate with my thoughts about it.
My Gita is Devdutt Pattanaik’s interpretation of Shri Bhagavad Gita which is the knowledge of the universe given to Arjuna (the seeker) by Lord Krishna (the giver) amidst the Mahabharata war. The book revolves around the Hindu paradigm but also around other religions, giving you an understanding of those too. A newbie would not really have to worry about not understanding something as every concept is well explained in the most comprehensible manner.
It connects the past with the present, thus making it more relatable for a contemporary. This also left me wondering about the accuracy and significance of the modern terms that we apply on the narratives of the past. While reading I realized that we look at the past, the times that we have not witnessed, with the present or modern magnifying glass and conclude on that basis. This might not do complete justice to the past. I realized how the world was different in each stage, thus, the possibility of needs and definitions of many things being different from what it is now. Simply, even the meaning of our identity differs. A lot might have not been the same as we see them today. A following quote from the book may explain what I mean here.
Karma may determine the circumstances of our life. But humans have the power to create their own identity by creating and claiming property, or kshetra. Society values people more as proprietors than as residents of the body, for property is visible and measurable. As a result, ‘mine’ becomes more important than ‘me’.
Devdutt Pattanaik, My Gita, 2015, p.183
Besides, My Gita is more psychological and philosophical in its narrative than just religious as it seems. I realized how religious notions are also not too different from concepts involved in these western terms- psychology and philosophy irrespective of different languages or explanations
It got me to the gradual realization that I was being led towards ‘self-actualization‘. I questioned myself, my thoughts, approach and attitude towards many things in life. It made me ponder upon those I had not thought about otherwise. It added on to my insights and broadened my ways. Many may disagree with his interpretation of the Gita but that is what My Gita focuses on, you may agree or disagree, you can be right or wrong, you are free to believe anything or nothing, after all,
Your reality is different from my reality because your body is different, your filters are different, your experiences are different, your knowledge is different.
Quoting from My Gita, 2015.
Lastly, I realized that I am a different person after I finished reading My Gita. I evolved with each reading. In the end, I started seeing things and understanding differently. It would not be an exaggeration to say that I did feel enlightened. Sharing this one last quote among a plethora of wise quotes from the book that changed me as a person.
My deha is different from yours. My hungers are different from yours. My assumptions are different from yours. My capabilities are different from yours. My experiences are different from yours. My expressions are different from yours.
Devdutt Pattanaik, My Gita, 2015, p.66
Those looking out for My Gita
My Gita on Amazon: https://amzn.to/30nlbTy
Audiobook: https://amzn.to/3h72DwV
Sapient Musings 