Tat Tvam Asi: The Universal Message in The Bhagavadgita (Set of 3 Volumes)

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From the Jacket:

The Bhagavad Gita, a great poem attributed to Rsi Vedavyasa, expounds Vedanta philosophy in the dynamic setting of a battlefield where Lord Krishna reveals the teaching of Vedanta to the warrior prince Arjuna.

The essence of the Gita is to make one realize tat tvam asi. We are really the atman or Divinity with an outer covering of the physical body inside which is subtle body consisting of the mind and the intellect.

Unfortunately we get attached to the body and develop the ego which is the 'I' or 'My'-ness in us. It makes us believe that our physical body is real. We forget that we are living because of the life- force inside us. The life- force is the spiritual energy and is known commonly as 'soul' or Atman.

Tat Tvam Asi is a 'great Upanisadic sentence' exhorting us to realize our own divine identity. To realize one's own divine status in all forms manifest in the universe is to realize the oneness of all beings.

About the Author:

Dr. Pathikonda Viswambara Nath was born at Hospet, Bellary District, Karnataka State, India.

He got his M.B.B.S. Degree in 1964 from Mysore University. He went to U.K. in 1969 and is now settled as general medical practitioner at Stanley, country Durham.

His interest in the Gita increased on reading books on the Gita by Sri Swamy Vidhyaprakashanada (sukha Brahmashrama, kalahasthi, Andhra Pradesh, India, author of Gita Makarandam) and late Swami Chinmayananda. The two books gave him courage to face the problems in his life. He considered both the Swamijis as his gurus.

He presented a paper on the meaning of Gitopadesam the picture in the 10th International Gita conference at Harrow, Wembley, U.K. in august 1994. Preceding the conference, he had a chance to meet Sri Hari Har Ji Maharaj, President of Gita Ashram of the world. Maharaj Ji advice him to write this commentary on the Gita.

Dr. Nath was awarded the title "MBE" (Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) by her Majesty, The queen of Britain for his services to the community on june 13, 1998. He has also received the "Rajyotsava" award from the government of Karnataka for his services on November 1, 2001.

From the Back of the Book:

Dr. Paththikonda Vishwambara Nath is a doctor practicing General Medicine in the United Kingdom. It is heart-warming that an eminent doctor steeped the western tradition of rationalism and scientific temper has turned his mind to the most profound set of contemplations on some of the un resolvable issues of man's eternal spiritual quest. Srimad Bhagavadgita is a part of trinity (Prasthanatrayee) of hindu religious texts. It encompasses cosmology, sociology, anthropology, the duties of man, conduct, human affairs in all relationships. Most of all, it is the most valuable treatise on psychology dealing with great obstacles such as ego and over-attachment to worldly goods. It is the shining embodiment of eternal wisdom.

Spiritual truths are not reached or attained by the workings of the logical mind. The compass of the logical mind is narrow and limited. All great spiritual truths are beyond this limited circle. They are perceived or experienced in a supra-sensual state. Srimad Bhagavadgita expounds the goals of this spiritual life. It also provides a unique technology for their attainment.

The authors own reflections on the great issues of the ultimate purpose of creation, both individual and cosmic, spring from his own innermost experiences. An author's words acquire luster and significance in promotion to the state of his own spiritual evolution. Dr. Viswambara Nath has poured into this work the intensity of it's own life experiences. His reflections on the meaning of the text have emerged from the crucible of intense rigours and struggles of a spiritual life and his perceptions of the spiritual destiny of man acquired through the language of the self,. The wisdom and the clarity of vision that these pages unfold are the result of a spiritual life, meticulously lived. The author has grown two blades of grass where one grew.

Relentless pursuit of wealth and power, not as means to higher spiritual goals and greater happiness of society but purely as an end in itself, is a symptom of a deadly disease. Wealth and power are desirable and even necessary as means to higher ends, not otherwise. Dr. Viswambara Nath has conveyed this message,. Without such values man indeed degenerates into a state of existence indistinguishable from that of animal.