The Heart of Awareness: A Translation of the Ashtavakra Gita (Shambhala Dragon Editions)

This is the most wonderful book to foster enlightenment I've seen. Get it, you won't be sorry. (See all the 5 star reviews!) A beautiful, heartfelt, crystal clear, masterful, poetic translation.

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.

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.

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...

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

The Ashtavakra Gita, as so gracefully transilated by Thomas Byrom into "The Heart of Awareness", presents the un-divided vision-end of Advaita Vedanta via wonderfully ever fresh, even playful, flowing poetry. I have other transilations of The Ashtravakra Gita, as well as a small library of other Vedanta works. "The Heart of Awareness" is my favorite by far -- and really points to The Heart of Awareness [Atman] in a fun and fine way. Via The Ashtavakra Gita [in general], the central metaphysical ideals of Advaita Vedanta ["un-divided vision-end"] are encountered in an easier-to-know way than deep classics such as The Bhagavad Gita [especially non-dualist transilations], The Upanishads [in general] and the works of Swami Vivekananda [on Jnana Yoga and Raja Yoga]. The Ashtavakra Gita seems in deep harmony with other non-dualist-favoring traditions -- such as Daoist, Buddhist, Platonic, Cabalistic, Sufian and Rosicrucian ones +++

Like new; received soon after ordering.

This book is a translation in english poetry of the great book of lifetime ASTABAKRA GITA . Its class is a Noble Prize grade in worldly classification and Bliss in Silence in Spiritual attainment . Both the original source and and the translation in English is a life changing subject matter . So much so that the day I received the book I uploaded the reading from the first chapter including the cover picture in Youtube for the public awareness . For let everyone on earth know that we all are nothing but Pure Awareness as individuals as well as One in All and the taste is Pure Bliss in Knowledge as WITNESS .In this apparent conflicting existence in the world fighting with each other in relative ego we are forgetful about our true nature Atman Absolute in SAT CHIT ANANDA , ETERNALLY EXISTING IN BLISS AS PURE CONSCIOUSNESS PURE KNOWLEDGE AS WITNESS . ONLY WE HAVE TO FEEL IT AS NATURAL HERITAGE OF MANKIND. This book if read in concentration is sure to guide the reader to that realm of wisdom and devotion from which the Revered scholar translator Dr Byrom was blessed to complete his work of the life time . On 1st of January 1886 in Kashipur Garden House Sree Ramakrishna Deva blessed the world , LET YOU BE ILLUMINED. This is the exact subject matter of this original book and its grand translation in English. It is the ever guide to Peace Station. Reverence to All .

AMAZING WORDS AND DEEP WISDOM I USE IT AS A MESSAGE OR ORACLE! ✨🙏

Amazing insight

Best buy of the year! I love this book, and have it nearly always with me.. Just as perfect to read when you've a few spare minutes in public transport or at the dentist, just as well as reading it in the comfort of your own home on the couch. Deeply inspiring, and moves one deeply into Presence & Consciousness.

This is the truth that everyone looks for. It surpasses creed, colour, race, lineage, prejudices and goes straight to the origin of who we are. The truth is not Religion, the Truth is not Society, the Truth is not even Spiritually, the Truth is you, Pure Consciousness. I find reading and assimilating the Heart of Awareness with lectures from the Vedanta Society of New York, specifically from Acharya Swami Sarvapriyananda, referring to the Mandukya Upanishad and my latest addition, Ashtavakra Samhita, makes everything understandable. If you are seeking the truth, you will find it with these tools. Tatvamasi 🙏🏻❤️ AUM_ - T. Sunico -