(Part 2) Reddit mentions: The best sacred hindu writings

I have this one http://www.amazon.com/Upanishads-Anonymous/dp/0140447490/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1381909094&sr=8-11&keywords=upanishads and it made me realize how the Upanishads went beyond religion and diktat, and are also excellent poetry and inspirational.

Vanamali’s Shiva: Stories and Teachings from the Shiva Mahapurana

That’s my favorite translation.

Other books about Lord Shiva I enjoyed are:

Lord Śiva’s Song: The Ishvara Gita

Dancing With Śiva

You can actually download this one and several other works from the Himalayan Academy . They are an organization based out of Hawaii. They follow a Śaiva sampradaya and actually have a lot of information for beginners.

The Lotus Sutra offers interesting imagery. Maybe a text like the Vijana-Bhairava Tantra will be helpful for you - that classic tantra text offers 112 short techniques by which one may transcend attachment and suffering. Sw. Laksmanjoo is the real deal.

This book was very clear and interesting to me by the creator of the Advaita Vedanta school, Adi Shankara.

Bhagavad Gita most accurate without commentary :

Most accessible without commentary

With Sri Shankaracharya's commentary

Also with Sri Shankaracharya's commentary

With independent commentary


Mahabharata

Don't know which translation of the Ramayana is good.

The Vedas are not supposed to be translated and there are no good translations available.


Upanishads with Sri Shankaracarya's commentary : Vol I and Vol II

Ah, well I have no personal recommendations other than I suggest it's hardcover.

I found this which you may be interested in. Searched for a decent and sort of "aged" or "professional" version in hardcover. Also searched for the entire Mahabbarata but didn't find any really suitable in my opinion. Since the VSL Holy Bibles I have seen, and the one I own, are hardcovers and sort of fancy.. this seems like the most similar version in the Gita I can find after searching a few minutes online. Definitely does not seem to be a Masonic version.

http://www.amazon.com/Bhagavad-Gita-Swami-Nikhilananda/dp/0911206094/ref=sr_1_5_title_0_main?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1347501974&sr=1-5&keywords=Mahabharata

My First Book of Mormon Stories?

Bhagavad-Gita for Children and Beginners?

The Littlest Satanic Bible? Looks like the Satanic Temple has a kid's thing, but it's already been linked.

Prepare her for a world full of Fnord with The Itty Bitty Principia Discordia? Hmmm... Can't seem to find a kids version of this.

I know! I know! Teach her about the ways of Slack with The Book of the SubGenius: The Sacred Teachings of J.R. "Bob" Dobbs and its companion Revelation X: The Bob Apocryphon, Hidden Teachings and Deuterocanonical Texts of J.R. "Bob" Dobbs! They don't have a kid's thing either, but such is life! (This SubGenious stuff is. a. hoot.)

I am reading the version with commentary by
Swami Pravhupada. What I like of his edition is that for each verse it contains the original text in Sanskrit, then the literal translation (word by word), then the English translation, then a reading of its meaning. You can find it for cheap.

https://www.amazon.com/Bhagavad-Gita-Paperback-Bhaktivedanta-Swami-Prabhupada/dp/0892131349/ref=pd_aw_sbs_14_2_nodl/145-1434239-9930102?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=0892131349&pd_rd_r=a2933406-f581-424b-b966-91fae30634c3&pd_rd_w=bgFca&pd_rd_wg=d6ecr&pf_rd_p=af6838ce-fb64-489e-8573-27e11ad9cf20&pf_rd_r=8SZER766A2RXECWSCQTN&psc=1&refRID=8SZER766A2RXECWSCQTN

I was hoping that the Amazon preview would show the Forward, but no such luck: https://www.amazon.com/Classics-Spirituality-Bhagavad-Dhammapada-Upanishads/dp/0915132443/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1537728256&sr=1-1&keywords=Classics+of+Indian+Spirituality+box+set

The Bhagavad Gita, the Hindu bible ,at least the version I have. It's full of visionary artwork.
https://www.amazon.com/Bhagavad-Gita-Paperback-Bhaktivedanta-Swami-Prabhupada/dp/0892131349

I had a good version a few years ago but can't find it. Just look for a version that is translated by accredited academics (usually more than one 'author'). Avoid versions like the one that is distributed by the Hare Krishnas (as much as I like their food) because it has a lot of additional commentary and contextual translation errors that affect the message.

EDIT: Avoid this one LINK and get something like this LINK. Some of the core philosophy is strikingly similar to the teachings of Jesus.

I'd recommend reading the Bhagavad Gita, maybe start with a modern translation to familiarize yourself with the contents before diving into a more literal translation. I don't really have anything on tap for Buddhist or Shinto literature. Usually I start with the history of the religion and follow-up with any mentioned texts.

The Bhagavad Gita

edit: find one with a good commentary;
this is the one that I own:
http://www.amazon.com/Bhagavad-Gita-Antonio-Nicolas/dp/0892540907

All translations and commentaries are done from the perspective of the person doing the translation.

One person's best translation is another's worst because of that issue as different spiritual perspectives are sometimes completely opposed to each other.

I'm a fan of Maharishi Mahesh YOgi's Translation and Commentary of the first 6 chapters of the Gita.

Most people hate it because he speaks from the perspective of someone who teaches that TM is the most effective way to become enlgihtened and, while he never made it clear, most meditation practices actually take you in the opposite direction from TM.

His students, Thomas Egenes and Vernon Katz have published translations of the Upanishads and the Yoga Sutras that are based on enlightenment from a TM perspective, and those too will be seen as the worst possible from the perspective of those who promote mindfulness.

.

Example:

.


Taught by an inferior man this Self cannot be easily known,

even though reflected upon. Unless taught by one

who knows him as none other than his own Self,

there is no way to him, for he is subtler than subtle,

beyond the range of reasoning.



Not by logic can this realization be won. Only when taught

by another, [an enlightened teacher], is it easily known,

dearest friend.

-Katha Upanishad, I.2.8-9

.

.

That [unmanifest] is full; This [manifest] is full.


From fullness fullness comes out.

Taking fullness, from fullness,

what remains is fullness.

-Isha Upanishad (Translation Maharishi Mahesh Yogi)


.
.

https://www.amazon.com/Upanishads-Translation-Tarcher-Cornerstone-Editions/dp/0399174230

https://www.amazon.com/Maharishi-Mahesh-Yogi-Bhagavad-Gita-Translation/dp/0140192476/ref=la_B000AQ4QWC_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1526704395&sr=1-1

Anyone who is interested in thorough analysis of BG should checkout the following book.

Who Wrote the Bhagavadgita: A Secular Enquiry into a Sacred Text

From the book, it seems there were 3 instances in Mahabharat of Vishwaroop. I have linked the relevant pages here.

https://imgur.com/a/E3km42v

https://www.amazon.com/Jedi-Lotus-Star-Hindu-Tradition-ebook/dp/B007V59DS2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1518483093&sr=8-1&keywords=the+jedi+in+the+lotus
Regarding the context of Star Wars and its relation to Hinduism,
I found this very interesting, and am reading it. :) I've always known about Campbell and his influence on Lucas, and how Cambell was influenced by Eastern beliefs. Fun stuff.

It seems a little weird to want to buy books to try and discredit some random person online who will forget all about this conversation in a couple of days, but sure, whatever.

Nag Hammadi Scriptures

Dhammapada

Upanishads

Baghavad Gita

Mahabharata

And this volume of the Vedas, though as I said I haven't read through it yet.

I also have this copy of the Tibetan Book of the Dead, which I haven't gotten around to yet.

Now, once again, please tell me where in the Nag Hammadi scriptures it says that you spend 1000 years in a Devachan before reincarnating.

https://www.amazon.com/Abhinavaguptas-Commentary-Bhagavad-Gitartha-Samgraha/dp/8186569448/ref=asc_df_8186569448/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312154644197&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=11281980824981379874&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1015005&hvtargid=pla-591596904874&psc=1

The Discovery of India - Jawaharlal Nehru

The Vedas - Jon W Fergus and Ralph T.H Griffith

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Discovery-India-l-Nehru-Jawaharlal/dp/0143031031/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1535964068&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=the+discovery+of+india&dpPl=1&dpID=51XkG9oUMGL&ref=plSrch

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Vedas-Samhitas-Atharva-single-unabridged/dp/1541294718/ref=pd_aw_sim_sbs_14_3?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=2CB9ZA1P0VWVZVC22GJ9

I got a kids version, mostly so I could read it with my children.

Illuminations from the Bhagavad Gita

The Bhagavad-Gita (For Children and Beginners): In both English and Hindi languages

It's said that the are 8 mystical powers

You can try and start the Mystic Yoga path reading Bhagavad-Gita

Lately when I travel I've been finding these... it's kind of a refreshing change:

https://www.amazon.com/Bhagavad-Gita-Paperback-Bhaktivedanta-Swami-Prabhupada/dp/0892131349/ref=mp_s_a_1_7?keywords=Bhagavad-Gita&qid=1570175403&sr=8-7

Apparently set up by a Hindu version of the Gideons:

http://www.motelgita.org/

http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/01/12/hindu-holy-book-coming-to-a-nightstand-near-you/

You could try the Tirumanthiram. There will be a section on them.

https://www.amazon.ca/Tirumantiram-Scriptural-Classic-Saint-Tirumular-ebook/dp/B01NH7OXGV/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1543361553&sr=8-5&keywords=Thirumanthiram

I'd argue that having the Holy Bible in Masonic Heirloom Edition, the Thomas Jefferson Bible, and the Tanakh is redundant.

Also not sure why the Koran gets a special shiny gold cover while most of the rest are in cheap paperback form.

>Well, that's what written in Gita.

No, it isn't. At least not in the verse that you've mentioned. What you've quoted from the website is not a translation of the Gita, but Madhvacharya's Commentary on it. I happen to disagree completely with Madhvacharya's interpretation of these verses.

I am quoting the literal translations of this verse in context. You can judge for yourself.

Bhagavat Gita- Chapter 1, Verse 32-45

> O Govinda, of what avail to us are a kingdom, happiness or even life itself
when all those for whom we may desire them are now arrayed on this
battlefield? O Madhusudana, when teachers, fathers, sons, grandfathers,
maternal uncles, fathers-in-law, grandsons, brothers-in-law and other relatives
are ready to give up their lives and properties and are standing before me, why
should I wish to kill them, even though they might otherwise kill me? O
maintainer of all living entities, I am not prepared to fight with them even in
exchange for the three worlds, let alone this earth. What pleasure will we derive
from killing the sons of Dhrtarastra? (Verse 32-35)

> Sin will overcome us if we slay such aggressors. Therefore it is not proper for
us to kill the sons of Dhrtarastra and our friends. What should we gain, O
Krsna, husband of the goddess of fortune, and how could we be happy by killing
our own kinsmen? (Verse 36)

>O Janardana, although these men, their hearts overtaken by greed, see no
fault in killing one’s family or quarreling with friends, why should we, who can
see the crime in destroying a family, engage in these acts of sin? (Verse 37-38)

> With the destruction of dynasty, the eternal family tradition is vanquished,
and thus the rest of the family becomes involved in irreligion. (Verse 39)

> When irreligion is prominent in the family, O Krsna, the women of the
family become polluted, and from the degradation of womanhood, O descendant
of Vrsni, comes unwanted progeny. (Verse 40)

> An increase of unwanted population certainly causes hellish life both for the
family and for those who destroy the family tradition. The ancestors of such
corrupt families fall down, because the performances for offering them food and
water are entirely stopped. (Verse 41)

> By the evil deeds of those who destroy the family tradition and thus give rise
to unwanted children, all kinds of community projects and family welfare
activities are devastated. (Verse 42)

>O Krsna, maintainer of the people, I have heard by disciplic succession that
those who destroy family traditions dwell always in hell. (Verse 43)

> Alas, how strange it is that we are preparing to commit greatly sinful acts.
Driven by the desire to enjoy royal happiness, we are intent on killing our own
kinsmen. (Verse 44)

> Better for me if the sons of Dhrtrashtra, weapons in hand, were to kill me
unarmed and unresisting on the battlefield. (Verse 45)

Taken in context, the verse 41 is about the perils of war within family and degradation of family values. There is no mention of caste or untouchability at all in these verses.

Edit: All translations are copied verbatim from Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada's "Bhagavad-Gita As It Is". I would've copied the translations from the website you have given itself, but the translations there are in image format. You can check for yourself that their translation has the same meaning as the one I have provided.