Reading Recommendations
People often ask me for reading recommendations, here are a few.
Bhagavad Gītā and Yoga Sūtra-s
In the programs I give I often refer to the Yoga Sūtra-s and the Bhagavad Gītā. For miracle-mirror texts like these, I recommend studying them live from the original, where the ‘viśvatomukhaḥ’ – shining its light out in all directions – quality of the words and verses can really be brought to bear, and we can work more deeply into developing a personal relationship with these texts that are companions for the whole amazing journey of a human life and the quest for its full realisation!
One of my main motivations for learning Sanskṛt was how I understood from beginning to study the texts with my meditation teacher from within the tradition that the translations I was reading were not able to bring me as close to the original teachings as I would like. Since I’ve been studying Sanskṛt, I’ve been reading and working with these texts in the original, so I’m not the best person to ask about this. That said, as far as published, English versions go, these are the ones that I generally recommend when people ask:
Bhagavad Gītā with commentary
Paramahansa Yogananda: God Talks with Arjuna, 2 Vols.
Yogananda has a lovely poetic style to his writing and knew what he was about
Swami Chinmayananda: The Holy Geeta
Sometimes I find Chinmayananda a bit sectarian/snobbish in his comments, but I tolerate this and still recommend it because of the usefulness and power of some of his excellent, explanatory illustrations
Bhagavad Gītā without commentary
Winthrop Sargeant, Bhagavad Gītā
If you don’t know Sanskṛt, but would like to get closer to the original text, this is a useful one to have. I’ve not read this one, but It has the most thorough word for word analysis I have come across.
Stephen Mitchell, Bhagavad Gītā
I’ve not read this one, but whenever people have shown it to me in classes I have been impressed by the concision and flavour of the translation
Eknath Easwaran, Bhagavad Gītā
I’ve only read parts of this, but this one too has a nice flavour and reads well.
Yoga Sutra-s
Rama Prasāda, Patañjali’s Yoga Sūtra-s,
This version comes with a pretty good word for word of the Sutra-s and of Vyāsa’s commentary, both of which are also there in the Sanskṛt. It’s great to have Vyāsa’s canonical commentary like this and this is the one I recommend if you’d like to get closer to the text.
Edwin Bryant, The Yoga Sūtra-s of Patañjali,
Contemporary American scholar Edwin Bryant has drawn on ‘traditional’ commentaries to produce a useful commentary.
Indian Mythology
Ramesh Menon, The Mahābhārata, A Modern Rendering, 2 Vol.s
Just awesome! They say about the epic Mahābhārata, that everything you can find in the world you find in here, if you don’t find it in here, you won’t find it in the world. Menon’s version doesn’t present the whole Mahābhārata, but does an amazingly rich, evocative and page-turning job of telling the main story and many of the principal side stories that are woven into the original
Carole Satyamurti, Mahābhārata, A Modern Retelling
Published in 2015, another wonderful rendering of the great epic, in crisp and flavourful blank verse, highly recommended.
Ramesh Menon, The Rāmāyaṇa, A Modern Translation
Just as compelling as his rendering of Rāmāyaṇa. Best read when you’ll have time to enjoy it in large chunks.
Ramesh Menon, Krishna, Life and Song of the Blue God
I’ve really enjoyed this interweaving of teachings from the Bhagavad Gītā with the principal episodes of Kṛṣṇa’s life as told in the Bhagavata Purāṇa (which Menon has also rendered in 2 volumes). This is full of page-turning flavour and depth.
Ramesh Menon, Siva, the Siva Purāṇa Retold
You can probably tell I think very highly of this author. Here he compiles some rich episodes from Purāṇic lore about Śiva and his 'family'.
Devdutt Pattanaik, Sita, An Illustrated Retelling of Rāmāyaṇa
Devdutt Pattanaik, Myth=Mithya, A Handbook of Hindu Mythology
Wider reading
Donna Farhi, Bringing Yoga to Life
My top recommendation for a contemporary introduction to the bigger picture of yoga. Really well written, practical, and engaging
Uma Dinsmore-Tuli, Yoni Shakti
Amazing opus, sharing a woman's perspective on yoga and tantra and offering a vision for the sharing of yoga in healthier ways for the whole of humanity.
Swami Chidvilasananda, My Lord Loves a Pure Heart
Beautiful teachings compiled, as I understand it, from a summer retreat program looking at Chapter 16 of the Bhagavad Gītā. Very inspiring and practical
Robert Svododa, Aghora and Kundalini
Dr Clarissa Pinkola Estes, Women Who Run with the Wolves
Not just for women. Maya Angelou is quoted on the edition I have read as saying ‘Everyone should read this book’. I would agree. And I recommend Clarissa’s audio programs on Sounds True very highly. She is amazing, a wonderful storyteller and beautiful teacher.
Dr Christiane Northrup, Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom
In yoga classes and gatherings, women are often in the majority and sometimes aspects of the physical practice can impact on women’s health issues. This book was recommended to me by a teacher friend of mine who specializes in yoga for women. I’ve not read all of it, but was very impressed with what I did read of it.
John O Donohue, Anam Cara, Eternal Echoes
Jean Liedloff, The Continuum Concept
Martin Prechtel, Grief and Praise, the Smell of Rain on Dust
People often ask me for reading recommendations, here are a few.
Bhagavad Gītā and Yoga Sūtra-s
In the programs I give I often refer to the Yoga Sūtra-s and the Bhagavad Gītā. For miracle-mirror texts like these, I recommend studying them live from the original, where the ‘viśvatomukhaḥ’ – shining its light out in all directions – quality of the words and verses can really be brought to bear, and we can work more deeply into developing a personal relationship with these texts that are companions for the whole amazing journey of a human life and the quest for its full realisation!
One of my main motivations for learning Sanskṛt was how I understood from beginning to study the texts with my meditation teacher from within the tradition that the translations I was reading were not able to bring me as close to the original teachings as I would like. Since I’ve been studying Sanskṛt, I’ve been reading and working with these texts in the original, so I’m not the best person to ask about this. That said, as far as published, English versions go, these are the ones that I generally recommend when people ask:
Bhagavad Gītā with commentary
Paramahansa Yogananda: God Talks with Arjuna, 2 Vols.
Yogananda has a lovely poetic style to his writing and knew what he was about
Swami Chinmayananda: The Holy Geeta
Sometimes I find Chinmayananda a bit sectarian/snobbish in his comments, but I tolerate this and still recommend it because of the usefulness and power of some of his excellent, explanatory illustrations
Bhagavad Gītā without commentary
Winthrop Sargeant, Bhagavad Gītā
If you don’t know Sanskṛt, but would like to get closer to the original text, this is a useful one to have. I’ve not read this one, but It has the most thorough word for word analysis I have come across.
Stephen Mitchell, Bhagavad Gītā
I’ve not read this one, but whenever people have shown it to me in classes I have been impressed by the concision and flavour of the translation
Eknath Easwaran, Bhagavad Gītā
I’ve only read parts of this, but this one too has a nice flavour and reads well.
Yoga Sutra-s
Rama Prasāda, Patañjali’s Yoga Sūtra-s,
This version comes with a pretty good word for word of the Sutra-s and of Vyāsa’s commentary, both of which are also there in the Sanskṛt. It’s great to have Vyāsa’s canonical commentary like this and this is the one I recommend if you’d like to get closer to the text.
Edwin Bryant, The Yoga Sūtra-s of Patañjali,
Contemporary American scholar Edwin Bryant has drawn on ‘traditional’ commentaries to produce a useful commentary.
Indian Mythology
Ramesh Menon, The Mahābhārata, A Modern Rendering, 2 Vol.s
Just awesome! They say about the epic Mahābhārata, that everything you can find in the world you find in here, if you don’t find it in here, you won’t find it in the world. Menon’s version doesn’t present the whole Mahābhārata, but does an amazingly rich, evocative and page-turning job of telling the main story and many of the principal side stories that are woven into the original
Carole Satyamurti, Mahābhārata, A Modern Retelling
Published in 2015, another wonderful rendering of the great epic, in crisp and flavourful blank verse, highly recommended.
Ramesh Menon, The Rāmāyaṇa, A Modern Translation
Just as compelling as his rendering of Rāmāyaṇa. Best read when you’ll have time to enjoy it in large chunks.
Ramesh Menon, Krishna, Life and Song of the Blue God
I’ve really enjoyed this interweaving of teachings from the Bhagavad Gītā with the principal episodes of Kṛṣṇa’s life as told in the Bhagavata Purāṇa (which Menon has also rendered in 2 volumes). This is full of page-turning flavour and depth.
Ramesh Menon, Siva, the Siva Purāṇa Retold
You can probably tell I think very highly of this author. Here he compiles some rich episodes from Purāṇic lore about Śiva and his 'family'.
Devdutt Pattanaik, Sita, An Illustrated Retelling of Rāmāyaṇa
Devdutt Pattanaik, Myth=Mithya, A Handbook of Hindu Mythology
Wider reading
Donna Farhi, Bringing Yoga to Life
My top recommendation for a contemporary introduction to the bigger picture of yoga. Really well written, practical, and engaging
Uma Dinsmore-Tuli, Yoni Shakti
Amazing opus, sharing a woman's perspective on yoga and tantra and offering a vision for the sharing of yoga in healthier ways for the whole of humanity.
Swami Chidvilasananda, My Lord Loves a Pure Heart
Beautiful teachings compiled, as I understand it, from a summer retreat program looking at Chapter 16 of the Bhagavad Gītā. Very inspiring and practical
Robert Svododa, Aghora and Kundalini
Dr Clarissa Pinkola Estes, Women Who Run with the Wolves
Not just for women. Maya Angelou is quoted on the edition I have read as saying ‘Everyone should read this book’. I would agree. And I recommend Clarissa’s audio programs on Sounds True very highly. She is amazing, a wonderful storyteller and beautiful teacher.
Dr Christiane Northrup, Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom
In yoga classes and gatherings, women are often in the majority and sometimes aspects of the physical practice can impact on women’s health issues. This book was recommended to me by a teacher friend of mine who specializes in yoga for women. I’ve not read all of it, but was very impressed with what I did read of it.
John O Donohue, Anam Cara, Eternal Echoes
Jean Liedloff, The Continuum Concept
Martin Prechtel, Grief and Praise, the Smell of Rain on Dust
