"The Gita for Children" a book written by Rupa Pai is wonderful read. This retells the great epic conversation between Arjuna and his mentor Krishna in very thought provoking way. I feel blessed to read this book which rekindled me to read Gita in a totally different way. I have read other versions long back but was never able to correlate it with our simple life. Now I can understand that it is not a religious text but a guide to live our life in much better with self satisfaction.
The book corelates the conversion between Arjuna and Krishna to talking with our inner voice. "Talk to your closest friend - your inner voice -often and at length and listen to what he has to say".
In another chapter it explain the Arjuna's attempt to find excuses for his sudden weakness in battleground. "Its not only okay to be confused, its a damned good thing. Now that you are confused, don't look outside for help, look inside. There is no shame in admitting that you don't know what's right; in fact, it is the first step to figuring out what is".
In another lesson it explains success, reward. "Single-minded devotion to a cause - any cause - will be rewarded. Choose your cause wisely." "Success - or at least what the world calls success - does not depend on whether you are nice or mean, but on how hard you work for your goal." "Make sure the cause is unselfish and does not hurt anyone else. Make sure that you are not working on it because you want something out of it, but simply because it is right, because it needs to be done." "And you will find that the rewards that such an effort will bring you - a quiet inner happiness, peace of mind - are the long lasting". It explains very well on how demigods and demons are not very different. One can cross to divine side by just avoiding the paths marked Desire, Anger and Greed.
This is a must read book for everyone and I am sure all will enjoy The author successfully narrated it for young and impressionable audience. In her own word "I began to see just why so many people through so many generations had so many nice things to say about it. Although I can in no way claim to now fully understand the Gita, I am deeply grateful to to have a first immersion".
