Background articles

The Dru Bhagavad Gita
Story and Foundation – Mansukh Patel
Commentary – Chris Barrington, John Jones, Savitri MacCuish
Compiled by Yamuna Loyal

A Completely New Way of Looking at the Gita

The Bhagavad Gita’s message is as eternal as life itself. Seekers of truth have been drinking from its sacred waters for many thousands of years and will undoubtedly continue to do so throughout ages to come. A masterpiece of psychological development, the Gita describes our complex human plight and then offers solutions based in the most profound wisdom. In this sense, the Gita’s appeal is universal, not applicable to any one religion as such. Everyone, no matter what their caste or creed, needs to know how to skilfully rise above the confusion of the mind and to deal effectively with life as it presents itself.

The Dru Bhagavad Gita is a completely new and original interpretation of this age old message, adapted by Mansukh Patel, Savitri MacCuish, John Jones and Chris Barrington to appeal to the person on the street. No longer do you have to be a philosopher or scholar to appreciate the Gita’s message. Mansukh Patel and his colleagues from the Life Foundation have skilfully distilled the high minded philosophical teachings into a form that even children can understand. In fact, the General Secretary of the Hindu Council, Anil Bhanot, after examining the Dru Bhagavad Gita said, ‘This is a Gita I can show to my eleven year old son.’ At the same time Mansukh assures us that its format is not so simple as to lose its appeal to the older generation. In fact Mansukh Patel challenges us to deny that this Gita has a full spectrum appeal to both young and old.

Mansukh Patel, an Indian Hindu himself, is well aware of the great reverence that the Indian sub-continent feels for the Bhagavad Gita, apart from his own great respect for the Gita. Mansukh, who has written a summarised story form at the beginning of each of the three volumes of the Dru Gita, carefully re-presents the glorious dialogue between the God-man Krishna and the great warrior Arjuna so that the western mind can accept and understand this unique relationship. In reading this story, it becomes very clear who Krishna and Arjuna represent to each one of us. Mansukh Patel tells us to see ourselves in Arjuna and the highest part of ourselves, sometimes referred to as our divine self, in the personality of Krishna.

Krishna takes Arjuna from a state of despondency and despair into one of illumination and complete, empowered clarity about his real nature. Mansukh Patel is keen for everyone to understand that this is a synopsis of the spiritual journey. We are born in ignorance of our true selves, like a child born into royalty is stolen away at birth and grows up oblivious of their royal heritage. We are here to re-discover our true heritage – that we came from a divine place to which we must return. The Bhagavad Gita according to Mansukh Patel, Chris Barrington, Savitri MacCuish and John Jones is a careful and precise map of that journey.

The Dru Bhagavad Gita is so called because Mansukh Patel, Chris Barrington, John Jones are co-founders of Dru Yoga, an international school of Yoga promoting health and well-being at every level. According to Mansukh Patel, Dru represents the still point within us all, from which everything is born. The goal of Dru Yoga according to the Dru Yoga School’s recent book entitled, ‘Stillness in Motion’ is to reconnect with the still point, because from stillness, every activity is born. Actions that come from this point of stillness are skilful, wise and discriminating. Once again we return to Arjuna, the warrior who must learn how to act with skill in order to achieve the very highest goal.

Mansukh Patel’s understanding of the Gita’s message and his ability to interpret that message for the western world is immensely appropriate for our time. This is a Gita to read and read again. And what is it that sets this Gita apart from the hundred or so other English translations of the Bhagavad Gita? Every verse, of which there are 700, has a practical application – a daily lesson that advises the reader how to apply the wisdom contained in the verse to their day. This is where Mansukh Patel, Chris Barrington, Savitri MacCuish and John Jones shine. They are making the highest teachings available and applicable to you and me, on a daily basis, in a form that can help us to live with skill and precision.

How you can take Dru Yoga home: Further reading, viewing and listening

Dru Yoga – Stillness in Motion – the definitive Dru Yoga book by Chris Barrington, Anita Goswami, Annie Jones, foreword by Mansukh Patel. It’s modern presentation with crystal clear descriptions, photos and diagrammes gives you body-mind yoga at its best, with chapters giving potent techniques for: easing back pain, building confidence, overcoming depression, gaining fitness, building vitality, meditation, relaxation, pranayama and so much more. More than 30 bonus 10-minute techniques for todays busy lifestyle.
A Call to Action by Savitri MacCuish, Andrew Wells, Mansukh Patel
Dru Bhagavad Gita Volumes by Mansukh Patel
Flame that Transforms by Andrew Wells, Savitri MacCuish and Mansukh Patel
Believe in Yourself by Mansukh Patel
Secret Power of Light by Mansukh Patel
Crisis and the Miracle of Love by Mansukh Patel and Helena Waters

For those who prefer to watch TV,
Try the new Dru Yoga DVD, with Mansukh Patel and Coby Langford – 2hrs 30mins with 9 Dru Yoga programmes to suit every stage of the day, every level of experience.
Or the Body Heart Mind Video by Mansukh Patel £12.95 contains a daily programme and many beautiful Dru Yoga sequences filmed in Kenya.
Bhagavad Gita DVD series, presented by Mansukh Patel
Living and Dying video by Mansukh Patel
Mansukh Patel in Dialogue with Young People (video)
Mansukh Patel on Relationships

If you prefer CD, highly recommended introductions to the power of Dru Yoga are:
Easing Back Pain by Mansukh Patel and Coby Langford.
Health and Harmony - Energy Block Release 1 – Padma McIntyre
Total Health - Energy Block Release 2 – Louise Rowan
Awakening the Heart - Energy Block Release 3 – Anita Goswami
Energy and Flow - Energy Block Release 4 – Susan Kulas
Clarity and Creativity – Energy Block Release 5 – Lalita Doerstel
Energy Block Release 6 – Ruth Boaler

For information on these and other Dru products, please contact your regional Dru centre.