The Wisdom Teachings of Harish Johari on the Mahabharata

Harish Johari’s revelations on the lessons and predictions in this classic Indian epic • Examines the lessons of the main characters in the Mahabharata and how each symbolizes an aspect of human consciousness • Explains dharma in modern terms, shedding light on major events in our time • Contains a modern retelling of the Bhagavad Gita, the essence of Indian philosophy • Includes teachings on the relationship between energy, the elements, and the chakras and on the causes for war in this epic story • Compiled and Edited by Wil Geraets Harish Johari (1934-1999), the distinguished North Indian author and Tantric scholar, spent a lifetime studying the Mahabharata and the lessons it contains. Known the world over for its famous chapters on the story of the hero Arjuna and the Bhagavad Gita, this ancient epic is more than just stories. As Johari reveals, the Mahabharata’s teaching tales contain insight on justice and injustice, individual and cosmic consciousness, Indian philosophy, and the four eras of humankind, including our current era, the Kali Yuga. Based on numerous talks given by Johari, this book presents the deeper layers of the Mahabharata, revealing its wisdom and teachings in a contemporary and often entertaining way. Examining the lessons of the main characters and how each symbolizes an aspect of human consciousness, Johari explores the lives of Bhishma and Arjuna, the events in the Pandava and Kaurava families leading up to their battle at Kurukshetra, lesser-known stories such as the tale of Karna’s previous life as a demon, and a modern retelling of the Bhagavad Gita. Johari explains the complex concept of dharma in present-day language, shedding light on events unfolding in our current age, the Kali Yuga, and offers insights on the relationship between energy, the elements, and the chakras and on the causes for war in this epic story.

Table of Contents:
Preface Acknowledgments Introduction Part One Setting the Scene 1 Dharma in the Mahabharata and in Life 2 The Four Ages of Time 3 Power and Penance 4 Wish-fulfilling Trees and Cows 5 Curses and Promises Part Two The Story of “Great India” 6 Shantanu, Ganga, and the Birth of Bhishma 7 Satyavati, Shantanu, and Bhishma’s Terrible Vow 8 Tangled Dynasty 9 The Birth and Abandonment of Karna 10 Birth of the Kauravas and Pandavas 11 Drona, Drupada, and the Legacy of Revenge 12 How the Pandavas Got Married 13 Yudhishthira Gambles and Loses Everything 14 Forest Exile 15 Devayani and Kacha 16 Arjuna in Heaven 17 Preparations for War Part Three The Bhagavad Gita 18 Arjuna Refuses to Fight 19 Fighting for Justice and Truth 20 Krishna Shows Arjuna His Glorious Shape Part Four War and Its Aftermath 21 The Start of the War 22 Corpses of Three Generations 23 Kunti Loses Her First Son 24 Duryodhana’s Defeat 25 Picking Up the Pieces 26 Arrival of Kali Yuga Epilogue: Mahabharata and the Game of Life Index About Harish Johari

About the Author :
Wil Geraets (1956–2021) became a student of Harish Johari in 1978. He began transcribing his teacher's talks as a way to cope with Johari’s death in 1999. A scientific researcher with a Ph.D. in experimental physics, he lived in the Netherlands.

Review :
“. . . very strongly recommended, core addition to personal and academic library collections on Hinduism and Indian Philosophy in genera, and the works of Harish Johari in particular.”