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Summary: Dharma is Everything in this World
Review: Ramayana is an unimaginably ancient epic poem, translated here into beautiful English prose. It does not present Hindu theology-- to glimpse Hinduism's ancient essence, one must attempt to understand the more impenetrable Upanishads. Rather, Ramayana presents in a literary, or fictional, work all of the values of right conduct, or "dharma," that are essential to happiness in all the worlds. The story so remarkably resembles Homer's The Illiad that it is difficult to believe some ancient wandering poet did not export the story to the near eastern culture of ancient Greece, many centuries after it began being told amongst Indian poets. Consequently, the values of Ramayana reverberate throughout three millenia of Eastern as well as Western literature. Honoring your father, fogiveness, loyalty to wife and husband irrespective of the hardships, devotion to God, knowing God when you see him, rejection of earthly wealth, and reverence for all of nature. These are but a few of the values, dharma, that revisit the reader through one beautiful character after another. Ramayana is essential reading for any ersatz scholar or well-read mind.
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Summary: Ramayana
Review: The Ramayana is a remarkable epic that captures one's mind and spirit with its vivid stories, and moral teachings. It is a touching story that emphasizes on the theory that good always prevails over evil. The poem also stresses the importance of dharma. In the epic the author, Valmiki, portrays Rama as a hero with great human qualities such as courage, loyalty and honesty. Valmiki is also considered to be a gifted and well talented poet, because of this breath-taking poem. In addition, historically the story of Rama was the first poem to have been ever written in Sanskrit, and is often referred to as "Adikavya", meaning the first poem. Although this epic was written many years ago, it still has a profound effect on many cultures in the world today, and will continue to entertain thousands for years to come.
Rating:
Summary: Ramayana
Review: The Ramayana is a remarkable epic that captures one's mind and spirit with its vivid stories, and moral teachings. It is a touching story that emphasizes on the theory that good always prevails over evil. The poem also stresses the importance of dharma. In the epic the author, Valmiki, portrays Rama as a hero with great human qualities such as courage, loyalty and honesty. Valmiki is also considered to be a gifted and well talented poet, because of this breath-taking poem. In addition, historically the story of Rama was the first poem to have been ever written in Sanskrit, and is often referred to as "Adikavya", meaning the first poem. Although this epic was written many years ago, it still has a profound effect on many cultures in the world today, and will continue to entertain thousands for years to come.
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Summary: What a great story-teller!
Review: The Ramayana story is one of the most intriguing and entertaining of spiritual texts. Ram Dass tells this story with love and devotion. He doesn't just read: he plays the characters and gives life to the story.
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Summary: RE: Strange values, Awsome Book
Review: This is a fantatic telling of the tale. It is really easily readable.I'm not going to go over the plot, its best left to you to read it and become absorbed in Rama's epic. Now to the person to made the remark about "Simple Christiaty", and Hidnuism's "Strange values". Think before you judge. Christianty has wrought more *war* and conflict in its short span then most religions and it supposedly itends to teach love and charity. The myths of the Bible are no less violent and filled with "Strange values" IE putting an egotistcal god before even family, "God" killing incocent Eygptian babes in retrobution - WOW it makes anything in here look tame and mild. Rodney aka Sharr
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Summary: RE: Strange values, Awsome Book
Review: This is a fantatic telling of the tale. It is really easily readable. I'm not going to go over the plot, its best left to you to read it and become absorbed in Rama's epic. Now to the person to made the remark about "Simple Christiaty", and Hidnuism's "Strange values". Think before you judge. Christianty has wrought more *war* and conflict in its short span then most religions and it supposedly itends to teach love and charity. The myths of the Bible are no less violent and filled with "Strange values" IE putting an egotistcal god before even family, "God" killing incocent Eygptian babes in retrobution - WOW it makes anything in here look tame and mild. Rodney aka Sharr
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Summary: A great tale!
Review: This is an inspired retelling of an inspired story. Great for all ages
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Summary: A very good book
Review: This is the oldest of the books written on this earth. No other book is older than this . The sanskrit verses of the original Ramayan are so beautiful.
I was not really surprised by the comments of a reader from Arlington , VA . You can find stupid ignorant people everywhere. If she had read the whole Ramayana in its original form ( even translated in a language which she understands ?? ) she would not be able to grasp the true reality of what it says and what moral values it lays down which are always better than anything else which she might know.
Hinduism was much more evolved and knowledgeable when christanity had not even started . All religions are same and that is what Hinduism teaches us . If anyone thinks that this religion or that religion is better that just shows what they really understand about their own religion because Christ would never say I prefer Christanity because there is only one God then how can you define your preference.
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Summary: If I was Rama, William Buck could be my press agent.
Review: William Buck brings out the metaphysical aspects of the epic tale. Rama and his brother must perform a journey that allows them to grow and understand nature and the world on the way. They must overcome many hurtles and meat with the good and bad.
Two of the creatures I found fascinating is Hanuman who claims he is only a monkey and does not know any better. He is admonished and reminded if he is aware of that then it is no excuse. The second character is Ravana who knows in a world where there is no black and white that he is supposed to be an evil antagonist. But his role is important to the story and the world. The illustrations by Shirley Triest are simple line drawings with shading to give an added richness to the story with out distracting from the writing. I made the mistake of reading "RAMA" by Jamake Higwater first. That was a bad move, as I did not understand the richness of the story until I read this version. Now that I have a few more versions under my belt, I must say that this is my best. In addition, I have the audio tape now it is time to start the Mahabharata.
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Summary: A very good book
Review: William Buck's Ramayana is beyond magnificent. He discovered Eastern mythology in 1955 through a copy of the Bhagavad Gita, set himself to learn Sanskrit, and devoted himself to a truly profound study of them. He captures, more than most Indian translators, the spirit of this epic, which (along with the Mahabharata) is the foundation of Indian culture. Buck truly loves the characters and the meaning of the story. He takes a few liberties with detail, but none of these changes alter his overall fidelity to the original composer's intent. He not only captures the wonder and magic of the story, but by his rendering, shows why it continues (unlike, say, the Greek myths which only educated elite in the West might concern themselves with) to enchant the population (even the illiterate) of India, and fill it with unshaken faith in the protagonist, Shri Rama. Nothing, not the Iliad or Odyssey, nor the Tolkien or Wagnerian Rings, can come close to the spiritual and mystical endurance of this tale.
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