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International Journal of Communication, Languages & Literature

FROM THE BHAGAVAD GITA TO THOREAU'S TRANSCENDENTALISM: TRACING A LITERARY AND SPIRITUAL TRADITION

Kanchan Meena, Dr. Rama Hirawat

*Kanchan Meena, Research scholar, Department of English, University of Rajasthan, 302004

**Dr. Rama Hirawat, Assistant professor, St. Xavier's College Jaipur

DOI : https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15860388 Page No : 39-49

Published Online : 2025-06-30

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ABSTRACT

This research investigates the literary study and the impacts of the Bhagavad Gita within the milieu of transcendentalism of Henry David Thoreau, with a particular focus on self-realisation, nature, and spiritual liberation. It explains how the Gita influenced Thoreau's philosophy in Eastern thought and impacted American transcendentalism. Important aspects are marked in the Gita regarding 'action without attachment,' 'dharma,' and 'atma' with corresponding concepts in Thoreau's ideas in 'Walden' regarding detachment, self-reliance, and Simplicity. In this context, it is argued that both texts, in different phases, advocate deep engagement with nature and attaining mystical experiences for Enlightenment and growth. It looks into the blending of Eastern and Western philosophies polemic focusing towards introspection, meditation, and the pursuit of higher truths. In linking these traditions, this research illustrates the issue's relevance in current debates about mysticism, self-consciousness, and meaning in life in a society heavily concentrated on materialism

Keywords: Bhagavad Gita, Thoreau, transcendentalism, self-realisation, spirituality, nature, Dharma, Walden, Eastern philosophy, Western philosophy, spiritual freedom, self-awareness

References

Adisasmito-Smith, S. (2008). Indian Independence: Thoreau's free readings of The Laws of Manu and the Bhagavad Gita. Nineteenth-Century Prose, 35(2), 75-109.
Arsić, B. (2015). Letting be: Thoreau and Cavell on thinking after the Bhagavad Gita. Belgrade Journal of Media and Communications, 4(07), 13-42.
Carpenter, J. (2023). ĀdiŚaṅkara's Advaita Vedānta and Environmentalism: A Transcendentalist Lens (Master's thesis, Graduate Theological Union).
Cowan, E., & Echterling, L. G. (2016). Nature's Sage: The Influence of Sacred Indian Literature in Henry David Thoreau's Walden. The Journal of East-West Thought, 6(4).
Emerson, R. W. (1841). Self-Reliance. James Munroe and Company.
Furstenau, N. (2007). Thoreau and Eastern Spiritual Texts: The Influence of Sacral Sound in the Writings of Henry David Thoreau (Doctoral dissertation, University of Missouri—Columbia).
Hodder, A. (2016). The Bhagavad Gītā in American Transcendentalism. In The Routledge Companion to Literature and Religion (pp. 298-309). Routledge.
Joshi, S. (2022). A Study of the Influence of English Romanticism and Indian Philosophy on Henry David Thoreau and His Work Walden. Contemporary Literary Review India, 9(1), 137.
Lewis, T., & Bicknell, K. (2011). The Asian soul of transcendentalism. Education About Asia, 16(2), 12-19.
Rani, R. Emerson’s Transcendentalism: A Reflection Of Bhagavad Gita; From Self-Realisation To Salvation.
Ross, A. B. (2018). Confucianism, Transcendentalism, and the" Dao" of Henry David Thoreau. The Concord Saunterer, 26, 80-124.
Rossi, W. (2009). Emerson, Thoreau, Fuller, and Transcendentalism. American Literary Scholarship, 2009(1), 3-29.
The Bhagavad Gita (2005). The Bhagavad Gita: As It Is (A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Trans.). Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.
Thoreau, H. D. (1854). Walden: Or, Life in the Woods. Ticknor and Fields.
Thoreau, H. D. (2007). Thoreau And Eastern Spiritual Texts: The Influence Of Sacred Sound in the Writings Of (Doctoral dissertation, University of Missouri-Columbia).

Cite this Article as: Meena K & Hirawat R (2025), “From the Bhagavad Gita to Thoreau's Transcendentalism: Tracing a Literary and Spiritual Tradition”, International Journal of Communication, Languages & Literature, Volume 8, Issue 1, 2025, pp 39-49. DOI : https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15860388

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References

Adisasmito-Smith, S. (2008). Indian Independence: Thoreau's free readings of The Laws of Manu and the Bhagavad Gita. Nineteenth-Century Prose, 35(2), 75-109.
Arsić, B. (2015). Letting be: Thoreau and Cavell on thinking after the Bhagavad Gita. Belgrade Journal of Media and Communications, 4(07), 13-42.
Carpenter, J. (2023). ĀdiŚaṅkara's Advaita Vedānta and Environmentalism: A Transcendentalist Lens (Master's thesis, Graduate Theological Union).
Cowan, E., & Echterling, L. G. (2016). Nature's Sage: The Influence of Sacred Indian Literature in Henry David Thoreau's Walden. The Journal of East-West Thought, 6(4).
Emerson, R. W. (1841). Self-Reliance. James Munroe and Company.
Furstenau, N. (2007). Thoreau and Eastern Spiritual Texts: The Influence of Sacral Sound in the Writings of Henry David Thoreau (Doctoral dissertation, University of Missouri—Columbia).
Hodder, A. (2016). The Bhagavad Gītā in American Transcendentalism. In The Routledge Companion to Literature and Religion (pp. 298-309). Routledge.
Joshi, S. (2022). A Study of the Influence of English Romanticism and Indian Philosophy on Henry David Thoreau and His Work Walden. Contemporary Literary Review India, 9(1), 137.
Lewis, T., & Bicknell, K. (2011). The Asian soul of transcendentalism. Education About Asia, 16(2), 12-19.
Rani, R. Emerson’s Transcendentalism: A Reflection Of Bhagavad Gita; From Self-Realisation To Salvation.
Ross, A. B. (2018). Confucianism, Transcendentalism, and the" Dao" of Henry David Thoreau. The Concord Saunterer, 26, 80-124.
Rossi, W. (2009). Emerson, Thoreau, Fuller, and Transcendentalism. American Literary Scholarship, 2009(1), 3-29.
The Bhagavad Gita (2005). The Bhagavad Gita: As It Is (A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Trans.). Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.
Thoreau, H. D. (1854). Walden: Or, Life in the Woods. Ticknor and Fields.
Thoreau, H. D. (2007). Thoreau And Eastern Spiritual Texts: The Influence Of Sacred Sound in the Writings Of (Doctoral dissertation, University of Missouri-Columbia).

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FROM THE BHAGAVAD GITA TO THOREAU'S TRANSCENDENTALISM: TRACING A LITERARY AND SPIRITUAL TRADITION

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