Vedanta: A Simple Introduction

By Pravrajika Vrajaprana

Book Overview

A concise, and delightful introduction to Vedanta, the philosophical backbone of Hinduism.Written with verve and charm by a Western nun for a Western audience, this brief book gives a comprehensive... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0874813735
• ISBN13: 9780874813739
• Release Date: May 1999
• Publisher: Vedanta Pr
• Length: 90 Pages
• Weight: 0.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 6.8" x 0.3" x 4.8"

Customer Reviews

Understand the basics of Vedanta...

Vedanta arose from the Sanskrit texts known as "The Vedas." As ancient as they come, the Vedas arguably remain the world's oldest religious texts. They also embody a progression of thought that evolves from polytheism to monism. Vedanta builds on the Vedas' monistic tendencies, or the idea that all things are "one." One reality. One truth. Nothing exists apart from anything else. This idea gets stretched to its absolute limit. According to this book Vedanta even says: "Love your neighbor as yourself because your neighbor is yourself." This book lives up to its subtitle of "A Simple Introduction." Everyone should finish this diminutive treatise with a basic understanding of one of the world's oldest religions. Short chapters discuss the major elements: the oneness of existence, the divinity of all, maya or illusion, karma, reincarnation, Vedanta ethics (yama and niyama), the Avatar, the harmony of all religions, and spiritual practice. One chapter delineates the four types of yoga practice: Bhakhti yoga, the path of love and devotion; Jnana yoga, the path of knowledge (also known as Advaita); Karma yoga, the path of work; Raja yoga, the path of meditation. Aspirants usually focus on one of these paths, but not to the complete exclusion of the others. Vedanta recognizes that not everyone follows the same path. Nonetheless, the goal remains the same. All paths lead to self-affirmation. The final chapter discusses the 19th century revitalization of Vedanta by Ramakrishna, Sarada Devi, and Swami Vivekananda. Through these pivotal individuals Vedanta became a practice of service to humankind. The Ramakrishna Order was born. The book closes with Vivekananda's tumultuous visit to America in 1893 and the founding of Vedanta Centers in America. Often associated primarily with India, Vedanta also has a long history in America, beginning with the founding of the New York Vedanta Society in 1894. A mere 90 pages sum up everything above in a coherent readable manner. Not only that, the entire book is readable in a single sitting. Regardless, it contains much to digest. Vedanta considers itself a fundamental and universal religion, though it by no means claims to trump other faiths. According to its tenets, all religions have the same goal in mind: self-affirmation in Brahman or God (the book uses these terms interchangeably). But they all get there in their own inimitable fashion. On this point the book quotes the Rig Veda (considered the oldest of the Vedas): "Truth is one; Sages call it by various names." Christ, The Buddha, Muhammad the Prophet, Ramakrishna, they all had the same goal in mind. Though their followers may have taken their core beliefs in different - and sometimes dangerous - directions, the essence of them all, according to Vedanta, remains unity with Brahman or God. Those with no knowledge of Vedanta should start, but not end, here. This book makes its sometime esoteric subject comprehensible to any general reader. A thorough understandin

Vedanta - The Way To God

If you want a very brief intro into Vedanta that you can read in a couple of hours this is it. If you want a more in depth book that places it within Hinduism then 'The Spiritual Heritage of India' by Swami Prabhavananda is excellant. Both books are by writers from the Vedanta Society. The best teachers of Vedanta are from that organization. A funny happened to me when I bought and started reading this book. It seemed very deja vu, like I had read it all before. Then I remembered that this came from a website online, the Vedanta Society of Southern California. This book and that website do a good job explaining the basics of Vedanta and the Vedanta Society, though not in much detail. But it's a good place to start and see if you have interest in it, then move on to a more detailed book like 'Spiritual Heritage' which is one of the most incredible books on spirituality I've ever read. Borders also offers 'Spiritual Heritage' to readers. The concepts in Vedanta go back thousands of years, but the Vedanta Society itself was just started in the late 1800's by disciples of one of India's greatest saints, Ramakrishna. It's like the Bible goes back 2000 years but a church may have just began recently based on the Bible. A beginner might ask what is the relationship between Hinduism and Vedanta. Vedanta is part of Hinduism just like Catholicism or Protestantism are branches of Christianity. Hinduism has many parts to it, many scriptures, many schools, many spiritual teachers. The Vedanta Society unifies all of them into one spiritual view in a brillaint way. The schools of Hinduism tend to teach different parts of Hindu spirituality. For the most part they all agree with one another, though there might be some minor differences they compliment each other brilliantly (I guess I like that word). The three most well-known schools today are Samkhya, Vedanta and Yoga. These aren't mentioned directly in this book, but if you know something about them beforehand it may help you when reading it. First the goal of Hinduism and Vedanta are to realize or know God. This is not taught by any Christian church as the spiritual goal. The goal of Christian churches is to believe a very strict way so that you are saved and after you die you will go to heaven. Hinduism is more than just belief in God, it is after the experience of God. If you look at books by Hindus or Vedantists on what Jesus taught you'll find that they interpret the teachings of Christ differently than Christian churches. For example, Christ talks a great deal about the kingdom of heaven. That is Jesus' central teaching according to Bible scholars. Hindus and Vedantists see that as meaning that Christ is saying each person should realize that kingdom of heaven within them which is why a Hindu will say Christianity also teaches God-realization just like Hinduism and Vedanta. But of course that is not the meaning the Christian churches get which is why Hindu Vedanta teaches the spiritual goal is to kno

The Best Introduction to Vedanta Available in English

As a scholar and practitioner of Vedanta, I can say with confidence that this is the best introductory text on Vedanta available in the English language. It manages to communicate this subtle and complex philosophy in terms that are clear and, as the title suggests, simple. But it does so without oversimplifying. I regularly assign this text to my students (college students taking introductory courses on the religions of South Asia) and they have consistently praised it for the clear and engaging style in which it is written. One student reported to me that when she started reading it, she could not put it down until she had read it cover-to-cover. It really is that engaging. It is, of course, an introductory text. I recommend that readers interested in the various schools of Vedanta other than the modern Ramakrishna-Vivekananda-inspired interpretation of Advaita look to other works. But for novices, and especially for those interested in Vedanta as a spiritual practice rather than from a purely scholarly perspective, this book can't be beat. I would also like to say that the reviewer who bashed this book essentially for not being a Christian work has utterly missed the point. This is not Christianity, it's Vedanta! It would be like bashing a book by a Christian author for not talking about Brahman, or samsara...

Simply the Best

I found this book absolutely amazing. Vedanta is an ancient philosophy and way of life, and its literature is voluminous. The "Simple Introduction" manages to condense the basic insights of Vedanta inside the convers of a tiny book that is both informative and inspiring. The book made me look deeper into my own life and ask questions I had never asked before. I now feel more free intellectually and emotionally, and more hopeful of leading a life of contentment and lasting fulfillment. We want more books of this type!

"Highly recommended."

Huston Smith, considered the world's greatest living authority on world religions, says, "A refreshingly clear and engaging introduction to Vedanta. Highly recommended."