Perhaps nothing better captures the grand spirit of Hinduism than the Kumbha Mela, here celebrated in Haridwar, as tens of millions of devotees pilgrimaged to the holy city at the gateway to the Himalayas. They chanted “Jai Ganga Ma,” took their sacred bath in the frigid river, collected a pot of holy Ganga water and then headed home. One pilgrim, who traveled with her family by crowded bus from West Bengal, said, “We are poor, but we have enough. I asked God not for money but for peace and salvation.”
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER
| SECTION ONE: THE NATURE OF HINDUISM |
1 | Hinduism, the Greatest Religion in the World
A Satguru’s Penetrating Insights on the Earth’s Oldest Living Faith |
2 | Hinduism’s Four Denominations
Hinduism Is a Splendrous Lotus with Four Superb Petals |
3 | God, Soul and the World
Hindu Views on the Threefold Nature of Existence |
4 | A Hindu Primer
A Code of Practices, Beliefs and Attitudes Common to All Hindus |
5 | Who Is a Hindu?
Insights from Saints and Scholars on What Makes One a Hindu |
6 | Twelve Beliefs of Saivism
A Sacred Creed of One of Hinduism’s Four Primary Denominations |
7 | Hindu Scriptures
Ancient Holy Texts Revealed by God and Man |
8 | The Vedic Experience
A Bouquet of Verses from the Vedas, Hinduism’s Most Venerated Scripture |
9 | Sacred Symbols
Endearing Icons of Mythology, Mysticism, Culture and Devotion |
10 | Family Life and Monastic Life
The Spiritual Ideals of Hinduism’s Two Noble Paths of Dharma |
11 | A Creed of Monasticism
Vivekananda’s “Song of the Sannyasin” Boldy Defines the Ideals of Monastic Life |
12 | Ten Questions People Ask About Hinduism
Bringing Light to Key Areas of Curiosity, Confusion and Misconception |
13 | How to Become a Hindu
Personal Stories of Men and Women Who Formally Entered Hinduism |
14 | Hinduism and Buddhism
A Brilliant Comparison of Asia’s Two Spiritual Titans |
| SECTION TWO: HINDU METAPHYSICS | |
15 | The Satguru
Hymns in Praise of Enlightened Masters and a Discussion of their Centrality |
16 | The Chakras
Exploring the Fourteen Mystical Force Centers that Govern Awareness |
17 | Subtle Energy Highways
Ida, Pingala and Sushumna, the Main Currents of Our Psychic Nerve System |
18 | The Human Aura
Understanding and Improving Your Colorful Emotional Energy Field |
19 | Death and Dying
The Hindu View of the Grand Departure and Its Sacred Rites of Passage |
20 | Life After Death
Hindu Metaphysics’ Answers to Universal Questions About the “End of Life” |
21 | Hindu Astrology’s Lunar Mansions
The 27 Nakshatras and Their Impact on Human Nature and Behavior |
| SECTION THREE: HOW HINDUS WORSHIP | |
22 | The Home Shrine
How and Why to Establish a Holy Room for Worship and Meditation |
23 | My Friend, Lord Ganesha
All About Hinduism’s Benevolent Elephant-Faced Lord of Dharma |
24 | Home Puja
A Worship Ceremony to Ganesha with Explanations and Sanskrit Chants |
25 | Visiting a Hindu Temple
A Guide to the Inner and Outer Workings of Hindu Places of Worship |
26 | Holy Festivals
Insights into the Annual Hindu Celebrations Enjoyed the World Over |
27 | Home Festivals
Annual Observances That Uplift the Family and Spiritualize the Household |
28 | Kumbha Mela
Cosmic Alignment and Divine Presence Empower Humanity’s Largest Gathering |
| SECTION FOUR: SPIRITUAL PRACTICES | |
29 | Karma Management
A Step-By-Step Guide to Help You Effectively Deal with Your Karma |
30 | Karma and Reincarnation
Insights from Swami Vivekananda on How We Each Forge Our Own Destiny |
31 | How to Ease Karma
Using the Power of Penance to Mitigate the Effects of Misdeeds |
32 | Anger Management
Seven Ways to Tame Your Most Destructive Emotion |
33 | Silence is Golden
Mind and Emotions Are Calmed as We Observe Mauna, Restraint of Speech |
34 | Hatha Yoga
A 24-Posture System of Body Tuning and Preparation for Meditation |
35 | Sacred Pilgrimage
Seeking God, Begging for Boons and Atoning for Misdeeds at 14 Holy Places |
| SECTION FIVE: FAMILY LIFE AND CULTURE | |
36 | Hindu Hospitality
How the Guest is Treated as God in the Hindu Home |
37 | Raising Children as Good Hindus
Parents are the First Gurus in Religion and Character Building |
38 | Cultural Clues and Clues
Keys to Hindu Protocol for Novice Pilgrims to the Holy Lands |
39 | Rites of Passage
Personal Ceremonies That Sanctify and Celebrate Life’s Crucial Junctures |
40 | Honoring the Arts of Homemaking
An Artist’s Portrayal of the Hindu Wife’s Traditional Domestic Duties |
41 | Hail Hindu Heroes!
Celebrating Some of India’s Champions of Virtue, Strength and Spirituality |
| SECTION SIX: HINDU ETHICS | |
42 | Hinduism’s Code of Conduct
Twenty Keys for Spiritual Living in Contemporary Times |
43 | The Meat-Free Life
Five Good Reasons to Be a Vegetarian and Ten Arguments Against Eating Meat |
44 | Medical Ethics
Hindu Insights on 25 Sensitive Areas Frequently Encountered by Physicians |
45 | To Do No Harm
Exploring the Cardinal Virtue of Non-Injury in Thought, Word and Deed |
46 | Lighten Up
A Selection of Cartoons Playing on Hindu Nuances and Beliefs |
