Author: David Frawley
Publisher: Voice of India
Year: 2010
Language: English
Pages: 214
ISBN/UPC (if available): 9788185990897
Description
Hinduism is the world's oldest religion, the third largest Religion in the World in terms of the number of its followers, and the largest of the non-Biblical traditions. It has the largest number of temples, Sacred sites, festivals, philosophical texts, Monks and Yoga practitioners of any religion.
Yet Hinduism is wrongly denigrated as a narrow Ethnic belief that one has to be born into in order to follow and which has Little relevance outside of India. Though Hinduism is the largest pluralistic Spiritual Tradition in the world, embracing the whole of human spiritual aspiration since the Beginning of time, yet it is denigrated as polytheism, if not mere superstition.
Hinduism remains the most misunderstood and denigrated of the world's great religions, though it has a genuine claim to be the greatest or most comprehensive of them all.
Universal Hinduism presents a dynamic view of this venerable tradition as a religion, spiritual culture, art, Science and way of life that is vital and crucial for everyone living on the planet today.
Hinduism provides the vision of Sanatana Dharma, a universal and eternal tradition of truth, Natural Law and respect for the sacred Nature of all life that is necessary for our continued well-being as a Species and for the protection of the natural world.
It behooves all those interested in any Higher reality to examine this great tradition that honors consciousness as the universal reality and that carries so much of the Search for Self-realization in humanity.
The Book covers a wide range of issues in religion, spirituality and culture emphasizing the role of Hindu Sanatana Dharma as a global force for change and higher consciousness.
Topics include the dialogue between Religions (Hinduism and Christianity, Buddhism, and Pagan traditions), Yoga, Vedanta, ecology, science, information technology, politics, the social order and more-all relative to the role of Dharma and Views of The Hindu mind going back to the Vedic rishis.
It emphasizes that Hinduism can be explained as a universal path of Self-realization without Hindus having to give up their own particular Religious identity, or uncritically accept other religious beliefs or spiritual teachings.
The book includes important introductory notes by noted Indian Guru Sri Sivananda Murty and by noted American Hindu Teacher Sri Dharma Pravartaka (Frank Morales), giving Eastern and western perspectives on these important issues.
Acharya David Frawley (Pandit Vamadeva Shastri) has been one of the most important teachers, writers and commentators on Hindu and Vedic teachings, both in their Classical forms and in the contemporary context, over! the last thirty years, with a wide variety of Texts to his credit, including translations of the Vedas, studies of Ancient India and modern India, works on Yoga, Vedanta, Tantra, Vedic Astrology and Ayurvedic medicine.
In the current volume, Frawley examines the deeper nature of Hindu Sanatana Dharma and how to better communicate and spread its I message, not only in India but to the world at large, which he views as crucial for bringing Peace and WISDOM to humanity.
Contents
Author’s Preface
Introductory Note by Sri Dharma Pravartaka (Frank Morakes)
An Appreciation by Sri Sivananda Murty
Part I – Defining Universal Hinduism (Sanatana Dharma)
1.1. Universal Hinduism and the Eternal Dharma
1.2. The Importance of Viveka – The Need for Discrimination in the Analysis of Religion
1.3. Hinduism, India and the World Today
1.4. Hindu Universalism and Radical Universalism
1.5. Who Owns Hinduism and Its Profound Teachings?
1.6. Hindu Dharma and Modern Ideas of Political and Religious Correctness
1.7. Peace and the Diversity, not the Unity of All Religions
1.8. Unity of Religions or Unity of Humanity
1.9. Interfaith or Inter-Knowledge?
1.10. Sanatana Veda Dharma – Universal Hinduism and Vedic Science
Part II – Hinduism, Sanatana Dharma and Current World Issues
2.1. Religious Diversity and Biodiversity – The Need to Protect Both
2.2. Hinduism and Ecology – Recognizing our True self in Nature
2.3. The Hindu view of Evolution and the Role of Consciousness
2.4. The Difference Types of Christians and how they relate of Hinduism
2.5. Spiritual or Sacred Paganism
2.6. Hinduism, Sanatana Dharma and Yoga
2.7. Classical Hindu Yoga and Buddhism – Similarities and Differences
Part III – Universal Hinduism and the Social Order
3.1. Sacred Activism – Awakening the Divine Powers in Nature
3.2. The Dharma and Adharma of Politics
3.3. The Need for Hindus to Find a Political Voice
3.4. Information Technology and the an Inner Knowledge Revolution
3.5. The Hindu Varna System – An Ecological Model of Society
3.6. The Need for an Indigenous Solution to the Caste Problem in Indian Society