100 Best Vedas Books of All Time
We've researched and ranked the best vedas books in the world, based on recommendations from world experts, sales data, and millions of reader ratings. Learn more
Featuring recommendations from Steve Jobs, Patrick Lencioni, Stephen R. Covey, and 29 other experts. 1
“Bir daha duy, sözümün en yücesi, hepsinin en gizlisi şudur: Sen benim büyük sevgilimsin, bu yüzden senin iyiliğin için konuşacağım. Zihnini/gönlünü Bana ver, kendini Bana ada, Bana kurban sun, Beni tazim et ve Bana gel. Sana gerçekten söz veriyorum, çünkü sen benim için azizsin.”
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Bhagavad-Gita (Tanrı’nın Şarkısı), Hindu dininin en önemli ve en kutsal metinlerinden biridir. Büyük Hint destanı Mahabharata’nın bir bölümünü oluşturur.
Savaşçı prens Arcuna ile dostu ve arabacısı, aynı zamanda Tanrı Vishnu’nun yeryüzünde bedene bürünmüş bir zuhuru (Avatar) olan Şri Krişna... more
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Bhagavad-Gita (Tanrı’nın Şarkısı), Hindu dininin en önemli ve en kutsal metinlerinden biridir. Büyük Hint destanı Mahabharata’nın bir bölümünü oluşturur.
Savaşçı prens Arcuna ile dostu ve arabacısı, aynı zamanda Tanrı Vishnu’nun yeryüzünde bedene bürünmüş bir zuhuru (Avatar) olan Şri Krişna... more
Ryan HolidayI read The Bhagavad Gita, which is something I wasn’t ready for before, but glad to finally understand. (Source)
Bernard TanThe “Tao Te King” by Lao Tzu probably resonated with me the strongest, but others like the “Art of War” by Sun Tzu, “Bhagavad Gita” or Zen Buddhist scriptures were also real eye-openers, even for a non-religious person like myself. (Source)
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The Upanishads, the earliest of which were composed in Sanskrit between 800 and 400 bce by sages and poets, form part of the Vedas - the sacred and ancient scriptures that are the basis of the Hindu religion. Each Upanishad, or lesson, takes up a theme ranging from the attainment of spiritual bliss to karma and rebirth, and collectively they are meditations on life, death and immortality. The essence of their teachings is that truth can by reached by faith rather than by thought, and that the spirit of God is within each of us - we need not fear death as we carry within us the promise of... more
Recommended by Caterina Fake, and 1 others. 3
A lucid translation of the well-known Taoist classic by a leading scholar-now in a Shambhala Pocket Library edition.
Written more than two thousand years ago, the Tao Teh Ching, or -The Classic of the Way and Its Virtue, - is one of the true classics of the world of spiritual literature. Traditionally attributed to the legendary -Old Master, - Lao Tzu, the Tao Teh Ching teaches that the qualities of the enlightened sage or ideal ruler are identical with those of the perfected individual. Today, Lao Tzu's words are as useful in mastering the arts of leadership in... more
Written more than two thousand years ago, the Tao Teh Ching, or -The Classic of the Way and Its Virtue, - is one of the true classics of the world of spiritual literature. Traditionally attributed to the legendary -Old Master, - Lao Tzu, the Tao Teh Ching teaches that the qualities of the enlightened sage or ideal ruler are identical with those of the perfected individual. Today, Lao Tzu's words are as useful in mastering the arts of leadership in... more
Tim O'ReillyThe Way of Life According to Lao Tzu (Tao Te Ching), translated by Witter Bynner. My personal religious philosophy, stressing the rightness of what is, if only we can accept it. Most people who know me have heard me quote from this book. "Seeing as how nothing is outside the vast, wide-meshed net of heaven, who is there to say just how it is cast?" (Source)
Naval RavikantIn the philosophy side, I’ve been rereading the Tao Te Ching. (Source)
Jack DorseyQ: What are the books that had a major influence on you? Or simply the ones you like the most. : Tao te Ching, score takes care of itself, between the world and me, the four agreements, the old man and the sea...I love reading! (Source)
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Autobiography of a Yogi is one of the best-selling spiritual biographies of all time. The book is not merely read it is treasured and cherished by millions of spiritual seekers throughout the world. less
Steve JobsOne book in particular stayed with Jobs his entire life, and Isaacson noted that it was the only book Jobs had downloaded on his iPad 2: “Autobiography of a Yogi,” “the guide to meditation and spirituality that he had first read as a teenager,” Isaacson writes, “then re-read in India and had read once a year ever since.” (Source)
Marc BenioffIf you haven't read it, and if you want to understand Steve Jobs, it's a goood idea to dip into [this book]. (Source)
Dominic Steil[One of the books that had the biggest impact on .] (Source)
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"Emotional Intelligence 2.0 succinctly explains how to deal with emotions creatively and employ our intelligence in a beneficial way."
--THE DALAI LAMA
For the first time ever in a book, TalentSmart's revolutionary program helps people identify their EQ skills, build these skills into strengths, and enjoy consistent performance in the pursuit of important life objectives. The book contains proven strategies from a decade-long effort to accurately measure and increase emotional intelligence. Trusted by upper-echelon leaders inside companies worldwide, these strategies will... more
--THE DALAI LAMA
For the first time ever in a book, TalentSmart's revolutionary program helps people identify their EQ skills, build these skills into strengths, and enjoy consistent performance in the pursuit of important life objectives. The book contains proven strategies from a decade-long effort to accurately measure and increase emotional intelligence. Trusted by upper-echelon leaders inside companies worldwide, these strategies will... more
Stephen R. CoveyGives abundant, practical findings and insights with emphasis on how to develop EQ. Research shows convincingly that EQ is more important than IQ. (Source)
Patrick LencioniThis book can drastically change the way you think about success...read it twice. (Source)
Deke BridgesCurrent read... fascinating IQ vs EQ. Worthy book. #books #education #growth #LifeLessons @LeadersBest https://t.co/j0fjFstOWb (Source)
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The present volume is an unabridged compilation of all four Vedas (Rig, White and Black Yajur, Sama and Atharva). Four of the translations are from Ralph Griffith, with the remaining (black yajur) from Arthur Keith. The texts have been proofed and all Sanskrit terms updated and synced between versions.
An Index-Dictionary of Sanskrit terms has been published as a second volume: ISBN: 978-1541304079.
The Vedas (from the root vid, "to know," or "divine knowledge") are the most ancient of all the Hindu scriptures. There were originally three Vedas-the Laws of Manu... more
An Index-Dictionary of Sanskrit terms has been published as a second volume: ISBN: 978-1541304079.
The Vedas (from the root vid, "to know," or "divine knowledge") are the most ancient of all the Hindu scriptures. There were originally three Vedas-the Laws of Manu... more
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Originally published in the year 1951, the huge popularity of the book has resulted in the book being re-printed several times. Centuries ago, it was proclaimed of the Mahabharata: "What is not in it, is nowhere." But even now, we can use the same words about it. He who knows it not, knows not the heights and depths of the soul; he misses the trials and tragedy and the beauty and grandeur of life. The Mahabharata is not a mere epic; it is a romance telling the tale of heroic men and women, and of some who were divine. It is a whole literature in itself, containing a code of life, a philosophy... more
Recommended by William Dalrymple, and 1 others. William DalrympleIt’s one of the world’s great myths, an epic poem. It’s eight times the length of the Bible, one of the great works of literature of mankind. I came to it via the Peter Brook film, and read the script subsequently, and it is every bit as good as it’s made out to be. A very rare thing. It has a sort of Shakespearian ambiguity; you feel as much for the baddies as for the goodies. No one is pure.... (Source)
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, 546 pages, 448 pages with index in English followed by Hyms in Hindi, colour and black and white illustrations less
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The earliest of the four Hindu religious scriptures known as the Vedas, and the first extensive composition to survive in any Indo-European language, the Rig Veda is a collection of over 1000 individual Sanskrit hymns. A work of intricate beauty, it provides a unique insight into early Indian mythology, religion and culture. This selection of 18 of the hymns, chosen for their eloquence and wisdom, focuses on the enduring themes of creation, sacrifice, death, women, the sacred plant soma and the gods. Inspirational and profound, it provides a fascinating introduction to one of the founding... more
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Sri Aurobindo breaks new ground in interpreting the ancient Vedas. His deeper insight into this came from his own spiritual practices for which he found vivid allegorical descriptions in the Vedas. Sri Aurobindo was able to uncover the mystery of the double meanings, the inner psychological and yogic significance and practices and the consistent, clear sense brought by this psychological view of the Vedic hymns. Finally, the true inner meaning of the Veda and its relevance to the seekking after self-realization and enlightenment is revealed. less
Don't have time to read the top Vedas books of all time? Read Shortform summaries.
Shortform summaries help you learn 10x faster by:
- Being comprehensive: you learn the most important points in the book
- Cutting out the fluff: you focus your time on what's important to know
- Interactive exercises: apply the book's ideas to your own life with our educators' guidance.
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The Dhammapada (Pāli; Prakrit: धम्मपद Dhammapada; Sanskrit: धर्मपद Dharmapada) is a collection of sayings of the Buddha in verse form and one of the most widely read and best known Buddhist scriptures. The original version of the Dhammapada is in the Khuddaka Nikaya, a division of the Pali Canon of Theravada Buddhism.
The Buddhist scholar and commentator Buddhaghosa explains that each saying recorded in the collection was made on a different occasion in response to a unique situation that had arisen in the life of the Buddha and his monastic community. His commentary, the Dhammapada... more
The Buddhist scholar and commentator Buddhaghosa explains that each saying recorded in the collection was made on a different occasion in response to a unique situation that had arisen in the life of the Buddha and his monastic community. His commentary, the Dhammapada... more
Jonathan HaidtThe Dhammapada is one of the greatest psychological works ever written, and certainly one of the greatest before 1900. It is masterful in its understanding of the nature of consciousness, and in particular the way we are always striving and never satisfied. You can turn to it – and people have turned to it throughout the ages – at times of trouble, at times of disappointment, at times of loss,... (Source)
Dr. Gabor MatéThe Buddhist collection of sayings. And it begins with, basically, the idea that we create the world with our minds. (Source)
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This book brings together in one volume Sri Chinmoy's commentaries on the Vedas, the Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita, three ancient Indian scriptures which are the foundations of the Hindu spiritual tradition. His approach is clear and practical and at the same time profound and richly poetic. In a style unmistakably his own, Sri Chinmoy establishes direct and personal contact with the reader, who joins him on a journey through the wisdom of these celebrated classics. This book is both an excellent introduction for readers who are coming to the subject for the first time, and a series of... more
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This translation and commentary are guided by scholarship, and devotion in spirituality, in the line of the greatest Gaudiya Vaishnavas such as Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Maharaja, the spiritual master of the author, which is directly descending from Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, which make His comments upon the Gita legitimate. less
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States that the words of Lord Krishna to Arjuna in the "Bhagavad Gita" are at once a profound scripture the science of Yoga, union with God, and a textbook for everyday living. less
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This affordable, definitive edition of the Hatha Yoga Pradipika contains the original Sanskrit, a new English translation, and full-page photographs of all the asanas. The chakras, kundalini, mudras, shakti, nadis, bandhas, and many other topics are explained. This is the first edition of the classic manual on Hatha Yoga to meet high academic, literary, and production standards. It’s for people who practice Yoga, and for anyone with an interest in heath and fitness, philosophy, religion, spirituality, mysticism, or meditation.
From the Introduction:
Over the last half... more
From the Introduction:
Over the last half... more
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En este libro, las enseñanzas de Ramana Maharshi se presentan en forma de preguntas y respuestas. Pero en esta ocasión, cada capítulo está dedicado a un tema diferente precedido de observaciones introductorias o explicativas.
Las preguntas y respuestas que forman el cuerpo de cada capitulo han sido tomadas de muchas fuentes y ordenadas de esa manera debido a que no hay ninguna conversación suficientemente larga que cubra la totalidad de sus puntos de vista sobre un tema particular.
A lo largo de estas páginas Ramana insiste una y otra vez que Usted es ya presencia consciencial. Y... more
Las preguntas y respuestas que forman el cuerpo de cada capitulo han sido tomadas de muchas fuentes y ordenadas de esa manera debido a que no hay ninguna conversación suficientemente larga que cubra la totalidad de sus puntos de vista sobre un tema particular.
A lo largo de estas páginas Ramana insiste una y otra vez que Usted es ya presencia consciencial. Y... more
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The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna is published by The Ramakrishna-Vivekananda Center of New York which bases it teachings on the principles of Vedanta, or Hinduism. Hinduism teaches that every soul is potentially divine, and that its divinity may be manifested through worship, contemplation, unselfish work, and philosophical discrimination. According to Hinduism, Truth is universal and all humankind and all existence are one. It preaches the unity of the Godhead, or ultimate Reality, and accepts every faith as a valid means for its own followers to realize the Truth. For more information about... more
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The first complete translation of a classic Buddhist text on the journey through living and dying. Graced with opening words by His Holiness The Dalai Lama, the Penguin Deluxe Edition of The Tibetan Book of the Dead is "immaculately rendered in an English both graceful and precise." Translated with the close support of leading contemporary masters and hailed as “a tremendous accomplishment,” this book faithfully presents the insights and intentions of the original work. It includes one of the most detailed and compelling descriptions of the after-death state in world literature,... more
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High above the sky stands Swarga, paradise, abode of the gods. Still above is Vaikuntha, heaven, abode of God.
The doorkeepers of Vaikuntha are the twins, Jaya and Vijaya, both whose names mean 'victory'. One keeps you in Swarga; the other raises you into Vaikuntha.
In Vaikuntha there is bliss forever, in Swarga there is pleasure for only as long as you deserve. What is the difference between Jaya and Vijaya? Solve this puzzle and you will solve the mystery of the Mahabharata.
In this enthralling retelling of India's greatest epic, the Mahabharata originally... more
The doorkeepers of Vaikuntha are the twins, Jaya and Vijaya, both whose names mean 'victory'. One keeps you in Swarga; the other raises you into Vaikuntha.
In Vaikuntha there is bliss forever, in Swarga there is pleasure for only as long as you deserve. What is the difference between Jaya and Vijaya? Solve this puzzle and you will solve the mystery of the Mahabharata.
In this enthralling retelling of India's greatest epic, the Mahabharata originally... more
Don't have time to read the top Vedas books of all time? Read Shortform summaries.
Shortform summaries help you learn 10x faster by:
- Being comprehensive: you learn the most important points in the book
- Cutting out the fluff: you focus your time on what's important to know
- Interactive exercises: apply the book's ideas to your own life with our educators' guidance.
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Transcript of discourses recorded in 1991 at Art of Living International Centre, Bangalore, India. less
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In his third book Gregor Maehle aims at bringing about a renaissance of pranayama, the yogic school of breathing. For millennia pranayama was considered to be the quintessential yogic limb, yoga’s main motor for spiritual evolution. To show pranayama’s importance, Maehle supports his findings at every turn with hundreds of quotations from yogic scripture.With unprecedented detail, the author shows how pranayama is used to connect posture practice to yogic meditation and why it will accelerate progress in both. Also covered are: • how pranayama creates health and its use in therapeutic... more
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Ayurveda (Sanskrit for -science of life-), a consciousness-based system of healing, is stepping up to close the gaps between thinking, knowing, feeling, and doing. Idiot's Guides: Ayurveda focuses on the mind-body connection and explain that our experiences--including perceptions and lifestyle choices--are metabolized into molecules in our bodies and will help you make the most life-affirming choices for your optimal health and well-being.
The book includes:
- Ways to achieve and maintain long-term mental and physical wellness based on a unique combination of... more
The book includes:
- Ways to achieve and maintain long-term mental and physical wellness based on a unique combination of... more
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Ashtanga Yoga: Practice and Philosophy is the first book of its kind, presenting a comprehensive guide to all eight limbs of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga. Join author Gregor Maehle, a seasoned yogi and compassionate teacher, as he guides you through the history and lineage of yoga; the fundamentals of breath, bandhas (energy locks within the body), drishti (the focal point of the gaze), and vinyasa (sequential movement); a detailed breakdown of the asanas of the Ashtanga Primary Series, following the traditional vinyasa count; a lively and authentic... more
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From the author of The Complete Commentary by Sankara on the Yoga Sutras, this book deals with the karma-yoga meditation practice and the realization of the supreme self as described in the Bhagava Gita yoga. less
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Love yoga? Want to learn everything you can about it? In this accessible and engaging book, Amy Vaughn applies her decades of education and research to telling the story of yoga. From shamanism to Shakti, from the Vedas to vinyasa, you'll learn about the history and philosophy of yoga while enjoying Amy's straightforward and lighthearted style. This book is perfect for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of the yoga tradition. less
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The Ultimate Medicine is not for those who like their spirituality watered down, but for serious students searching for awareness. Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj (1897-1981) lived and taught in a small apartment in the slums of Bombay. A realized master of the Tantric Nath lineage, he supported himself and his family by selling cheap goods in a small booth on the streets outside his tenement for many years. His life exemplified the concept of absolute nonduality of being. In this volume, Maharaj shares the highest truth of nonduality in his own unique way. His teaching style is abrupt,... more
Don't have time to read the top Vedas books of all time? Read Shortform summaries.
Shortform summaries help you learn 10x faster by:
- Being comprehensive: you learn the most important points in the book
- Cutting out the fluff: you focus your time on what's important to know
- Interactive exercises: apply the book's ideas to your own life with our educators' guidance.
31
The Yoga Makaranda was written by Krishnamacharya in 1934 at the behest of the maharaja of Mysore, when Krishnamacharya was running the yoga school there. Krishnamacharya’s wife once mentioned that her husband wrote the entire book in three nights! Despite that, the Yoga Makaranda is a very interesting and informative text on hatha yoga. If there was anyone who could write with authority on this subject, it was Krishnamacharya. In the introduction to the Yoga Makaranda, he lists twenty-seven yoga texts–apart from his own personal study and experience–as references. Some of the listed texts... more
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Through his interpretation of one important Upanishad, an ancient wisdom text, Eknath Easwaran shows how the timeless Indian tradition offers guidance on how to live today. Lyrical, dramatic, and inspiring, the Katha Upanishad presents the core ideas of Indian mysticism in a mythic story all can relate to — the adventure of a young hero, Nachiketa, who passes into the kingdom of Death in search of immortality. The King of Death tests his resolve, but the teenager stands firm, demanding answers to the age-old questions, "What is the purpose of life? What happens to me when I die?" Death... more
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The Vedas are the ancient scriptures or revelation (Shruti) of the Hindu teachings. They manifest the Divine Word in human speech. They reflect into human language the language of the Gods, the Divine powers that have created us and which rule over us. There are four Vedas, each consisting of four parts. The primary portion is the mantra or hymn section (samhita). To this are appended ritualistic teachings (brahmana) and theological sections (aranyaka). Finally philosophical sections (upanishads) are included. The hymn sections are the oldest. The others were added at a later date and each... more
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In this all-time best seller, Osho discusses the mystical insights found in the ancient Tantric writings, and the many significant Tantric meditation techniques that are as relevant to the modern-day seeker as they were to those in earlier times.As always, Osho brings his own unique blend of wisdom, humor, and thought-provoking inspiration to even this complex subject, making it accessible to the widest possible audience.
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In this much-anticipated follow-up to his first book, Ashtanga Yoga: Practice and Philosophy, Gregor Maehle offers a detailed and multifaceted guide to Ashtanga Yoga’s Intermediate Series. An expert yogi and teacher, Maehle will guide you to your next level with an unprecedented depth of anatomical explanation and unparalleled attention to the practice’s philosophical and mythological heritage. You will learn:
The background and applications of each of the three forms of yoga: Karma, Bhakti, and Jnana
How to use Indian myth and cosmology to... more
The background and applications of each of the three forms of yoga: Karma, Bhakti, and Jnana
How to use Indian myth and cosmology to... more
Don't have time to read the top Vedas books of all time? Read Shortform summaries.
Shortform summaries help you learn 10x faster by:
- Being comprehensive: you learn the most important points in the book
- Cutting out the fluff: you focus your time on what's important to know
- Interactive exercises: apply the book's ideas to your own life with our educators' guidance.
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Based on the ancient healing tradition from India that dates back thousands of years, The Complete Book of Ayurvedic Home Remedies offers natural alternatives to conventional medicines and treatments with practical advice and easy-to-follow instructions. A leading authority in this field, Dr. Vasant Lad first explains the principles behind the science of Ayurveda, exploring the physical and psychological characteristics of each of the three doshas, or mind-body types--vata, pitta, and kapha. Once you have determined which type or combination of types you are, Dr. Lad helps you to begin... more
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The Yoga of the Gita, along with its companion volume The Yoga of Jesus, provides a groundbreaking treatise on the deeper meaning of Yoga the science of God-realization that is the birthright of all individuals. In this compact book, a compilation of excerpts from his monumental translation of and commentary on the Bhagavad Gita, God Talks with Arjuna (Self-Realization Fellowship, 1995), Paramahansa Yogananda presents an illuminating explanation of Lord Krishna's sublime Yoga message that he preached to the world the way of right activity and meditation for divine communion. With penetrating... more
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Believed to hold the secrets of unseen reality, The Upanishads are the most ancient of the Hindu texts. They hold the secrets of the divine and have inspired generations of devotees by their vision and inexhaustible spiritual powers. Now everyone, from serious scholars to spiritual seekers, can glimpse into the texts that have shaped a vital spiritual history. less
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In his fifth book, Gregor Maehle shows how all yogic techniques and methods collaborate to bring about its pinnacle - the state of samadhi. The book culminates in a detailed description of the eight classical samadhis as listed in the Yoga Sutra, both from the practical view of content and experience and from the techniques to access them. The author also shows the importance that these states have for a new enchantment with our world, nature, and all beings. On the way to that climax, Maehle dissolves misconceptions about samadhi, shows the importance of both objectless and the... more
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The Vedas are ancient texts that are sacred in India and renowned the world over. The world veda literally means Knowledge. The root is vid, ‘to Know’ The Vedas are thus texts that provide Knowledge.
There are four Vedas, known as the Rig Veda, the Yajur Veda, the Sama Veda and the Atharva Veda. Many years ago, the Vedas were referred to as trayi or three. There must have been some point of time when there were only three Vedas. These are acknowledged to have been the Rig Vedas, the yajur Veda and the Sama Veda. The Atharva Veda is believed to have a later addition to the sacred... more
There are four Vedas, known as the Rig Veda, the Yajur Veda, the Sama Veda and the Atharva Veda. Many years ago, the Vedas were referred to as trayi or three. There must have been some point of time when there were only three Vedas. These are acknowledged to have been the Rig Vedas, the yajur Veda and the Sama Veda. The Atharva Veda is believed to have a later addition to the sacred... more
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Rāmcharitmānas literally means the "Lake of the Deeds of Rām".Tulsidas compared the seven kānds (literally 'books', cognate of cantos) of the epic to seven steps leading into the holy waters of a Himalayan lake (or mānas, as in Lake Mansarovar or Manasbal Lake) which "which purifies the body and the soul at once." The core of the work is a poetic retelling of the events of the Sanskrit epic Ramayana, centered on the narrative of Rām, the crown prince of Ayodhya. The great poem is also called Tulsi-krit Ramayan (literally, 'Tulsi-created Ramayan' or, more loosely, 'The Ramayan of Tulsidas'. more
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A comprehensive resource by one of the world's most respected Ayurveda experts
Ayurveda is the art of good life and gentle healing. It is a holistic system of medicine that includes prevention, psychology, diet, and treatment. Join Hans H. Rhyner, a leading authority on Ayurveda, as he explores the principles, therapies, and collected knowledge of this powerful approach to health and wellbeing, including:
Anatomical Aspects (Rachana Sharira) Evolutionary Physiology (Kriya Sharira) Constitution (Prakruti) Pathology... more
Ayurveda is the art of good life and gentle healing. It is a holistic system of medicine that includes prevention, psychology, diet, and treatment. Join Hans H. Rhyner, a leading authority on Ayurveda, as he explores the principles, therapies, and collected knowledge of this powerful approach to health and wellbeing, including:
Anatomical Aspects (Rachana Sharira) Evolutionary Physiology (Kriya Sharira) Constitution (Prakruti) Pathology... more
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With the same narrative fecundity and imaginative sympathy he brought to his acclaimed retelling of the Greek myths, Roberto Calasso plunges Western readers into the mind of ancient India. He begins with a mystery: Why is the most important god in the Rg Veda, the oldest of India's sacred texts, known by a secret name--"Ka," or Who?
What ensues is not an explanation, but an unveiling. Here are the stories of the creation of mind and matter; of the origin of Death, of the first sexual union and the first parricide. We learn why Siva must carry his father's skull, why snakes have... more
What ensues is not an explanation, but an unveiling. Here are the stories of the creation of mind and matter; of the origin of Death, of the first sexual union and the first parricide. We learn why Siva must carry his father's skull, why snakes have... more
Don't have time to read the top Vedas books of all time? Read Shortform summaries.
Shortform summaries help you learn 10x faster by:
- Being comprehensive: you learn the most important points in the book
- Cutting out the fluff: you focus your time on what's important to know
- Interactive exercises: apply the book's ideas to your own life with our educators' guidance.
51
This book is a detailed overview of The Vedas, the holy book of the Hindus. The most important Hymns are quoted in full; extracts are also included from the Brahmanas, the part of the Rig Veda that that guides the Brahmans, the highest class of priests, in Vedic ceremonies. This is one of the oldest and most important of the world's holy books. It is primarily composed of hymns, poems, incantations and rituals from ancient India. Not only is this the "bible" of the Hindu religion, it also offers a unique snapshot of normal, everyday life in India as it occurred over four thousand years ago. less
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Don't you want to be a better parent? The Intentional Parenting Plan (TIPP) challenges parents to think and plan for their child's life. Covering eight areas of parenting, parents are asked to respond to questions that help them clarify what they want for the child. The purpose of completing the plan is for parents to be able to visualize the image that they want for the child. Through examining their thoughts about character, image, health and wellness, home life, education, finances, and the world, parents are asked to develop a written plan (included in the book) for the child. This plan... more
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This is the Fifth Canto of the Tulsi Ramayana composed by the medieval saint Tulsidas. Contains the Original Devnagari Text, Transliteration, and English Translation. Also contains a list of Samput-Mantras popular amongst devotees during recitation less
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The Bhagavad-Gita" has been an essential text of Hindu culture in India since the time of its composition in the first century A.D. One of the great classics of world literature, it has inspired such diverse thinkers as Henry David Thoreau, Mahatma Gandhi, and T.S. Eliot; most recently, it formed the core of Peter Brook's celebrated production of the "Mahabharata. less
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An expert on Eastern philosophy and Eastern medicine, the author presents a spiritual vision of who we are and where we come from. In so doing, he seeks to fill a void in our understanding of human history, revealing secrets of Vedic and ancient civilization. less
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The sixth book of the Ramayana of Valmiki, the Yuddhakanda, recounts the final dramatic war between the forces of good led by the exiled prince Rama, and the forces of evil commanded by the arch demon Ravana. The hero Rama's primary purpose in the battle is to rescue the abducted princess Sita and destroy the demon king. However, the confrontation also marks the turning point for the divine mission of the Ramavatara, the incarnation of Lord Visnu as a human prince, who will restore righteousness to a world on the brink of chaos. The book ends with the gods' revelation to Rama of... more
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This book will not only give a precise step-by-step description of the meditation technique at the heart of yoga but also put it into context with all other yogic techniques and how they contribute to the breakthrough to spiritual freedom. Yogic meditation derives its power from the fact that it systematically suspends the entire processing capacity of the subconscious mind and diverts it towards meditation. The processing power of the subconscious mind is a multiple of that of the conscious mind. Simply watching breath or watching awareness involves only your conscious mind. For quick and... more
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In a meditation on the wisdom of the Vedas, Roberto Calasso brings ritual and sacrifice to bear on the modern world
In this revelatory volume, Roberto Calasso, whom The Paris Review has called "a literary institution," explores the ancient texts known as the Vedas. Little is known about the Vedic people, who lived more than three thousand years ago in northern India: They left behind almost no objects, images, or ruins. They created no empires. Even the soma, the likely hallucinogenic plant that appears at the center of some of their rituals, has... more
In this revelatory volume, Roberto Calasso, whom The Paris Review has called "a literary institution," explores the ancient texts known as the Vedas. Little is known about the Vedic people, who lived more than three thousand years ago in northern India: They left behind almost no objects, images, or ruins. They created no empires. Even the soma, the likely hallucinogenic plant that appears at the center of some of their rituals, has... more
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The present Index of Sanskrit Terms applies to the single-volume unabridged edition (978-1541294714) of the Vedas (Rig, White and Black Yajur, Sama and Atharva). Dictionary definitions are drawn from "A Sanskrit-English Dictionary" by M. Monier-Williams (1899). Four of the translations in the main volume are from Ralph Griffith, with the remaining (black yajur) from Arthur Keith. The texts have been proofed and all Sanskrit terms updated and synced between versions.
The Vedas (from the root vid, "to know," or "divine knowledge") are the most ancient of all the Hindu... more
The Vedas (from the root vid, "to know," or "divine knowledge") are the most ancient of all the Hindu... more
Don't have time to read the top Vedas books of all time? Read Shortform summaries.
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61
This affordable, authoritative edition of the Shiva Samhita contains a new introduction, the original Sanskrit, a new English translation, nine full-page photographs, and an index. It includes beautiful teachings found nowhere else. This is the first edition of this classic Yoga text to meet both high academic and literary standards, the first to be based on a truly critical study of the Sanskrit manuscripts. It's for people who practice Yoga, and for anyone with an interest in health and fitness, philosophy, religion, spirituality, mysticism, or meditation.
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Two works on Laya-yoga, translated from the Sanskrit, with introduction & commentary.
Written by a leading authority on Shaktic & Tantric thought, this book is considered the prime document for study & application of Kundalini yoga. It probes the philosophical & mythological nature of Kundalini, the esoteric anatomy associated with it, the study of mantras, the chakras, or psychic centers in the human body, etc.
Sir John George Woodroffe (1865–1936), aka Arthur Avalon, was a British Orientalist whose work helped to unleash in the West an interest in Hindu... more
Written by a leading authority on Shaktic & Tantric thought, this book is considered the prime document for study & application of Kundalini yoga. It probes the philosophical & mythological nature of Kundalini, the esoteric anatomy associated with it, the study of mantras, the chakras, or psychic centers in the human body, etc.
Sir John George Woodroffe (1865–1936), aka Arthur Avalon, was a British Orientalist whose work helped to unleash in the West an interest in Hindu... more
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Step-by-step Approach Towards Mathematical Calculation, Simple And Easy Language to Facilitate Understanding, Important Points highlighted by use of Different Colours and Tabular Presentation, General Guidelines after Each Techniques. More than 500 solved Examples to make concepter very clear. Exhautive Exercises for Each topic. less
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This book offers 112 dharanas -- 112 meditations or techniques -- for experiencing the extraordinary and paradoxical reality of unbounded consciousness called Bhairava. In her initial question to Bhairava, the Goddess asks him to reveal his own essential nature to her. Bhairava praises her question as pertaining to the very essence of the Tantra, and he praises the transcendent aspect of the Supreme. The Goddess then beseeches Bhairava to teach her the method by which she may gain an understanding of this blissful, nondual reality. The methods offered here hint at a profound secret: only a... more
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The Arctic Home in the Vedas is a seminal work on the origin of Aryans presented by Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak, a mathematician turned astronomer, historian, journalist, philosopher and political leader of India during 1880 to 1920. It propounded the theory that North Pole was the original home of Aryans during pre-glacial period which they had to leave due to the ice deluge around 8000 B.C. and had to migrate to the Northern parts of Europe and Asia in search of lands for new settlements. In support to his theory Tilak has presented certain Vedic hymns, Avestic passages, Vedic chronology... more
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This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions that are true to the original work. less
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This new translation of The Upanishads is at once delightfully simple and rigorously learned, providing today’s readers with an accurate, accessible rendering of the core work of ancient Indian philosophy.
The Upanishads are often considered the most important literature from ancient India. Yet many academic translators fail to capture the work’s philosophical and spiritual subtlety, while others convey its poetry at the cost of literal meaning.
This new translation by Vernon Katz and Thomas Egenes fills the need for an Upanishads that is... more
The Upanishads are often considered the most important literature from ancient India. Yet many academic translators fail to capture the work’s philosophical and spiritual subtlety, while others convey its poetry at the cost of literal meaning.
This new translation by Vernon Katz and Thomas Egenes fills the need for an Upanishads that is... more
Don't have time to read the top Vedas books of all time? Read Shortform summaries.
Shortform summaries help you learn 10x faster by:
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71
This epoch-making and monumental work on Vedic Mathematics unfolds a new method of approach. It relates to the truth of numbers and magnitudes equally to all sciences and arts. The book brings to light how great and true knowledge is born of intuition, quite different from modern Western method. The ancient Indian method and its secret techniques are examined and shown to be capable of solving various problems of mathematics. less
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This affordable, definitive edition of the Gheranda Samhita contains a new introduction, the original Sanskrit, a new English translation, and 39 full-page photographs. It's the most encyclopedic of the classic Yoga texts and teaches a unique sevenfold path to perfection of the person. This is the first edition to meet high academic, literary, and production standards. It's for people who practice Yoga and for anyone with an interest in health and fitness, philosophy, religion, spirituality, mysticism, or meditation.
From the Introduction
The book you are... more
From the Introduction
The book you are... more
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'Yoga is to be known through yoga. Yoga arises from yoga. One who is vigilant by means of yoga delights in yoga for a long time'
Yoga is hugely popular around the world today, yet until now little has been known of its roots. This book collects, for the first time, core teachings of yoga in their original form, translated and edited by two of the world's foremost scholars of the subject. It includes a wide range of texts from different schools of yoga, languages and eras: among others, key passages from the early Upanisads and the Mahabharata, and from the Tantric,...
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A unique collection of funerary texts from a wide variety of sources, dating from the 15th to the 4th century BC
Consisting of spells, prayers and incantations, each section contains the words of power to overcome obstacles in the afterlife. The papyruses were often left in sarcophagi for the dead to use as passports on their journey from burial, and were full of advice about the ferrymen, gods and kings they would meet on the way. Offering valuable insights into ancient Egypt, The Book of the Dead has also inspired fascination with the occult and the afterlife in... more
Consisting of spells, prayers and incantations, each section contains the words of power to overcome obstacles in the afterlife. The papyruses were often left in sarcophagi for the dead to use as passports on their journey from burial, and were full of advice about the ferrymen, gods and kings they would meet on the way. Offering valuable insights into ancient Egypt, The Book of the Dead has also inspired fascination with the occult and the afterlife in... more
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Within the Yoga Sutra, an ancient text about the practice of yoga, only two verses mention asanas, or the postures we commonly associate with yoga in the West. Patanjali, the legendary sage and author of this 2,250-year-old work, was concerned not solely with physical development, or even mental development. In fact, the original purpose of yoga was—and remains—to function as a complete spiritual path where the body serves as a gateway to enlightenment.
On The Yoga Matrix, the renowned instructor Richard Freeman immerses us in the rich teachings and sutras that inform the... more
On The Yoga Matrix, the renowned instructor Richard Freeman immerses us in the rich teachings and sutras that inform the... more
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India has fallen far and fast from the runaway growth rates it enjoyed in the first decade of the twenty-first century. In order to reverse this trend, New Delhi must seriously reflect on its policy choices across a wide range of issue areas.
Getting India Back on Track broadly coincides with the 2014 Indian elections to spur a public debate about the program that the next government should pursue in order to return the country to a path of high growth. It convenes some of India's most accomplished analysts to recommend policies in every major sector of the Indian economy.... more
Getting India Back on Track broadly coincides with the 2014 Indian elections to spur a public debate about the program that the next government should pursue in order to return the country to a path of high growth. It convenes some of India's most accomplished analysts to recommend policies in every major sector of the Indian economy.... more
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The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali are universally acknowledged as the fundamental text on yoga and meditation in the Indian classical tradition. This English translation of Yoga Philosophy of Patanjali is widely regarded as the most authoritative and authentic that has been available in recent times. It is a serious and clear presentation of Patanjali's sutras and Vyasa's Bhasya, providing these basic texts both in the original Sanskrit and in readable and accurate English. These classical works are augmented by the commentary of Swami Hariharananda Aranya, a scholar and yogi of great repute, who,... more
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In February 1968 the Beatles went to India for an extended stay with their new guru, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. It may have been the most momentous spiritual retreat since Jesus spent those forty days in the wilderness.
With these words, Philip Goldberg begins his monumental work, American Veda, a fascinating look at India’s remarkable impact on Western culture. This eye-opening popular history shows how the ancient philosophy of Vedanta and the mind-body methods of Yoga have profoundly affected the worldview of millions of Americans and radically altered the religious... more
With these words, Philip Goldberg begins his monumental work, American Veda, a fascinating look at India’s remarkable impact on Western culture. This eye-opening popular history shows how the ancient philosophy of Vedanta and the mind-body methods of Yoga have profoundly affected the worldview of millions of Americans and radically altered the religious... more
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The Yoga Yajnavalkya was considered by the great yogi Sri T. Krishnamacharya to be the most important and authentic classical text on yoga after the Yogasutras of Patanjali. Many other yoga texts, including the Hatha Yoga Pradipika and Gheranda Samhita have borrowed verses from this text. The Yoga Yajnavalkya takes the form of a conversation between the sage Yajnavalkya and his wife Gargi. The book is a well-structured presentation, following the eight limbs of yoga. An important feature of this text is the in-depth discussion of the kundalini and sound pranayama practices. less
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Shortform summaries help you learn 10x faster by:
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81
In The Essence of Shinto, revered Shinto master Motohisa Yamakage explains the core values of Shinto and explores both basic tenets and its more esoteric points in terms readily accessible to the modern Western reader. He shows how the long history of Shintoism is deeply woven into the fabric of Japanese spirituality and mythology--indeed, it is regarded as Japan's very spiritual roots--and discusses its role in modern Japan and the world. He also carefully analyzes the relationship of the spirit and the soul, which will provide informed and invaluable insight into how spirituality... more
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The Yoga Vasistha is a unique work of Indian philosophy and is highly respected for its practical mysticism. These teachings of Sage Vasistha imparted to Lord Rama, contain the true understanding about the creation of the world. The Supreme Yoga, with Romanised text, is a translation into English of this complete work and is accompanied by brief expositions by Swami Venkatesananda. This book brings this store house of wisdom to our world and makes the philosophy comprehensible to scholars and common people alike.
The Yoga Vasistha has been a favourite book of spiritual seekers in... more
The Yoga Vasistha has been a favourite book of spiritual seekers in... more
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A complete introduction to Sanatana Dharma, the spiritual science of the Hindu sages
• Examines how many core concepts of Hinduism, including Brahman, Atman, bhakti, karma, and reincarnation, relate to modern science
• Explores the scientific discoveries of the rishis, ancient Vedic sages, and how they have only recently been rediscovered by Western scientists
• Reveals the concepts of quantum physics hidden within the Vedas, the Bhagavad Gita, the Upanishads, and the Puranas
Called “the scientists of Hinduism,” the rishis of ancient India... more
• Examines how many core concepts of Hinduism, including Brahman, Atman, bhakti, karma, and reincarnation, relate to modern science
• Explores the scientific discoveries of the rishis, ancient Vedic sages, and how they have only recently been rediscovered by Western scientists
• Reveals the concepts of quantum physics hidden within the Vedas, the Bhagavad Gita, the Upanishads, and the Puranas
Called “the scientists of Hinduism,” the rishis of ancient India... more
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From the pen of Ananda K. Coomaraswamy this small but wonderful volume is an essay in translation and exegesis in relation to the Vedas in which passages from the Rgveda and the Brhadaranyaka and Maitri Upanisads, dealing with cosmogony, ontology and teleology, have been interpreted in a new perception of the quite extraordinary depth of those ideas and their amazing psychological accuracy. According to Coomaraswamy no great extension of our present measure of understanding of the Vedas can be expected from philological research alone. Further progress in the interpretation of the difficult... more
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The Beautiful Legend of God contains the tenth and most significant book in the popular Indian epic Srimad Bhagavata Purana, which is the principal source for the story of Krishna, worshipped by many Hindus as the Supreme Being. Devoted to Krishna’s miraculous incarnation, this collection of sacred tales recounts his childhood and adolescence in the forests of Vrindavan: playing with his friends, dallying amorously with cowherd maidens, and stealing butter to feed the monkeys. Krishna emerges from these episodes as an immediately engaging figure, and the stories have inspired... more
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Practical Ayurveda
guides you on a wellness journey that is tailor-made for you.
If you're looking for renewed energy, relief from stress, and improved sleep, this is the place to start. Practiced in India for millennia, Ayurveda reveals the path to ultimate well-being by identifying your individual characteristics and patterns of health and showing you how to bring balance to your life. Using this modern guide to conduct a simple self-assessment, you'll learn how to understand your constitution and patterns of health and bring balance to... more
If you're looking for renewed energy, relief from stress, and improved sleep, this is the place to start. Practiced in India for millennia, Ayurveda reveals the path to ultimate well-being by identifying your individual characteristics and patterns of health and showing you how to bring balance to your life. Using this modern guide to conduct a simple self-assessment, you'll learn how to understand your constitution and patterns of health and bring balance to... more
Don't have time to read the top Vedas books of all time? Read Shortform summaries.
Shortform summaries help you learn 10x faster by:
- Being comprehensive: you learn the most important points in the book
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91
With text, word-for-word translation, English rendering, comments and Index
Sanskrit text, attributed to Badarayana, estimated to have been completed in its surviving form some time between 450 BCE and 200 CE. The text systematizes and summarizes the philosophical and spiritual ideas in the Upanishads. It is one of the foundational texts of the Vedānta school of Hindu philosophy.
The Brahma sutras consists of 555 aphoristic verses (sutras) in four chapters. These verses are primarily about the nature of human existence and universe, and ideas about... more
Sanskrit text, attributed to Badarayana, estimated to have been completed in its surviving form some time between 450 BCE and 200 CE. The text systematizes and summarizes the philosophical and spiritual ideas in the Upanishads. It is one of the foundational texts of the Vedānta school of Hindu philosophy.
The Brahma sutras consists of 555 aphoristic verses (sutras) in four chapters. These verses are primarily about the nature of human existence and universe, and ideas about... more
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Who indeed could be so careless as to forget their own mother, what to speak of the Mother of all souls?
The Divine Mother of the Universe—the true Mother of all beings, their eternal source and the essence of their very existence—has been forgotten. Her ineffable presence somehow overlooked! This oversight, this loss of memory, is tragic and the cause of great suffering and misery among the inhabitants of the world. Only those beset with chronic spiritual amnesia could be so forlorn as to arrive at such a lamentable condition!
The Twenty-Four Aspects of Mother... more
The Divine Mother of the Universe—the true Mother of all beings, their eternal source and the essence of their very existence—has been forgotten. Her ineffable presence somehow overlooked! This oversight, this loss of memory, is tragic and the cause of great suffering and misery among the inhabitants of the world. Only those beset with chronic spiritual amnesia could be so forlorn as to arrive at such a lamentable condition!
The Twenty-Four Aspects of Mother... more
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The stunning climax of CLAMP's epic debut! Six Stars have gathered at the god king Taishakuten's palace for their final showdown. Ashura's seal is now lifted, and he becomes the God of Destruction, caring for nothing but killing. Meanwhile, Kujaku reveals the meaning of the prophecy, and Taishakuten's secret also becomes clear. And in a final clash, Ashura faces of against Yasha, and one of them will fall... less
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Beneath the factory floor lives an orphaned girl named Veda. Watched over by the diligent Assembly, a robot that works the production line, Veda discovers a unique power--she can speak to machines! Under the tutelage of Assembly, she learns the three laws of the machines. . . But it's the unspoken secret fourth law--avoid the Gremlin, that's piqued young Veda's interest and leads her down a dangerous and compromising path on her journey of self-discovery. less
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Speaking of Siva is a selection of vacanas or free-verse sayings from the Virasaiva religious movement, dedicated to Siva as the supreme god. Written by four major saints, the greatest exponents of this poetic form, between the tenth and twelfth centuries, they are passionate lyrical expressions of the search for an unpredictable and spontaneous spiritual vision of 'now'. Here, yogic and tantric symbols, riddles and enigmas subvert the language of ordinary experience, as references to night and day, sex and family relationships take on new mystical meanings. These intense poems of personal... more
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Este libro narra la historia acerca de un sádico cazador que se encuentra con un sabio, este último por medio de su conocimiento espiritual, enseña al cazador las implicaciones de hacer sufrir y matar a los animales.
Una educativa e interesante historia sacada de las escrituras védicas(antiguos libros de filosofía Hindú), donde el maestro A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, explica porque la sociedad moderna sufre violencia continua(guerras, delincuencia, terrorismo etc...), en parte como una reacción hacia la violencia que ejercemos contra los animales, el maestro advierte: "De... more
Una educativa e interesante historia sacada de las escrituras védicas(antiguos libros de filosofía Hindú), donde el maestro A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, explica porque la sociedad moderna sufre violencia continua(guerras, delincuencia, terrorismo etc...), en parte como una reacción hacia la violencia que ejercemos contra los animales, el maestro advierte: "De... more
Don't have time to read the top Vedas books of all time? Read Shortform summaries.
Shortform summaries help you learn 10x faster by:
- Being comprehensive: you learn the most important points in the book
- Cutting out the fluff: you focus your time on what's important to know
- Interactive exercises: apply the book's ideas to your own life with our educators' guidance.