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1 R.D Nspc, Tpg, Pk 1 R.D NSPC, TPG, PK 2 About the Author Dr. Hiro Badlani practiced ophthalmology for 40 years in Mumbai, India. After retiring, he moved to the U.S. to join his children. Dr. Badlani has dedicated the last decade, what he calls “the second inning” of his life, to the "Hinduism: Path of the Ancient Wisdom" Dr. Hiro Badlani, retired ophthalmologist from Mumbai, presently settled in U.S.A., worked passionately for over ten years, and wrote this volume after meticulous research. In nearly 400 pages, divided in 65 small easy to read chapters, in lucid narrative style, this book has been acclaimed as mini-encyclopedia of Hinduism, covering all the aspects from its very origin till the modern period. The highlight of the book is that it is completely non-dogmatic and non-fundamental in its approach. Graciously blessed on behalf of H.H. Pramukh Swami Maharaj of the Swaminarayan Sanstha, with an inspiring message from H.H.Swami Hari Dass from Mount Maddona, California, and crowned with the American publisher’s coveted Editor Choice Award, the book is presented in excellent state-of-the-art printing standard. The book emphasizes the essential unity and homogeneity of all the religions; spiritual teachings form the core of the book. “Without the spiritual teachings what other role any religions has to play?,” says the author. R.D NSPC, TPG, PK 3 Engaging with this book will not only educate you, but imbue you with personal peace and happiness, becoming an experience both elegant and empowering. Dedicated especially to the Hindu Youth Diaspora, now living in many countries around the globe, to acquaint them of their glorious ancient culture, the book will appeal to anyone who is interested in knowing the philosophy and teachings of Hinduism, the oldest living faith of the world today. study of Hinduism and its teachings. http://hinduismpath.com Book Contents The Influence of Hindu Philosophy on Thinkers throughout the Ages xvii Preface: Why I Wrote This Book 1. The World of Cosmic Consciousness 2. Evolution 3. The Origin of Religion 4. Roots of Hinduism in the Ancient Cultures of India 5. Ancient Hindu Scriptures—An Ever Flowing River of Knowledge 6. Vedas—The Foundation of Hinduism 7. The Spiritual Teachings of the Vedas 8. The Essence of the Vedic Philosophy 9. Vedas through the Passage of Time 10. Upanishads—Culmination of the Vedas 11. Spirituality in Everyday Hindu Life 12. The Secret of the Hereafter 13. The Code of Conduct 14. Consciousness—Cosmic Intelligence of the Divine 15. Soul—The Seed of Divinity 16. The Divine Path of Virtue 17. The Hindu Trinity (Trimurti) 18. Shiva—The Mystic Divine of Meditation 19. Sri Rama—The Lord of Propriety 20. Victory of Righteousness over Unrighteousness 21. Mahabharata—The War Within 22. Bhagavad Gita—The Song Celestial 23. The True Detachment (Vairagya) 24. The Yoga of Action (Karma) 25. Journey of the Spiritual Soul 26. Idol Worship—The Plethora of Gods 27. Goddesses in Hinduism—The Icons of Female Power 28. A Few More Spiritual Stars 29. Jainism—Renunciation and Nonviolence R.D NSPC, TPG, PK 4 30. Spiritual Teachings of the Mahavira 31. Buddhism Emerges 32. The Spiritual Teachings of Buddha 33. Srimad Bhagavatam—A New Trend in Hinduism 34. The Spiritual Teachings of the Srimad Bhagavatam 35. Srimad Bhagavatam—Continued Spiritual Teachings 36. Srimad Bhagavatam—Continued Spiritual Teachings 37. Hindu Renaissance—An Era of Sri Adi Shankar Acharya 38. The Era of Bhakti Yoga—The Golden Period of Devotional Faith 39. Sikhism—the Youngest Religion of the World 40. Sikhism—the Spiritual Teachings 41. Hinduism in Modern Era—Spiritual Masters of the Recent Period 42. Hinduism in Modern Era—Spiritual Masters of the Recent Period 43. Hinduism and Science 44. Meditation—The Spiritual Practice 45. Yoga—Union with the Divine 46. Guru and the Holy Company (Satsanga) 47. Ayurveda—The Most ancient Medical science 48. Vegetarianism—the Compassionate Way of Living 49. Hindu Society Today—the Dynamic Patterns in Motion 50. Hindu Wedding—Nuptials for Eternity 51. Hindu Mythology—The World of Sacred Fantasies 52. Symbols and Icons in Hinduism 53. Hindu Customs 54. Hindu Festivals 55. Hinduism and Interfaith—The Future Trends in our World 56. Hinduism and Fine Arts 57. The Evolution of Hindu Temples 58. The Abode of God is the Heart of Hinduism 59. A Pilgrimage through India 60. Hindu Temples in the United States and Canada 61. Hindu Temples in the Rest of the World 62. Hindu Prayers—The Trail of Divine Unfoldment 63. Hindu Prayers—The Ocean of Spiritual Pearls Conclusion—A Legacy for Hindu Youth Diaspora Bibliography Glossary Endnotes R.D NSPC, TPG, PK 5 CHAPTER 1 The World of Cosmic Consciousness Unlike the Western concept of linear time, the Hindus accept time as cyclical, with neither beginning nor end. At first, the concept of the Vedic kalpas (time units) might seem absurd, but when these figures are compared with modern astronomical scientific data, it is amazing to notice the patterns of similarity between the two. How could it have been possible to discover all this without any technology, without instruments, and without any computers? Ancient Hindu seers, or Rishis, who are credited with having invented the zero and decimal phenomenon, seem to have had a deep insight of cosmic events, based on the fundamental principle of harmony. Although some scientists now concur with the viewpoint that the universe is eternal, most accept the modern scientific opinion that the whole cosmos was created by a “big bang” about 18 billion years ago. Our solar system was created 4.5 billion years ago. The solar system is a part of a larger galaxy of stars, the Milky Way. If we were seated in a spaceship zooming at the speed of light—186,000 miles per second—it would take 100,000 years to traverse from one end of the Milky Way galaxy to the other. There are billions of other galaxies of stars like this one. Hindu scriptures have given stunning descriptions of these infinite, countless solar systems (brahmands) in the cosmos. The galaxies have been there from eternity. But the most surprising thing is that all these stars, their satellites, comets, and other phenomena are positioned with a faultless precision. Just by the direction and size of the shadows, we can calculate the time of day up to a fraction of a second. The ancient Hindu Rishis studied these complex astronomical structures minutely, giving the world authentic and deep knowledge of astronomy and astrology. The Hindu Vedas also mention the time periods as kalpas. The time periods mentioned in these Vedic kalpas defy our imagination. One large time-period kalpa consists of 1000 smaller units, known as mahayugas. The current mahayuga is further subdivided into four parts: Satyayuga period: 1,728,000 years Tretayuga period: 1,296,000 years Dwaparyug period: 864,000 years Kaliyuga period: 432,000 years R.D NSPC, TPG, PK 6 The total age of the current mahayuga is calculated as 4,320,000 years. (2) The present period of time is kaliyuga. The mythological significance of the various periods has been explained as: Satyayuga represents age of total purity. Tretayuga represents age of three-quarter purity. Dwaparyuga represents age of half purity. Kaliyuga represents age of total impurity. Hindu Rishis stated that there are eternal cycles of evolutions, or srshti, and dissolutions (pralaya) taking place in the cosmos. Modern science is only now coming to grips with this understanding of the cosmic phenomenon. Even rocks, which are millions of years old, have a pattern. We can calculate the age of a rock by patterns of deposits through the millennia. A tree leaf has a unique design that has been constant for ages. This harmony and rhythm compels us to believe that our universe is built on a most solid foundation and that there is a supreme power, which regulates the universe. All these milky pathways of billions upon billions of stars have been in existence and have functioned for uncountable millennia. They existed before any religion came, before the earth was formed, before Lord Rama or Lord Krishna came, before Hindu Rishis or sages came, before any human being walked on the earth. The Rishis, however, recognized this cosmic phenomenon, and they called it Brahman—the transcendental, the supreme, the eternal soul, which pervades everything, everywhere, at all times. The world is there, and we are there because of this source of power behind us. In fact, all our power and intelligence is simply extended to us from this eternal source. The concept of universal Brahman sowed the seeds of spiritual unity. In modern times, this concept of Hindu thought has been vindicated by the use of the term panentheism, which is associated with many ancient religions and describes the Divine as the immanent principle of the entire cosmos. Human beings have now started to realize how tiny a particle of this vast infinite cosmos of the Divine they are and should not, therefore, become arrogant about their own accomplishments and achievements, however big they might be. The ancient Rishis also recognized the utter vulnerability and weakness of man. They recognized the futility of man to depend upon his ego. They compared man to a wave of the ocean; it rises and moves because it is with the ocean. Separated from it, the wave will perish in a moment. They compared the man to a whiff of air, to a bubble of water, to a speck of dust, and to a grain of sand. Again and again they reminded mankind to be vigilant. They reminded man to strive to remain in connection and union with the source, the eternal God.
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