Spiritual Secrets from Hinduism: Essence of the Vedic Scriptures

Spirituality can mean so many different things to different people. I too have learned varied things during my spiritual journey and formed perspectives regarding multiple aspects of seeking meaningful answers to life's big questions. This is one book that provides a holistic view of our connection to God, the inner workings of our mind and emotions, all from the lens of ageless Hindu scriptures. The ideas and teachings in this book are conveyed in a logical, streamlined, structured and succinct manner that makes for an easy read. I was able to relate to many of the simple analogies and examples because they are drawn from daily life. Never before have I encountered such clarity in my conceptual understanding of God. This can be a very abstract concept, which like many people, I too had several queries about: how was the Universe created, is there really one true God? The author anchors to the wisdom of the Vedas to answer questions regarding some of these polarizing questions by reinforcing using scriptural verses that there indeed is only one Supreme Entity and that all religions worship this same one all-powerful God. The other oft-misunderstood idea that the author dispel is that of various forms of God: again, he explains using scriptural references that although God is all-pervading, He can manifest in a personal form. He goes on to shed further light by clarifying that God all the different representations of God whether male or female are all forms of the same one God. This typical style of backing up ideas presented in this book with solid, undeniable scriptural quotations is a hall mark of this book, one that I enjoyed following. The one very interesting and informative part surrounding the discussion of the nature of God, was realizing that celestial gods are in fact, not God but souls like us! Yet again, the author gives a great example to understand this structure, by suggesting that the celestial gods are like God's administration for the functioning of the world. I drew a lot of personal learning from the chapter "How to know God." Since the spiritual journey of seeking is a journey of going within, this is the ultimate question that can appear to be very daunting and esoteric. Again, the author presents a logical step by step way of gaining knowledge, which leads to developing faith, which leads to love for God. This chapter left me feeling very inspired to keep seeking divine knowledge. This segways really well into the next chapter which emphasizes the need for self-effort on the path of spirituality. I found this to be very enlightening to take my spiritual practice to the next level. It is a great reminder that we should not chalk down our entire life to destiny, but use our free will wisely. I enjoyed reading about some of the technicalities of types of karma and how they affect our experiences in our present lifetime. Swami Mukundananda sagely advises on the balance required between our self-effort and God's grace: both are important on our spiritual journey. The other section of the book I learned a lot from was the different paths that can be taken to reach our destination of attaining God. The author has provided a wonderful analogy of the way education branches out further and further as a student progresses, so that diverse education needs can be taken care of. Similarly, the author says, thedifferent spiritual paths cater to the different predispositions and sanskars of seekers. The three paths elucidated in this book by the author are karm, jnana and bhakti. So many times the question of one's true duty/ dharm can be a perplexing or overwhelming one. It was truly eye-opening for me to learn about the difference between one's spiritual and social duty. There is also interesting information provided on ritualistic practices which most of us do in a mechanical manner, but we don't generally give much thought to the origins and the reasons behind them. For busy professionals like me, I really gravitated to the description of Karm Yoga, which the author describes really well as a method to continue doing our work, but keep our mind engaged in God's devotion simultaneously. The jnana path is also described very well, with special emphasis on the importance of realized or practical knowledge, as opposed to just theoretical or bookish knowledge. Ashtanga Yog was something I was familiar with, but did learn some more about that too in terms of the need for bhakti to take it to the next level. Swami Mukundananda, being a Bhakti saint does immense justice to the chapter Path of Bhakti. My takeaways from this chapter were that Bhakti means to serve, and that there are practically no barriers to practicing bhakti because it is not limited to the temple - we can engage in it any place, any time of day, through any activity! The other part of the book that made an impact on me was regarding selfless love. The author makes a compelling argument that selfish love keeps fluctuating depending on whether our self-interest gets fulfilled or not. It is a very thought provoking section of the book indeed!Overall, this book has been a great addition to my spiritual journey in terms of the many nuggets of wisdom I have been able to take away from it. It has served as clarification to some of the questions I've had, and it has given me some practical tools to start applying to my daily life to take my spiritual journey several steps forward!

Growing up in the Indian tradition, I often encountered revered texts like the Gita, Ramayan, Mahabharat, and Bhagavatam adorning our family altar. Yet, it wasn't until I stumbled upon Spiritual Secrets From Hinduism: Essence of Vedic Scriptures on Amazon that my curiosity for delving into these sacred writings truly sparked. Initially approaching it with the modest aim of grasping the essence of Vedic teachings, I soon found myself embarking on an exhilarating spiritual odyssey that would reshape my entire perspective.Since childhood, I have been fond of attending poojas with elaborate rituals, offering prayers, admiring beautifully adorned altars and relishing delicious prasad. But going through the splendid content of this extraordinary book, I realised my understanding of devotion to God is quite shallow. Though I have been following simple rituals, I was unaware of their significance. These have been explained beautifully in this book. For example, lighting a lamp symbolizes knowledge that removes the darkness of ignorance; a ceremony Lights or aarti that illuminates different parts of the deity are also a way of meditating on the beauty of God; parikrama or circumambulating the deity signifies keeping the Lord as the centre of our life and much more. While flipping through this section, it struck me that this is an excellent way to impart valuable lessons and instil reverence for these practices from a young age in children. In my prayers, I have always asked God to fulfil my list of demands. In contrast, here the author talks of devotion to God which is self-less, not self-seeking. Our scriptures venerate devotion to God, where all we should ask God is pure bhakti to serve Him with utmost sincerity. I was completely stumped that all these years I had been petitioning God to fulfill my worldly wishes and drive away my miseries. This wasn’t closer to true devotion after all.It was an eye-opening moment because through this book I was exposed to lofty ideals of Vedic wisdom expounded in our scriptures.Sometimes, I feel God’s invisible hands jolt us out of our slumber by presenting us with profound wisdom through books like this. I have come across gems of knowledge in this book that can enrich my life, help me navigate difficult emotions and give meaning and purpose to my existence. My understanding is that unlike in other areas of life, we follow a regime and strive to excel, we seldom do the same in spirituality. Somewhere our efforts are lukewarm and lack the desired intensity to result in spiritual breakthroughs. But the good news is that in addition to philosophical insights, the book offers practical guidance on spiritual practices or sadhana, providing a roadmap for those seeking spiritual growth. I have come across spiritual regimes detailed in great length in this book. I can choose the type of spiritual practice, and the form of meditation that interests me.Meditation is integral to any spiritual practice. It has dawned on me that the different meditation techniques, be it, centring our attention on the breath, psychic centers or chakras improve our concentration and accrue other benefits like making us feel peaceful.But they fail to chip away the impurities of the mind. This can only be achieved by meditating on the all-pure God. Through various meditation techniques detailed within its pages, I discovered new avenues for inner exploration and transformation, particularly through the profound practice of Roop Dhyan Meditation, which captivated my mind in ways previous techniques had not. To my delight, the author has detailed variations to meditating on God, rendering meditation quite an interesting process.Further, the author has elaborated on how earlier art and science were developed in the spirit of devotion. All our classical dance forms, musical compositions, literature, and architecture had God as the central theme. Undoubtedly the God-conscious society of ancient yore stood tall as one of the finest civilizations on this planet. This can inspire us to rekindle a connection with our roots and lead a devoted life by accessing the knowledge of our scriptures and implementing them through spiritual practices (sadhana).I firmly believe that ‘Spiritual Secrets From Hinduism’ is a powerhouse of Vedic knowledge.It can transform our lives, spiritualize our consciousness and take us closer to the Absolute Truth, That is God Himself.

Swamijee drives all to the purpose of your birth!! Would request all to know the purpose of everyone's life from the book. If to achieve the purpose, the author tells us to follow 8 practices. To follow these practices, one needs to understand the role of vedas, the criticality of Guru, the secrets of mind, human psychology & the nuances of surrender yet max self effort. All these are so marvellously explained, am short of words to write a review. The book also answers questions like Which is the preferred type of meditation and how do you dou it ? What is Sadhana? Is divine love & our selfless love equals to Bhakthi ? What is the difference/ similarity between Bhagwan, Paramatama and Brahman? Is there any common feature in Karm yog, Bhakthi yog & Janana yog ? Many many questions will be answered in simple understandable language. Must read for everyone whether they are into spirituality or religous beliefs or not an Hindu too!!!

The book "Spiritual Secrets from Hinduism: Essence of the Vedic Scriptures" by Swami Mukundananda takes readers on a fascinating journey into the core of Sanatan Dharma and provides deep insights into the holy Vedas, which are considered as the source of all eternal wisdom in Hinduism.

The author has provided a well-packed, all-encompassing view into the concepts of Hindu spirituality: starting at the very beginning with the quintessential question about who we really are, moving on to the purpose of life, the nature of God, Hindu scriptures and Guru. The author also goes into greater detail in areas of Vedic psychology and secrets of the human mind. There is a lot of explanation around the very esoteric concept of Surrender, which provides a lot of clarity around a subject that can be difficult to wrap one's head around. Rounding out this foundational layout are explanations to the different paths available to people who want to put these spiritual secrets into practice. The author Swami Mukundananda has placed great emphasis on the path of Bhakti (devotion) and goes into the depth of its meaning and how to actually practice it. There tends to be a lot of confusion around the monotheistic/polytheistic nature and forms of God in Hinduism. The author has very lucidly provided an easy-to-understand explanation around this and the different manifestations of God.The topics of seva and selfless love were quite new to me and helped with rounding out my own understanding of the other nuggets of wisdom that can be extracted from Hindu scriptural philosophy. For someone like me who was raised during childhood with a daily ritual of aarti and puja, we are usually taught to include in our prayers a list of things to ask God for - good health, happiness, help with passing exams, a good job, a good family. This book provided to me a novel way of rethinking this by presenting the idea that real praying or devotion to God is free from self-seeking. Swami Mukundananda says in the book “True devotees desire the happiness of God”. They love Shree Krishna for His happiness alone. And to make Him happy, they wish to serve Him with everything they have. The following explanation also gave me a lot of food for thought since it is a new way for me to look at things: what can we offer to God? We can offer our wealth (by donating a portion of our income to causes that will put it towards God), through our Mind (by cultivating thoughts and sentiments that will make God happy) and through our Body (by doing and providing service towards God).The other section of the book I resonated with was around meditation practice. I have been practicing various types of meditation over the years, including mindfulness, Zen, breath focused meditation etc. The author does mention these different types of meditations including focusing between the eyebrows, meditating on a light etc. However, the key difference between what I have been practicing all along, and what Swami Mukundananda has outlined here is the object of meditation. The author advises that mechanical meditation will definitely improve the focus and concentration of the mind, but that it will not help improve the condition of the mind in terms of negative qualities like anger, greed and envy. Instead, he advises meditating upon the forms and activities of God since the mind needs something to latch onto to stem its incessant flow of thoughts. Most importantly he says, focusing on the all-pure Divine God will help remove impurities of negative qualities from our Minds as well. He goes on to detail the different ways to meditate upon God, including Roopdhyan i.e. meditating on the form of God, His virtues like divinity, serenity, mercy etc. He suggests we can also meditate upon Divine Pastimes by thinking about the various leelas performed by God during hide scents in different avatars. The author ties a bow on these techniques providing detailed instructions on how to practice sadhana on a daily basis. This was the best part of the book for me, because it outlines those instructions in a very easy to understand manner. It filled me with the motivation and inspiration to build upon my meditation habit by layering in the practice of meditation upon God using the various techniques described in the book.As a person who was not only looking for a down to earth, clear view into Hindu spiritual teachings, but also looking to apply those teachings in their daily life, I found this book highly educational, informative and practical and the one I will keep going back to for revision!

Awakening the Inner Light: Swami Mukundananda's 'Spiritual Secrets from Hinduism: Essence of the Vedic Scriptures'Swami Mukundananda's highly acclaimed book, 'Spiritual Secrets from Hinduism: Essence of the Vedic Scriptures,' is a masterfully crafted guidebook that delves into the profound wisdom and timeless teachings of ancient Hindu scriptures. Through its comprehensive exploration of the Vedas, Upanishads, and Bhagavad Gita, this book unlocks the profound secrets of the spiritual realm, empowering readers to embark on a transformative journey of self-discovery and enlightenment.This insightful work acts as a bridge, connecting the ancient wisdom of the Vedas with the modern seeker, offering a profound understanding of Hinduism and its universal truths. It draws upon the fundamental concepts of Dharma, Karma, Moksha, and the ultimate goal of achieving liberation. Swami Mukundananda eloquently unravels the intricacies of these concepts, making them accessible and relevant to a contemporary audience.A Journey into the Heart of Hindu Spirituality:Swami Mukundananda, a renowned spiritual leader and scholar, has distilled the essence of Vedic scriptures into an accessible and engaging format. Each chapter unfolds a different facet of Hindu philosophy, from the nature of the Supreme Being to the path of liberation. The book is meticulously organized, providing a logical and immersive journey into the depths of Hindu spirituality.Exploring the Vedas: The Ancient Source of Wisdom:The Vedas, considered as the most sacred and ancient texts in Hinduism, form the cornerstone of Swami Mukundananda's teachings. He unravels the profound truths hidden within these ancient hymns, revealing their insights into the origins of the universe, the nature of karma, and the ultimate goal of human existence.Unveiling the Upanishads: The Wisdom of Self-Realization:The Upanishads, the philosophical core of Vedic literature, are explored in great detail. Swami Mukundananda illuminates the essential teachings of self-realization, the nature of the soul, and the true meaning of Brahman, the ultimate reality.The Bhagavad Gita: A Guide to Dharma and Karma:The Bhagavad Gita, one of the most revered scriptures of Hinduism, receives extensive analysis. Swami Mukundananda clarifies the concepts of dharma, karma, and self-transcendence, empowering readers to navigate life's challenges and attain spiritual fulfillment.Practical Techniques and Spiritual Insights:Beyond its scholarly exploration, this book is also a practical guide for spiritual seekers. Swami Mukundananda shares time-tested techniques for meditation, mindfulness, and self-inquiry, empowering readers to integrate these ancient practices into their daily lives. Key themes explored include:The Power of Chanting:The book explains the transformative power of chanting mantras, revealing how it can harmonize the mind, body, and soul.The Path of Yoga:Swami Mukundananda sheds light on the different paths of yoga, detailing their individual benefits and how they contribute to spiritual growth.The Importance of Self-Realization:The author emphasizes the need to understand the true nature of the self, going beyond the physical and mental limitations.The Role of Grace:Swami Mukundananda highlights the significance of divine grace in spiritual evolution, emphasizing the importance of surrender and devotion.The Art of Meditation:This aspect has been particularly life-altering for me. By masterfully blending meditation practices with the loving presence of God, Swami Mukundananda provides a practical guide to cultivating inner peace and stillness. This transformative practice transcends the boundaries of time and space, instilling a sense of divine connection that permeates all aspects of daily life, even amidst the challenges of fast-paced living. It's not only about starting the day with a prayer but also about cultivating a constant connection with the divine throughout every moment. This has significantly inspired and enhanced my spiritual practice.A Transformative Guide for Spiritual Growth:'Spiritual Secrets from Hinduism' is not merely a book to be read and forgotten. It is a catalyst for growth and an invaluable resource that will serve as a lifelong guide for those seeking spiritual growth and enlightenment whether you are now embarking on this path or a seasoned practitioner, Swami Mukundananda's compassionate voice and profound wisdom permeates every page, inspiring readers to embark on a meaningful and fulfilling spiritual journey.Each chapter enthralls with an unparalleled depth of invaluable spiritual insights, unveiling the essence of the Self, the transformative power of devotion, the limitless capacity of love, and the profound impact of selfless service.In short:I wholeheartedly recommend this book. Swami Mukundananda's 'Spiritual Secrets from Hinduism: Essence of the Vedic Scriptures' is an extraordinary work that unlocks the profound secrets of ancient Hindu scriptures. Engaging, accessible, and transformative, this book is an essential companion for anyone seeking to delve into the depths of spirituality, heal from past traumas, and discover the true essence of human existence. The author's promise isn't just fulfilled but surpassed, delivering a masterpiece. As you delve into its depths, you will discover a timeless treasure that will forever enrich your spirit and enhance your mental, physical, and spiritual well-being. May this exploration ignite a flame of inspiration within you, guiding you toward an authentic life filled with purpose and meaning.Appreciation to the author, Swami Mukundananda:For your illuminating insights and your invaluable contribution to the world of literature and spirituality, I offer my deepest gratitude. May your words continue to enlighten, inspire, and empower all who encounter them. Keep the flame burning!Namaste!

Must Read, provides a better meaning to life, it has all the wisdoms from various holy books.

The whole vedic path of bhakti and more has been beautifully summarized here, in this simple but worthwhile book, easy to understand for everyone.

I have been seeking answers to life's biggest questions for many years. Questions such as - what is the purpose of my life? Who is God and how can I develop a relationship with Him? How can I access the complex and cryptic teachings of our ancient Hindu scriptures to apply to my daily life? In this book, Swami Mukundananda has provided a compact and compelling view into all these questions and more. If only this book had existed all those years ago when I was yearning to seek answers to these conundrums of life!The Hindu tradition refers to so many different kinds of holy scriptures such as the Vedas, Puranas, Upanishads etc. It can get confusing and overwhelming if one wants to start seeking knowledge on their own. This book breaks the history and origin of these scriptures down in a succinct and simple way so the reader can get an overall idea regarding their structure and content organization. I was especially able to relate to the idea of the range of Vedic scriptures to a general store: There are shelves upon shelves of knowledge and wisdom on offer, we need to pick out the right scriptural teachings to absorb based on our current level of spiritual understanding. Given the wide array and complexity involved in the scriptures, Swamiji recommends learning them under the guidance of a Guru. This is an invaluable and relief-inducing tip for a seeker like me who might be struggling with respect to where to begin their quest for knowledge!In this day and age where Gurus are a dime a dozen, it was heartening to read some specifics regarding how to identify a true Guru based on certain attributes. The simple validation method of Guru (spiritual teacher), Sadhu (matching teachings of past Guru in our history) and Shastras (in line with scriptural teachings) seems like a really effective way to discern whether a Guru merits our faith and surrender. Once we are assured of finding an authentic Guru, Swamiji advises following the instructions of this Guru just as we would follow the medical advice of a trusted doctor. Once again, an analogy that makes perfect sense!The parts in the book that explore the nature of God and how to attain Him were very insightful. The whole concept of relating to God, working on attaining Him can seem very far- fetched to a person that lacks the right knowledge. Swami Mukundananda clearly explains with the help of numerous scriptural references, the nature of God and the need for God's grace and our self-effort needed in knowing Him.The chapter on the important of self-effort was very enlightening. Swamiji sheds light on oft-discussed topics such as destiny vs free-will and how much impact our own self-effort has in our life. With the help of hard-hitting examples, Swamiji definitively answers the doubt regarding is there any point in putting in effort if whatever is written in our fate will happen anyway? He warns of complacency and passivity that can make us unnecessarily helpless instead of striving to make our life the best we can. The piece of wisdom he quotes here from the Hitopadesh "The actions we performed in our past lives created our destiny in the present." is an eye-opening statement indeed.The commentary on brain vs mind was thought-provoking to say the least. Gaining an understanding between the powerful relationship between our thoughts and what we end up attracting into our life, is the first step to taking stock of the current life situation we find ourselves in! Swamiji drives this point home in a very impactful way by drawing a similarity between tending to our mind by removing negative thoughts and emotions just as we would tend to our garden by removing weeds. The other important takeaway for me was the gamut of clear and to-the-point instructions on meditation and sadhana. It is something I can practically carry away from this book, to further evolve my spiritual practice.There are also tons of memorable nuggets throughout the book. For eg, I was stunned to read that Sage Valmiki was empowered with divine vision which allowed him to foresee and write the Ramayan even before Shree Ram took his avatar on earth! Additionally, the book is peppered with apt and easy to understand analogies that help in easily relating to topics that might otherwise have been esoteric and hard to grasp. All in all, Swamiji's book 'Spiritual Secrets from Hinduism' is a treasure trove of not just theoretical knowledge, but practical gems that can be successfully applied to my daily life for enhanced well-being and continued progress on my spiritual journey!