No comments about Moral Knowing in a Hindu Sacred City.

2 comments about The Artful Universe: An Introduction to the Vedic Religious Imagination (S U N Y Series in Hindu Studies).

1. In this book which explores both the origins and some later traditions of the Hindu religion (focussing on the Vedas and the Upanisads), William Mahony's mastery of the subject is clear and captivating through his poetic prose and his ability to draw on language which is memorable and at times stunning. A wonderful read for anyone interested in the subject. This book can serve as an introduction for a beginner or an insightful piece for any scholar.



2. This is a wonderful guide to an ancient philosophy which holds that the creation of art by humans is part of the greater process of the creation of the universe by the gods and goddesses. It's written in an accessible style and includes lovely translations of hymns and verses from the Vedas. I found it affirming, inspiring, deeply thought-provoking. I underlined phrases on almost every page!

1 comments about Hanuman's Journey to the Medicine Mountain.

1. Based on classic Indian folklore, Hanuman's Journey to the Medicine Mountain is the picturebook story of Hanuman, the monkey son of the celestial nymph Anjana and the wind god Pavan, and helper of Ram, who is the earthly incarnation of Lord Vishnu and hero of the Hindu epic known as the Ramayana. When the demon king Ravana kidnaps Ram's wife Sita, Ram's army is blocked from rescuing her by a wide expanse of water - but magical Hanuman can cross the ocean in a single bound. Only with the assistance of the devoted Hanuman can Ram rescue his beautiful wife; Hanuman shrinks in size, grows as big enough to uproot a tree, and digs up an entire mountain to deliver its healing herbs to Ram's army. Indian-American Vatsala Sperling retells the parable about Hanuman's choices to side with good and slay evil in readily accessible prose, while illustrator Sandeep Johari brings the magical tale to life with watercolor and tempura paints, creating images in the style of classical Indian art. Hanuman's Journey to the Medicine Mountain is fairly text-heavy for a picturebook, and ideal for young readers who are almost ready to make the transition to chapter books. Highly recommended especially for school and public library collections.

5 comments about Vedic Mathematics or Sixteen Simple Mathematical Formulae from the Vedas.

1. This book was given to me by a friend from India. I just have to say that this book is inspiring in such a way that it provides a new way of thinking in Mathematics. What I found most fascinating is that this way of thinking has been around for over 100 years and very little people know about it! It's a pity this is not taught in American schools because it gives a different perspective on how to solve problems - actually a much easier way to solve problems. If you have kids or you yourself want to solve problems easier (and faster), I strongly recommend this book.

   The majority of the American public is blind about the rest of the world's great achievements, not just mathematics, but also the arts and sciences. Truly unfortunate.

   Vince




2. This book makes "promblems" rename to "FUN." I never imaged math can be as fun and easy, but this book made it so. I gurantee it will make your brain work faster then the calculators. Shock your co-workers or professor with this methods and over smart your friends.



3. It is really amazing book of mathematics. I never knew that mathematics is so simple. Even it gave me explaination about current mathematic principles. After reading this book, I am able to solve equations very easily. This should be teach in every school. It is very easy and very interesting. I am shocked to realize that I did not knew about this book.



4. great book - my teenager is working his way through it in his spare time - wants to be able to wow his math teacher with doing difficult math in his head



5. While the subject matter is covered in the text I would not refer to it as "simple". The author is obviously a highly advanced mathatician and the material is presented with highly advanced terminologies that to some laypeople may be a little difficult to understand. That being said, if you stick with it you will learn different methods of doing advanced mathmatics in a much easier way than taught in the Western world.

3 comments about Indian Mythology: Tales, Symbols, and Rituals from the Heart of the Subcontinent.

1. While reading the introduction I came to realize that this author does not understand the essence of any of the world's religions. Throughout the entire piece, he compares and contrasts Hinduism with a composite "religious category" entitled "Judeo/Islamic/Christain" religion. He protrays this category as being less of value when compared in Hinduism (states basically nothing positive through the entire book about this "category"). Also, these three religions are VERY different, hence, they are three different religions. For instance, he states that this category believes that "heaven" is for "saved souls" , etc. - which is only the composite "Christain" way of viewing "heaven". Jews do not get "saved" at all let alone believe in such a "heaven", etc. This books also has warped versions of the myths and then presents warped essays about the meaning of these myths. Because I know a great deal about this lovely religion I could ignore the mistakes and have learned through his use of wonderful visuals (Hence 2 stars not 1). But I do not recommend individuals who are new to this religion to read this book though - anything by David R. Kinsley and John Keay ( Indian Historian ) is wonderful.



2. I have read Hindu myths since I was a child. But this is a totally different vision. I never realized that the concept of 'evil' or 'prophet' or 'heaven' or 'hell' makes no sense in Hinduism. How it is foreign idea. How modern language is dominated by Western concepts. I was always confused about the many 'heavens' there were in Hindu myths - the heaven of Indra, the heaven of Krishna. Now it all makes sense. The author systematizes this highly complicated body of myth. Sometimes he does take too much artistic license but that is ok.



3. Many people have commented that there are at least two nations in India: India and Bharat. The first looks Westwards for inspiration, the second is not heard mostly, at least in mainstream literature. Dr. Devdutt Pattanaik breaks the mould. A modern Indian, a medical doctor by profession (who turned to mythology and writing), he has brought a freshness of interpretation to Hindu icons.
   
   Dr. Pattanaik comes from Orissa where the fine arts continue to blossom. You can see that special touch of his heritage in his drawings and painting of Hindu icons. I have been a collector of his beautifully illustrated books on Hindu icons for many years, and have been fascinated by his grasp of Hindu traditions.
   
   The first chapter provides an introduction and the basic approach behind his interpretation. The second is a comparison between Hindu, and Western myths. The third and fourth deal with some of the key Hindu traditions. Each of the selected tradition is described briefly, and also analyzed and linked up with the larger whole.
   
   Dr. Pattanaik also covers a large ground, taking material from main Puranas, as also the regional and the sthal (local) puranas. A large amount of the material is from Mahabharata. He also takes some material from the Vedas.
   
   This book is much more analytical than his earlier works, which were more descriptive. In the book, he offers a visual framework, diagrams and illustrations, to help interpret our traditions. These are superb and I have been deeply enriched by these.
   
   Hindu traditions have mostly been interpreted by Western scholars, and most Indian scholars writing in English have been influenced by this. As a result, these often appear baffling to practicing Hindus, who therefore mostly keep away from such works. Dr. Pattanaik helps us understand why this happens.
   
   According to him, Western scholars try to interpret Hindu traditions from their own standpoint, which is squarely in the middle of Western culture, and sensibilities. As a result, even the best meaning among them, fail to elicit deeper meanings that would resonate with practicing Hindus. This perhaps could explain the recent controversy reflected in invading the sacred.
   
   Dr. Pattanaik offers an interpretation which is at once modern (analytical) and traditional (reverent). This creates a unique blend, invaluable for modern Hindus.
   
   This is medium sized book, paperback, with glue binding. The paper is non-reflective. The font is clear, though the ink is slightly faint. There are some color photographs - though somehow the colors have not come out as well as are usual with Inner Traditions books. There is also a brief index to the book.
   
   He has also recently written another book called Myth = Mithya: A Handbook of Hindu Mythology, which takes the ideas presented in this book further.
   
   
   All in all, a good, interesting book. Worth buying if you want a fresh, modern look at some of the oldest traditions in the world.

1 comments about Bhagawan Nityananda of Ganeshpuri.

1. The author, Swami Muktananda, was a great yogic master renowned for his ability to awaken the Kundalini in seekers, thereby enabling them to embark on the journey towards God realization. He established Siddha Yoga in the West at the behest of his Guru, Bhagawan Nityananda of Ganeshpuri. In this lively work, Swami Muktananda recounts the life of his Guru, a saint who attained God realization and who unceasingly worked to help others achieve the same goal. It is a story filled with miracles, love, devotion to God, the power of Siddha Yoga, and in particular the author's expressions of indebtedness to the man who made him what he was. This reader is left deeply moved.

2 comments about In a World of Gods and Goddesses: The Mystic Art of Indra Sharma.

1. Just purchased this book. I love it! The beauty of this book is beyond words. For anyone who is interested to discover more about india's rich heritage to the world...buy this book!



2. WE purchased this for my daughter who is an artist and loves the art and Beuaty of this book lots of Full Color pictures and intersting narrative have brought her lots of enjoyment.

5 comments about Hindu Myths: A Sourcebook Translated from the Sanskrit (Penguin Classics).

1. For those who want to truly learn about hinduism, I would recommend the Bhagavad Gita translations. Versions by Ram Dass, Eknath Easwaran, Parmahansa Yogananda are quite good though there is no replacement for the original text in Sanskrit.
   Also, I would recommend David Frawley's
   Gods, Sages and Kings: Vedic Secrets of Ancient Civilization.

   I will not even dwell into the details of the book that I found inaccurate . You can figure the author's viewpoint just by noticing that the title uses the term 'myth'. When you discuss some, if not all, religious sacred scriptures and label them as 'myths' you clearly show yourself as a non-believer and one who typically adopts a condescending attitude.

   I felt the need to write this review since the top rated review calls Hindus who dont accept this book 'idiots'.
   And in the future, it would be nice to see reviewers who do not resort to tactics of grade one students- name calling. Maturity is highly appreciated . Thanks




2. this book may portray some of the facts of hinduism, but it does not seem to want to portray it in an inoffensive manner. what the author doesn't or does understand is that this is a religion, it would be like writing a book on christianity and refering to the noah and adam and eve stories as myths. then researching it half-assed and writing on personal opinions that are highly offensive to christians. matters of faith should not be tried in court, so there is no way you can look at it in a factual or intellectual manner. it just does not make sense, unless you want to visit the places where these Gods were born and look at the evidence and speak of it or read the palm leaf that still exists in India that predicted the birth of jesus...which was predicted in the Hindu religion.



3. I have just been reading Hindu Myths by Wendy Doniger. I was quite disappointed in reading the translations and analysis in the book. It seems quite obvious to me that Ms. Doniger does not have any love for the hindu scriptures that she's translating, though she professes in the preface that the selection of stories in the book are her favorites. Everything from the choice of the titles to the naming of the characters to the descriptions of the conversations to the conclusions that she draws from the myths seem to be designed to expose hidden sexual/erotic meanings and reduce the tales and myths to rubbish produced by peurile and perverted imbeciles. The book's main contents page cleverly hides the outrageous themes that she has chosen as subheadings in the main text. It is not clear why exactly this was done, probably to increase the sales. At least unsuspecting readers like me would not be discouraged when we look at it before we buy the book. Her narrative rarely evokes the feeling that is intended in the text that she is translating. She has a single minded purpose of nailing the hidden unholy, scandalous message that the tale carries in her opinion. This book is definitely not intended to present any positive view to the readers. It is more like a brief of an investigation specifically designed to malign hindu faith.
   
   Ms. Doniger has spent the better part of her life reading the hindu scriptures and it is sad to see what she has learnt from them and what she has chosen to share with her countrymen.



4. Silly book by a sex-obsessed author - Freudian analysis to explore religion? At best, one can describe it as the product of an over-imaginative mind, but it's certainly not a book on Hindu religion, because it interprets the religion in ways that the practitioners never intended or even imagined. "Your interpretation of my beliefs reflects the way you think, not the way I think."



5. If you would like to read about how to denigrate hinduism, wendy doniger is your woman. She has in all her books insulted hinduism. Her lack of intellectual background or cultural understanding and pure racial bias are very obvious in her writings.

2 comments about A Short History of Bali: Indonesia's Hindu Realm (A Short History of Asia series).

1. I am Balinese, so I am delighted that there is a history of Bali. It is strange that this is one of the very few to be published. Up to now, the history of my island has mostly had to be pieced together from books on other topics. I have also made an attempt at a comprehensive history on my own web site. We cover much the same ground.

   Robert Pringle writes in a clear, easy style and covers a large sweep in 231 pages - from Java Man 1.5 million years ago (no evidence he made it to Bali) to August 2003, when the first death sentence was passed on Amrozi, one of the terrorists responsible for the Bali bomb. It is not dry and academic - he talks about visits to Bali with his wife and historical sites. This gives the book a nice, personal touch. It would be a good read on holiday.

   He starts by describing the geographical aspects of Bali and places the island in the context of South East Asia (a term not invented until the Second World War). He quotes the anthropologist Clifford Geertz, who called Bali "this snug, little amphitheater." He places history in context and sets out details of our unique social system.

   Information on pre-Majapahit Bali, that is the period before 1343, is limited. There are not many records. Pringle sets out what is known or can be deduced. He discusses early Indian influences, which came from trading links. The rulers of the day adopted many aspects as politically useful. There are stone and copper inscriptions, which give the names of early kings and throw light on their social and political concerns. This is interesting background for those visiting the archaeological sites.

   The Majapahit conquest of 1343 is, for many, the start of Balinese history. Majapahit has become a code word for Bali's Golden Age. Court poets wrote about it. Much of it may just have been poetry. The Dutch also nurtured their own myths about it and they have been faithfully trotted out in the books. Pringle is illuminating.

   Bali is famous for its bright colours, vibrant forms and dramatic, emphatic rhythms. We Balinese tend to attribute these to the Majapahit Empire, but Pringle thinks that it is likely that these characteristics, which distinguish us from the Javanese, on the neighbouring island, date back to Old Bali.

   Eventually nine independent kingdoms emerged. The Dutch, active in Java and elsewhere in the Archipelago from the 16th century, were not too interested in Bali, which was lucky for Bali, but in 1849, they conquered the northern half of the island and the rest was defeated by 1908. There was a lot of bloodshed. They arrived with a guilty conscience. Pringle sets out well the consequences of colonial rule. He is not biased as many books are on this subject. This is one of the best accounts I have read.

   He comprehensively sets out the advent of Westerners and tourism from 1902-1942. There is not much that is new here, but it is a good summary for those new to the subject. Many of the artistic advances of the time took place in my village, Ubud.

   He is brief on the Japanese Occupation from 1942-1945. Perhaps a bit more on this period would have been interesting.

   The Indonesian Revolution culminated in independence in 1949 with Indonesia's first President, Sukarno, who was half-Balinese. The left-leaning Sukarno liked Bali and brought many famous people here. Pringle obviously delights in naming them. I remember that time. It was difficult for ordinary people, like me, and 1965-66 was the worst when there was an alleged communist coup, which was brutally suppressed by Suharto, and thousands were killed. Estimates range from 82,000 to more than 1 million throughout Indonesia. Pringle raises interesting questions and attempts to answer them: Why did it happen? Was it inevitable?

   Suharto became President until 1998. Pringle deals with that time adequately. For Bali, the story was mostly about tourism and questions surrounding it, like the preservation of Balinese culture.

   He mentions some things I did not know - which is always interesting - like the fact that Karl Marx said in1853 that Hinduism then being practised in Bali must have been similar to that which supported despotism in India before British rule.

   He corrects assumptions that are often just repeated from one book to another. He points out that there is no evidence that the aboriginal Bali Aga people pre-dated the Hindus from the Javanese kingdom of Majapahit to Bali. Most guides and many others say they did. He also corrects a common misunderstanding about caste and explains that the term, which is always applied, is arguably inappropriate for what is no more than a status distinction. It was largely a product of colonial rule.

   Pringle brings issues right up to date. I am pleased to say that he loves Bali and thinks that there is every reason to believe that we Balinese will surmount our present challenges. He thinks Bali will remain a literally wonder-full place to experience.

   Read this book. I recommend it. It is interesting from many points of view. It will be an excellent introduction to anyone visiting Bali.

   Murni




2. Sent to my son per his request. He thought book was very good. I cannot give you much more feedback - but sent promptly and arrived in good condition. Thanks, Ben Herb

5 comments about Living with Kundalini (Shambhala Dragon Editions).

1. I love this book , Gopi is very clear and not at all concerned with prevailing cultish views on the nature of awakening. He gives us a deep look into the effects of this most mysterious force, and the resulting transformations in consciousness . Many people have experienced this opening of deeper energies and live with this new depth and current of life force. And may wonder at the path this energy is taking, where does it lead ? what is the purpose of this awakening? . Gopi gives us a clear view of the Unfloding of Grace within the life of a Human being . I find it fascinating that there is so much variety amongst descriptions of the awakening process. Yet within that we can discern a pattern , the small sense of self dissolves ( often this can be a painfull and frightening process) and the mind merges into the ALL PERVADING HEART OF REALITY, prior to "sapce/time" . More REAL than any-"thing" known via the senses an OCEAN of PURE BEING. Yet for this transformation to happen a vast process of expanding perception must unfold . Gopi provides us with a clear description of his journey.He gives us renewed faith in the INTELLIGENCE guiding ALL of life , and reveals many laws of nature as seen from his standpoint of Higher vision . There are many ways in which grace functions , as evidenced by the many sages and their wide ranging ways of living and expressing this process , ie Ramana Mahsrshi, Ramakrishna , J krishnamurti and most Improtantly YOUR OWN. I recomend this book highly and even more highly recomend you read the book of your OWN SELF .



2. I checked this book out because I began having similar bodily sensations, and I was looking for information -- hopefully from someone who was willing to share their personal experience without cluttering the issue with extraneous stuff. To be perfectly honest, I wasn't looking for an autobiography, but a personalized account of what the title seemed it would deliver. I took the title to mean that the book would be about a living relationship with Kundalini. I read the whole book, cover to cover in a fever, looking for information.
   I appreciate the man's honesty. However, the book is clearly a repetitious biography that was put together by someone who didn't bother to edit it. In other words, it's a hack job. This is not at all what I have come to expect from the Shambala Dragon Editions!
   As other reviews state, the book should clearly be half (or a third!) of the length, and if the title is to be lived up to ("Living With Kundalini"), it should keep to the focus. I was sorely disappointed and considered a major part of the time I spent essentially a waste, since I was not really looking for an autobiography to begin with -- much less a rambling and (although kindly-offered) moralizing one, including such issues as the evil effects of the dowry system in India.



3. I was looking forward to this edition of Gopi Krishna's autobiography.As an autobiography it is a let down.He writes a fair amount about his childhood, but gives few details about his adult life.You don't get inside his life to see what he was like as a person.Maybe he was too spaced out with his kundalini experiences to worry about everyday matters.The book says very little on his techniques to get kundalini. He just says he meditated , for hours at a time, from age seventeen to thirty four.Then, when meditating on a lotus at crown of his head, he had his first kundalini experience.He doesn't paint a very good picture of his experiences.He had severe mood swings, from high elation to deep depression. Perhaps he was not properly prepared for the experiences.A physical experience in itself does not constitute spiritual development.Much of the book consists of very basic New Age ramblings.I am currently reading two other books on kundalini. They are 'Theories of the Chakras' by Hiroshi Motoyama, and 'Layayoga, an Advanced Method of Concentration' by Shyam Sundar Goswami.Unlike Gopi Krishna, they both give very detailed instructions on opening the chakras.



4. Thank you for being so vulnerable to share your process. I really appreciated hearing his story of the trials and tribulations he went through during his kundalini unfoldment. Was very heartening to read. It was a while back but it made an impression on me and now I want to read it again. It is somehow encouraging to read the story of someone who went through such a challenge throughout his awakening and shared from coming out the other side.



5. I found this book in the bookstore across the street from the Mayo clinic in Rochester, back in 1994. I knew a little bit about Tantric yoga from my readings, and from hanging around with practitioners back in the 70's. The intense striving associated with Tantric practice, such as breath of fire, I always found to be aggressive, and off putting. The descriptions of the motivations of adherents, in their seeking of physical sensation, failed to impress me as meaningful. I have been having spontaneous Kundalini experiences on my own since 1969--but I have never sought them out--and found them very confusing, before I realized what they were.
   
   In the early days, I was afraid of spontaneous combustion, and tended to try to put the kibosh on the sensation, until some friends at the Edgar Cayce Foundation explained it to me. It was around that time that I learned of the thinking of Wilhelm Reich, and read several of his books, including, The Function of the Orgasm. I definitely see some parallels between Kundalini and Reich, and Ida Rolf, and Qi Gong, and Japanese Ki breathing. It just that I don't really understand the objective of Kundalini raising as a goal. Having experienced the phenomenon many, many times, I have to say that it is 'merely' a very powerful sensation, sometimes intensely pleasurable, sometimes slightly painful, and always imposing constraints on posture and breathing that I find sort of annoying. And then what? It doesn't produce any 'aha' moments. I never solved some wicked problem in the wake of them--I never was aware of them stimulating my creativity. The only real benefit I can cite is that when I was young, raising my kundalini seemed to make me more interesting to the opposite sex--but that is throughly subjective. Maybe I had more confidence in those states.
   
   The thing that was interesting to me about Gopi's book was the trouble he went through with Kundalini issues. I can relate to that. I have had to put up with many weird phantom sensations and pains at various times, and a lot of the time I would misidentify them as legitimate medical issues. Generally, things like intense chronic headaches appear when I get absorbed in my work and go into a fugue state and forget to attend to my breathing carefully. I have to watch my breathing very carefully and keep properly hydrated and engage in visualization exercises that my crown chakra is in full efflorescence to keep the headaches away. It is curious that we do not have more books from India regarding Tantric Yoga and Kundalini. Gopi Krisna is the source of most of them. (Well there is Sir John Woodroffe's Serpent Power)This whole 'evolutionary energy' thing, I am not totally convinced about. I do see a relation with Qi Gong and Ki. It is worth noting that Stan Grof, in his Holotropic breathwork technique, borrows a lot from the Tantric tradition and breath of fire. But here he applies the technique in a therapeutic context that varies, somewhat, from the Yogic context, but, is very efficacious, as therapy. I, personally, prefer Qi Gong as an ongoing practice--but then again, I am more into tranquility, in my value system.
   
   Hatha Yoga is something that I can understand. I 'get' the benefits of Hatha Yoga. Kundalini, Tantric Yoga, I understand the theory of Chakras and their balance--but I am primarily concerned with 'useful', pragmatic knowledge; with wisdom, and insight, and realization, and understanding. These are phenomena that derive from careful study, reflection, contemplation, and natural integration--action through non-action. I see a difference between Samadhi and Satori--from my perspective, Samadhi is available at all times--not that big of a deal--it's an emotional state of mind--but Satori a like a quantum leap you can never anticipate--which leaves new insights in its wake. Kundalini is a form of grace, and when it happens as an emotional response to a symbol or something, I can't refuse it--but it's value, to me, is illusive.
   
   People will argue about these approaches as they have for millennia. I do not see practices such as Yoga as leading to 'union with the Divine'--although they may produce a positive sense of well being. I see integration with the Divine Reality as a natural consequence of the grace of individuation, or awakening to realization of Self. The one, must be strived for and earned, the other,consists in simply remembering your original nature.