‘Hinduism: A Path To Inner Peace’ By Mohan R. Pandey
The author who is a retired aeronautic scientist and has spent large part of his life in the US. The book is rather concise for the vast subject of Hinduism; it is objective and non-dogmatic in its approach.
Instead of harping on the differences, it has stressed on the essential unity and homogeneity of all the religions. True to his background, the author has dealt with the scientific aspects of Hinduism in much more detail than the rituals, mythology or even the spiritual side of it.
The author who is a retired aeronautic scientist and has spent large part of his life in the US. The book is rather concise for the vast subject of Hinduism; it is objective and non-dogmatic in its approach.
Instead of harping on the differences, it has stressed on the essential unity and homogeneity of all the religions. True to his background, the author has dealt with the scientific aspects of Hinduism in much more detail than the rituals, mythology or even the spiritual side of it.
He has emphasized very rightly on the inner transformation and awakening the Divine within. The author also points out that Hinduism does not outright condemn the material achievements as some would think, but rather it stresses on Dharma—the righteousness as the yard-stick to qualify and control the secular at all times. With the rightful attitude, as the author writes, “..with the passage of time it gradually wants to wean them out of attachment to materialism…and focus on the stillness within”. He is also quick to add that the so called Dharma (or righteousness) is not the monopoly of Hinduism. All the religions, especially the founders of all faiths in their earnestness have prompted the human beings to adopt very similar spiritual teachings.
The followers—including those of Hinduism—often are not able to maintain the highest standards laid for them. The book gives glimpses of many aspects of Hinduism like the ‘Pilgrimage’, ‘Moksha’, ‘Devotion’, ‘Gyan Yoga’, ‘Raja Yoga’, etc. It discusses ‘Hinduism and Science’ and ‘Hinduism and other Faiths’ in more detail. It stresses on the highest scientific knowledge of ancient Hindu sages even though they did not have access to any of the modern technology; it could be due to superior power of their spiritual mind. Perhaps, in future, science may be able to explain on this phenomenon of metaphysics. The author has singled out ‘Buddhism’ as a major evolutionary and reform religion becoming more objective and rational than the older Hinduism. He points out to the emergence of the new thought process around the same time (5th Century B.C.), when in other Eastern regions, Confucius, Lao-tzu (Tao), Shinto in Japan surfaced. Even so human nature takes its own course; Hinduism adopted Buddha as one of its own god, a Vishnu avatar and accepted many of his teachings, the later Buddhism drifted toward substantial Hindu ritualism and worshipped Budhha like God—quite contrary to what he preached! It is also believed that these new developments greatly influenced Christ and the Faith that followed!
The book emphasizes on the similarity of religions repeatedly; in the last chapter author expresses his fervent hope that in future people all over will realize the futility of discord and quarrel amongst the religions and would rather foster unity and understanding.
(Dr Hiro Badlani is the author of Hinduism: Path of the Ancient Wisdom www.hinduismpath.com)
The followers—including those of Hinduism—often are not able to maintain the highest standards laid for them. The book gives glimpses of many aspects of Hinduism like the ‘Pilgrimage’, ‘Moksha’, ‘Devotion’, ‘Gyan Yoga’, ‘Raja Yoga’, etc. It discusses ‘Hinduism and Science’ and ‘Hinduism and other Faiths’ in more detail. It stresses on the highest scientific knowledge of ancient Hindu sages even though they did not have access to any of the modern technology; it could be due to superior power of their spiritual mind. Perhaps, in future, science may be able to explain on this phenomenon of metaphysics. The author has singled out ‘Buddhism’ as a major evolutionary and reform religion becoming more objective and rational than the older Hinduism. He points out to the emergence of the new thought process around the same time (5th Century B.C.), when in other Eastern regions, Confucius, Lao-tzu (Tao), Shinto in Japan surfaced. Even so human nature takes its own course; Hinduism adopted Buddha as one of its own god, a Vishnu avatar and accepted many of his teachings, the later Buddhism drifted toward substantial Hindu ritualism and worshipped Budhha like God—quite contrary to what he preached! It is also believed that these new developments greatly influenced Christ and the Faith that followed!
The book emphasizes on the similarity of religions repeatedly; in the last chapter author expresses his fervent hope that in future people all over will realize the futility of discord and quarrel amongst the religions and would rather foster unity and understanding.
(Dr Hiro Badlani is the author of Hinduism: Path of the Ancient Wisdom www.hinduismpath.com)
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