Why is there something rather than nothing? Was there a beginning to our universe, or was it always there? Everything around us winds down; was the universe wound up? Is there evidence of design in our universe, or was it the result of dumb luck? Are there other universes besides ours? Is life common in our universe? Did life on earth start spontaneously from inanimate matter? Is there evidence of intelligence in the living cell? Is there enough evidence for evolution? Did all life have a universal common ancestor? Does thinking emerge from brain complexity? Does the self exist, or is it just an illusion? Can science explain our consciousness? Can the soul or self be separated from the body? Is there any evidence for an afterlife? Is there any positive evidence for the existence of God, or is it all inferred? Is proposing the existence of a creator pseudoscience? Does survival of the fittest imply a malevolent creator? Why all this pain and suffering in life? Is there any meaning to life? Do heaven, hell, and purgatory exist; where are they? Is God a Reality? is a lifetime study of these questions by a scientist.

Krishna is the single most beloved figure in Hinduism. Such is his popularity that he is considered a supreme god in his own right even though he is only an avatar. In this book, we journey through Krishna's life--spanning his birth, childhood, youth, and adulthood--and describe many of the delightful stories associated with him. We also examine the Mahabharata War in which he plays a major non-combat role. Krishna is the eight incarnation of Vishnu. Although the purpose of his incarnation was to end the life of the demon king Kamsa, he turned into a larger-than-life figure with his childhood pranks and adolescent romances. Starting with a miraculous birth—that has parallels to the birth of Jesus—Krishna grew up as an ordinary, but adorable child. In his youth, Krishna became the heartthrob of milkmaids and popularized the passionate romantic dance Rasa Lila, together with his childhood sweetheart Radha. The annihilation of Kamsa followed thereafter. By this time the purpose of his incarnation was accomplished, but he stayed back on Earth to play a major part in the Mahabharata War. His greatest gift to humanity—the Bhagavad Gita—was delivered at this time. Maybe he overextended his stay, because his extraordinary life came to an end in less than perfect circumstances. The Mahabharata occupies a significant portion of this book. With a complex plot and a myriad of characters, the epic has surprisingly no role models, only many heroes. Yet, the Mahabharata has been the inspiration for countless books, songs, and Bollywood movies. Although this book is centered on Krishna, the remaining avatars of Vishnu—particularly Buddha—are also explored at length.

Navigate the world's belief systems with this faith-filled resource! Want to learn more about Judaism? Confused about Confucianism? This book is the answer to your prayers! World Religions DeMYSTiFieD is filled with the knowledge you need to ace a religion exam or satisfy your own curiosity. Written by a professor of religion, World Religions DeMYSTiFieD gives you a tour of belief systems found around the globe. You will learn about the world's major religions--Hinduism, Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, and Islam--as well as Earth-based religions and native traditions of Australia, Africa, and the Americas. After reading this book, you will have a healthy understanding of these faiths without being overwhelmed by mystifying jargon or concepts. This fast and easy guide features: Step-by-step guidance through the fundamentals of world religions Major rituals, celebrations, traditions, sacred texts, and art from each faith Self-tests at the end of each chapter with complete answer explanations A comprehensive test at the end of the book to check your knowledge Perfect for religion majors and the just-curious alike, World Religions DeMYSTiFieD is your path to enlightenment on this subject.

Rarely in a lifetime does a new spiritual classic appear that has the power to change people's lives and transform future generations. This is such a book. The Essence of the Bhagavad Gita Explained by Paramhansa Yogananda shares the profound insights of Paramhansa Yogananda, author of Autobiography of a Yogi, as remembered by one of his few remaining direct disciples, Swami Kriyananda. This revelation of India's best-loved scripture approaches it from an entirely fresh perspective, showing its deep allegorical meaning and also its down-to-earth practicality. The themes presented are universal: how to achieve victory in life in union with the divine; how to prepare for life's "final exam," death, and what happens afterward; how to triumph over all pain and suffering. This book is itself a triumph. Swami Kriyananda worked with Paramhansa Yogananda in 1950 while the Master completed his commentary. At that time Yogananda commissioned him to disseminate his teachings world-wide. Kriyananda has in his lifetime lectured, taught, and written eighty-five books based on Yogananda's teachings. The Essence of the Bhagavad Gita, Kriyananda's eighty-sixth book, is the crowning achievement of his highly productive life. In this, his masterpiece, he declares, "Yogananda's insights into the Gita are the most amazing, thrilling, and helpful of any I have ever read."

What happens as we grow spiritually? Is there a step-by-step process that everyone goes through—all spiritual seekers, including those of any or no religious persuasion—as they gradually work their way upward, until they achieve the highest state of Self-realization? About 2200 years ago, a great spiritual master of India named Patanjali described this process, and presented humanity with a clear-cut, step-by-step outline of how all truth seekers and saints achieve divine union. He called this universal inner experience and process “yoga” or “union.” His collection of profound aphorisms—a true world scripture—has been dubbed Patanjali's Yoga Sutras. Unfortunately, since that time many scholarly translators with little or no spiritual realization have written commentaries on Patanjali's writings that have succeeded only in burying his pithy insights in convoluted phrases like “becomes assimilated with transformations” and “the object alone shines without deliberation.” How can any reader understand Patanjali's original meaning when he or she has to wade through such bewildering terminology? Thankfully, a great modern yoga master—Paramhansa Yogananda, author of the classic Autobiography of a Yogi—has cut through the scholarly debris and resurrected Patanjali's original teachings and revelations. Now, in Demystifying Patanjali, Swami Kriyananda, a direct disciple of Yogananda, shares his guru's crystal clear and easy-to-grasp explanations of Patanjali's aphorisms. As Kriyananda writes in his introduction, “My Guru personally shared with me some of his most important insights into these sutras. During the three and a half years I lived with him, he also went with me at great length into the basic teachings of yoga. “I was able, moreover, to ask my Guru personally about many of the subjects covered by Patanjali. His explanations have lingered with me, and have been a priceless help in the [writing of this book].”