'Hindu Wisdom for All God's Children' introduces readers to the spiritual riches of Hindu India. Jesuit author Francis Clooney brings a wealth of scholarship and personal immersion in the thought and life of India to a wide range of students and seekers. In seven chapters Clooney draws on aspects of Indian religious life, both ancient and modern. They include the creation myths and the discovery of the self; realization of the self in theology and meditative traditions; the self-awareness of Gautama; the quest for direct experience of God in devotions to Krishna; the mystery of God in the traditions of Shiva; the cult of the great Goddess; and the spirituality of Mohandas Gandhi and Mahasweta Devi. Clooney offers insights into how people live out these traditions today, continually raising points for comparative reflection, inviting readers to bring their own insights into consideration. 'Hindu Wisdom for All God's Children' provides a fascinating introduction to deep and ancient traditions that will challenge and enrich the quest for the spiritual self.

This treasury of wisdom offers enlightenment on topics from dharma to discipline, drawing on a wide spectrum of Hindu writings.

The book is journey through 5000 years of evolution of Hinduism, and is outcome of seven years of study to understand the roots of Hinduism. Tracing the genesis of Hinduism to pre-Indus Valley period, the book explains Hindu, Hinduism and Sanatana Dharma, before it takes one through Hinduism’s oldest scriptures - the four Vedas, the four components of each Veda, and what they contain. How all original translations of Vedic texts were done by Western Sanskrit scholars, and why their works have left scope for doubt about the fidelity of translations. The yajnas (yagya) like Ashvamedha, Rajsooya, Vajpeya, etc., about which we only hear on TV serials and talk shows, have been demystified. The reader will be taken aback reading the sheer size and scale of Soma yajna, described step by step, in great detail. Hinduism’s journey to the Age of Reason, the Upanishads, its encounter with Buddhism, and its transformation into idol worshipping society with many gods and a multitude of stories about its millions of gods is lucidly explained. Puranas, what they contain and what was the reason they were created, has been described and explained next. Hinduism's journey to its modern form - idol worship, the modern puja, detailed description of puja and Sanskaras like Vivaha, their detailed description, the meaning of each action and how they are conducted, the gift to the priest, types of idols, their consecration, all are explained to help a reader understand the why and the how of what we do as a Hindu. The book concludes with a discussion of - Do mantras have power? & Do rituals have meaning?

Since times immemorial, India has been synonymous with spiritual knowledge and people have been drawn to her sacred land. Some were philosophers, poets, writers, historians, scientists and travelers. Some came to India; others read translations about her rich and imaginative literature and felt genuine enthusiasm for her. The fourth Caliph in the 7th century is reported to have said: The land where books were first written and from where wisdom and knowledge sprang is India. Despite the wars and imperialism, ancient India s spiritual influence and wisdom has had considerable impact on the West, especially on its imagination, science, and literature: English Romantic poetry in particular, Scientists, scholars, poets, writers and philosophers all have paid the highest compliment to India s wonderful metaphysical, religious, artistic, linguistic, and cultural genius by imitating and incorporating some of these ideas and theories into their own work.

'Hindu Wisdom for All God's Children' introduces readers to the spiritual riches of Hindu India. Jesuit author Francis Clooney brings a wealth of scholarship and personal immersion in the thought and life of India to a wide range of students and seekers. In seven chapters Clooney draws on aspects of Indian religious life, both ancient and modern. They include the creation myths and the discovery of the self; realization of the self in theology and meditative traditions; the self-awareness of Gautama; the quest for direct experience of God in devotions to Krishna; the mystery of God in the traditions of Shiva; the cult of the great Goddess; and the spirituality of Mohandas Gandhi and Mahasweta Devi. Clooney offers insights into how people live out these traditions today, continually raising points for comparative reflection, inviting readers to bring their own insights into consideration. 'Hindu Wisdom for All God's Children' provides a fascinating introduction to deep and ancient traditions that will challenge and enrich the quest for the spiritual self.

This book is like a map of Hinduism, which showa from where once should start his or her spiritual journey and the journey ends. - RARA HARI DASS, Mount Madonna Center, Santa Vruz, California Your book is definitely written in a way that provides abundant of information about Hinduism in an easily readable format and style that would clearly appeal to the Hindu youth Diaspora - SATGURU BODHINATHA VEYLANSWAMI, Hinduism Today magazine, Kauai's Hindu Monastery, USA

The Little Book of Hindu Wisdom draws from the texts the Bhagavad Gita, the Rig Veda and the Upanishads, citing the core ideas of Hinduism. However, the wisdom offered here is not tied to a particular set of dogma or beliefs, so any reader with an interest in the wisdom of the some of the world's oldest texts will find this little book both intriguing and enlightening.

How did the universe come into being? What is the nature of God? Of the human spirit? All who seek understanding will find this book an illuminating presentation of India's oldest and most profound religious and philosophical tradition. The Wisdom of the Vedas was first published in 1931 by Kailas Press under the title India's Outlook on Life. The Theosophical Publishing House published a second edition in 1973, and again in 1980 under the Quest imprint. The present 1992 edition was edited to reflect the modern use of inclusive language, and includes an introduction by Vedic scholar David Frawley. Mr. Frawley explains to the Western reader, "The Vedas are the original scripture or source teaching of the Hindu tradition, from which its many branches of Vedanta, Yoga, and Tantra have emerged through time, and to which they all look back with reverence." The Vedas are also "..the background relative to which the Buddhist religion evolved, and Buddhism also preserves many Vedic terms and practices." The study then, of the Vedas is important to understanding many different Eastern teachings. The author is from India, and has an unusual ability to frame the subtleties of Eastern thought for the Western world.

The Focus Of This Book Is On The Essential Beliefs Of The Hindu Religion; It Introduces The Reader To The Vedas Including Sanskrit To English Translation Of Mantras. The Book Also Focuses On Spiritual Aspects Of The Raj Yoga, Definitions Of Certain Words Like Mantra, Karma, Etc.