The Mahabharata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India. It is of immense importance to the culture of the Indian subcontinent, and is a major text of Hinduism. Its discussion of human goals (artha or 'purpose', kama or 'pleasure', dharma or 'duty', and moksha or 'liberation') takes place in a long-standing tradition, attempting to explain the relationship of the individual to society and the world (the nature of the 'Self') and the workings of karma. Read more

Is ultimate reality fullness or emptiness? This book explores the profound convergence and contrast between Vedanta and Buddhism, two of the world’s greatest spiritual traditions. Combining the precision of a scholar with the insight of a contemplative, Swami Sarvapriyananda unveils how fullness (Purnam) in Vedanta and emptiness (Sunyam) in Buddhism lead to the same ultimate realization—beyond duality, beyond concepts, into the heart of truth. A must-read for seekers and scholars alike, this book offers a deep and illuminating journey into the nature of existence. Read more

Drawn from the illuminating lectures of Swami Sarvapriyananda, this book explores the Mahāvākyas—the great statements of the Upanishads that reveal the highest truths of Advaita Vedanta. This book delves into their profound meaning, exploring their implications on Consciousness, non-duality, and the unity of the individual self with the Absolute. Whether you are a spiritual aspirant or a scholar, this work offers a deep and accessible exploration of the Mahāvākyas ultimate wisdom. Read more

If there is one book that can claim to provide the solution to all problems of humanity, it is the holy Bhagavad Gita.Simply reading this book and comprehending the life-changing, ageless, and profound wisdom contained in its 701 magnificent verses is enough to change the path of one’s life and bring it to the peak of perfection.That is why, after hearing this transcendental discourse of Lord Krishna, Arjuna exclaims to Him, “O Achyuta (The Changeless One), my delusion is destroyed, and my memory (about one’s true identity) has been regained by me through Your grace. I am firmly situated; my doubts are gone. I will now act according to Your word.” [Bhagavad Gita 18.73]The Bhagavad Gita is not a religious book and is not intended to be read and acted upon by the adherents of a particular religion. It’s a guidebook for life; a how-to manual. It is a medicine for the infected souls of the Kali-Yuga, the dark age. And there is no religion in medicine.The Bhagavad Gita is the most sacred conversation ever between Lord Krishna and his friend Prince Arjuna just before the beginning of the great war of Mahabharata, on the holy battlefield of Kurukshetra, where the Lord enlightens a bewildered Arjuna about the biggest truths of the universe.This dialogue is considered to contain the nectar of all Vedic scriptures, the most ancient scriptures of the world. By reading the Bhagavad Gita, you will discover answers to the most important questions in life, such as:Who are you?What is your purpose in life and how to fulfill that purpose?Is there a God? If yes, who is God, and how to know and reach Him?Is God one or many?What is your relationship with God?What is death and why you do not need to fear death?What happens after death?Do heaven and hell exist?Is reincarnation real?What is Yoga? What are the different types of Yoga? How to be a Yogi?How does the Law of Karma work?Why are we all living life the wrong way? And how you can live your life the right way?How to see yourself and your life from the right perspective?How to master your mind and get rid of negative emotions like worry, fear, anger, jealousy, and sadness for good?How to be always happy?What is the most perfect method of meditation?Hari Chetan’s translation of the Bhagavad Gita is the outcome of his two decades of experience in the field of Vedic philosophy. The following are some of the distinguishing aspects of this English translation:All the verses of the Bhagavad Gita are accurately translated from the original Sanskrit texts.The translations are presented in their authentic form, free from any sectarian bias.The translations are kept simple without sacrificing accuracy, essence, and spirit.The gaps arising while translating verses from Sanskrit to English have been taken care of to preserve the intended meaning of each verse.Context has been given due importance while establishing the meaning of each word with the aim of providing correct interpretation.To facilitate self-explanatory translations, additional explanations are given in parentheses in the verses.Additional explanations are provided in the form of notes at appropriate places.The historical background of Mahabharata is included for perfect understanding.To help you test your understanding, a printable workbook is included.All of this adds up to a complete translation of the holy Bhagavad Gita in English.Read This Book to Uncover The Secret Wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita and Change Your Life Forever! Read more

Easwaran’s best-selling translation of the ancient wisdom texts called the Upanishads is reliable, readable, and profound.In the Upanishads, illumined sages share flashes of insight, the results of their investigation into consciousness itself. In extraordinary visions, they experience directly a transcendent Reality which is the essence, or Self, of each created being. They teach that each of us, each Self, is eternal, deathless, one with the power that created the universe.Easwaran’s best-selling translation of selections taken from the principal Upanishads and five others is reliable and accessible. It includes an overview of the cultural and historical setting, with chapter introductions, notes, and a Sanskrit glossary. But it is Easwaran’s understanding of the wisdom of the Upanishads, and their relevance to the modern reader, that makes this edition truly outstanding.Each sage, each Upanishad, appeals in different ways to the reader’s head and heart. As Easwaran writes, “The Upanishads belong not just to Hinduism. They are India’s most precious legacy to humanity, and in that spirit they are offered here.”Updated to be more accessible to readers with vision impairment (August, 2022) Read more

The Mahabharata is an ancient Indian epic where the main story revolves around two branches of a family - the Pandavas and Kauravas. Who, in the Kurukshetra War, battle for the throne of Hastinapura. Krishna-Dwaipayan Vyasa, himself a character in the epic composed it. According to tradition, he dictated the verses and Ganesha wrote them down. At 100,000 verses, it is the longest epic poem ever written, generally thought to have been composed in the 4th century BCE or earlier. The Mahabharata is not a mere epic; it is a romance, telling the tale of heroic men and women, and of some who were divine; it is a whole literature in itself, containing a code of life, a philosophy of social and ethical relations, and speculative thought on human problems that is hard to rival. WHATS INCLUDED: Book One - Adi Parva Book Two - Sabha Parva Book Three - Vana Parva Book Four - Bhishma Parva Book Five - Udyoga Parva Book Six - Bhishma Parva Book Seven - Drona Parva Book Eight - Karna Parva Book Nine - Shalya Parva Book Ten - Sauptika Parva Book Eleven - Stri Parva Book Twelve - Santi Parva Book Thirteen - Anusasana Parva Book Fourteen - Aswamedha Parva Book Fifteen - Asramavasika Parva Book Sixteen - Mausala Parva Book Seventeen - Mahaprasthanika Parva Book Eighteen - Svargarohanika Parva Bonus Content - The Upanishads This version has been optimized for readability and includes: BEAUTIFUL FORMATTING There is plenty of white-space which makes reading easy on the eyes. FULLY FEATURED TABLE OF CONTENTS The first table of contents (at the very beginning of the eBook) lists titles of all the novels included in this volume. By clicking on one of those titles you will be redirected to the beginning of that work, where you will also find a new TOC that lists all the chapters and sub-chapters of that specific work. You can access the third table of contents from the menu bar of your Kindle app. EPUBCHECK The book successfully passes EpubCheck, developed by the IDPF. The International Digital Publishing Forum (IDPF) is the global trade and standards organization dedicated to the development and promotion of electronic publishing and content consumption. Read more

A timeless treatise on what constitutes the Hindu way of life Religion in India can appear to be a confusing tangle of myths, with many different gods and goddesses worshipped in countless forms.This complexity stems from a love of story-telling, as much as anything else, but it is only the surface expression of Indian faith. Beneath can be found a system of unifying beliefs that have guided the lives of ordinary families for generations. Here, one of the most profound philosophers of India explains these and other related concepts intrinsic to the Hindu philosophy of life. Read more

Easwaran’s best-selling translation of this classic Buddhist text The Dhammapada is reliable, readable, and profound.Dhammapada means "the path of dharma," the path of harmony and righteousness that anyone can follow to reach the highest good. The Dhammapada is a collection of verses, gathered probably from direct disciples who wanted to preserve what they had heard from the Buddha himself.Easwaran's comprehensive introduction to the Dhammapada gives an overview of the Buddha's teachings that is penetrating, and clear – accessible for readers new to Buddhism, but also with fresh insights and practical applications for readers familiar with this text. His translation is based on the original Pali. Chapter introductions, notes and a Sanskrit glossary place individual verses into the context of the broader Buddhist canon.Easwaran is a master storyteller, and the introduction includes many stories that make moving, memorable reading, bringing young Siddhartha and his heroic spiritual quest vividly to life. This faithful interpretation brings us closer to the compassionate heart of the Buddha.--- Read more

A cultural and intellectual history of Ancient IndiaWinner Best Indie Book Award 2024Sitting down with the Bhagavad Gita at the age of sixteen opened many new channels in my mind. Ever since, for the best part of thirty years, I have been searching for a book on Indian thought that ties it all up, coherently and succinctly.Write the book you want to read, they say—and this, here, is it.While covering all the important areas (see contents list below), you will learn:How the Vedic gods are related to the Greek and Roman ones.The secret of the self that even the gods were desperate to learn.How to stop suffering, according to the Buddha.How to achieve enlightenment, according to the Hindus, Buddhists, and Jains.How the swastika came to be appropriated by the Nazis.How Gandhi’s non-violence is rooted in Indian philosophy.Why the Kama Sutra is about a lot more than sex.What yoga’s actually about—not even my yoga teacher knew this.How the Gupta Golden Age led to the invention of zero, chess, and nose jobs.And much, much more. Never before has the history and substance of Indian thought been laid out as clearly and succinctly, and completely, as in Burton’s book. —Prof Nicolas Martin, Institute of Asian and Oriental Studies, University of Zürich Impeccably crafted… a monumental achievement. —Rich Follett for Readers’ Favorite ★★★★★The parallels between Indian and Greek philosophy amazed me… This book will hold your interest until the last page. —Courtnee Turner Hoyle for Readers’ Favorite ★★★★★Burton shines a fascinating light on one of the world’s most ancient, and still thriving, cultures. —The US Review of Books (Recommended)Insightful and thorough … Having practised yoga for years, learning about its background and significance offered me a new perspective. —The International Review of BooksContents listPrefaceIntroduction: A Picture of India1. The Indus Valley Civilization2. The Aryans and their Vedas3. Vedic Gods: Indra, Agni, Soma, and the Rest4. Sanskrit and the Grammar of Panini5. The Upanishads6. Brahman and Brahma7. Atman, or the Self8. Karma, Samsara, Moksha, Yoga9. Life of the Buddha10. Buddhist Philosophy11. The Jataka Tales12. The Panchatantra13. Jainism, Ahimsa, and Gandhi’s Satyagraha14. The Mauryas: Chandragupta and Ashoka15. Greek India16. Dharma, the Laws of Manu, and the Caste System17. The Arthashastra of Kautilya18. The Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana19. The Ramayana of Valmiki20. The Mahabharata of Vyasa21. The Bhagavad Gita, or Song of God22. The Puranas: Vishnu, Shiva, and Devi23. The Guptas: The Golden Age of India24. The Six Darshanas: Samkhya-Yoga25. The Six Darshanas: Nyaya-Vaisheshika26. The Six Darshanas: Mimamsa-VedantaFinal words◆ Grab your copy now and become an expert in one of the world’s oldest and richest cultures. Read more

‘The truth is, Partha,’ Krishna said, ‘that there is no “better” path. Both paths – the path of knowledge and the path of action – work just as well. It is up to you to pick the one that you are suited to’The Bhagavad Gita is a profound book from India that people have cherished for over 2500 years. It emphasises kindness and understanding when we make mistakes, and tells a compelling story about Prince Arjuna and his friend Krishna. They engage in a crucial conversation about the war against the most powerful and dangerous enemy of all – the one that lives within our minds.Roopa Pai’s spirited, one-of-a-kind retelling is engaging, easy to grasp, and leaves a lasting impact. After you finish reading, you’ll find yourself contemplating its wisdom and feeling a sense of inner strength. Read more

ALL-TIME BESTSELLER: Join one of the most influential spiritual teachers of our time as he explores the mystical wisdom of the Tantra. “Tantra is freedom; freedom from all mind-constructs, from all mind-games; freedom from all structures; freedom from the other. Tantra is space to be.” —Osho   The tradition of Tantra or Tantric Buddhism is known to have existed in India as early as the 5th century AD. In this all-time bestseller, using the contemporary idiom and his own unique blend of wisdom and humor, Osho talks about the mystical insights found in the ancient Tantric writings. He also explores many significant Tantric meditation techniques, demonstrating how they are as relevant to the modern-day seeker as they were to those in earlier times. No matter how complex, obscure, or mystical the subject, Osho always brings his uniquely refreshing perspective—introducing the most difficult concepts to the widest possible audience with irreverent wit and thought-provoking inspiration. Read more

A beautiful silk fabric hardbound pocked sized edition. The Upanishads, originally written during 5th century BC and first translated into English in early 19th century, are early philosophical texts of the Hindu religion and contain within them the tenets upon which the central philosophical concepts of the religion are based. A doctrine on Hindu thought and culture and perhaps the most important literature from ancient India, The Upanishads expound on principles like samsara, brahman, atman, karma, dharma and moksha and form the core of Indian philosophy. Along with the Bhagavad Gita and the Brahmasutra, the Upanishads provide a foundation for the several later schools of Vedanta. This version is an English translation by Swami Paramananda as part of his mission to spread the eastern teachings of Hinduism to the Western world. Paramananda was a swami and one of the early Indian teachers who went to the United States to spread the Vedanta philosophy and religion. He was a mystic, a poet and an innovator in spiritual community living. Using his experience as a religious scholar, Paramananda sensitively and successfully translated the wisdom into the foremost of Western languages. Easy to understand and simply written, the thought behind this text is to know your SELF and follow the wisdom within the text to lead a wholesome and spiritually centered life. Read more

The Upanishads, the earliest of which were composed in Sanskrit between 800 and 400 bce by sages and poets, form part of the Vedas - the sacred and ancient scriptures that are the basis of the Hindu religion. Each Upanishad, or lesson, takes up a theme ranging from the attainment of spiritual bliss to karma and rebirth, and collectively they are meditations on life, death and immortality. The essence of their teachings is that truth can by reached by faith rather than by thought, and that the spirit of God is within each of us - we need not fear death as we carry within us the promise of eternal life. Read more

A MUST-HAVE SPIRITUAL GUIDE! Considered among the ancient-most religious works in the world, the Vedas and the Upanishads are revered texts. Their teachings are relevant for every age and situation. For thousands of years, they have guided people with the highest message of Hinduism―to lead a life with fearlessness and joy, and to be capable and dynamic even amidst crisis. Bringing out the real treasure of wisdom in these sacred texts, here is a spiritual guide that goes into the heart and soul of Vedic and Upanishadic knowledge, and delineates the most powerful life lessons to apply while facing any challenge. Read more

An 'Upanisad' is a teaching session with a guru, and these thirteen texts, the 'Principal Upanisads', form a series of philosophical discourses between teacher and student that question the inner meaning of the world. Composed from around the eighth century BCE, the Upanisads have been central to the development of Hinduism, and explore the central doctrines of rebirth, karma, overcoming death, and achieving detachment, equilibrium and spiritual bliss. Speaking to the reader in direct, unadorned prose or lucid verse, they embody humanity's perennial search for truth and knowledge. Read more

‘As soon as I read Who Am I?, I knew that this was what I had been searching for.’ —Michael James Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi's Who Am I? is a profound investigation into the very nature of our being, leading us to discover the ultimate truth of our existence. Through the practice of self-investigation (ātma-vicāra), Bhagavan teaches us to turn our attention inwards to the pure awareness ‘I am’, which is the infinite source of eternal happiness.This book explains why self-investigation is the most direct path to liberation, offering both practical methods and deep insights to dissolve the false identification with ego – the mistaken idea that we are the body and mind – and uncover our unchanging reality as pure awareness. Whether you are new to Bhagavan’s teachings or a seasoned devotee, this book serves as a valuable guide on the journey of spiritual awakening.Michael James, a renowned scholar of Bhagavan’s teachings, has dedicated nearly fifty years to studying and elucidating these profound teachings. His clear and precise commentary unravels the intricacies of self-investigation and self-surrender, making this work accessible to all who seek liberation.Who Am I? is not just a philosophical essay – it is a comprehensive manual for inner transformation, offering practical wisdom to help us discover the lasting peace, love, and happiness that is our true nature.Compiled independently by Sandra DerksenPart of the series:Ramana Maharshi’s Wisdom: Based on the Work of Michael James Read more

In Travels with Plotinus, Moin Mir follows Plotinus’s 1,780-year-old journey of personal discovery across India, Egypt, Italy, Greece and Turkey as he tries to understand the core concept of Plotinian thought, derived from studying the Upanishads – ‘Unity and Oneness’. He uses Plotinus’s philosophy to observe how the free will of intellect uses ‘Unity’ for good and evil. Intimate conversations with refugees escaping war, innocent boatmen drifting down the Nile, simple farmers and monks in Greece along with observations of ancient art and modern technological accomplishments inform his thoughts and writing on the concept of the oneness of humankind – its immense power to bring good and yet its vulnerability to the stealth of intellect to destroy and self-destruct. Read more

You’re not as great as you think you are…you are far, far greater.Before Religion is a treasure hunt through the oldest philosophical and spiritual texts known to humankind. This book is about how spirituality can be experienced by anyone, anywhere. It is about self-realisation, and the ultimate reality that exists behind a veil of illusion. And it is a rallying call to confront the conflict caused by exclusivism and the thinking that ‘my religion is the only way’.This worldview embraced many paths and accommodated different starting points. It was for everyone, from the yogis meditating in the mountains to the warrior kings performing fire sacrifices. It aimed to facilitate life based on who you are, where you are at, and where you want to go. Before Religion explores the contribution an ancient civilisation can make to today’s search for a unifying vision for spirituality and how this can help heal the fractured world we now live in.'I have always believed the wisdom of the Vedas to be universal and timeless. Nitesh Gor shares and distills their essence in a practical, accessible and relevant way to our modern lives.’ - Jay Shetty Author of Think Like a Monk‘In his book, Nitesh Gor reflects deeply, philosophically and practically, on ancient wisdom traditions of India, while seeking universal, self-evident, and undeniable truths. The reader can expect to move along Gor's exploration of ideas that seek very core understandings that constitute the underpinnings of religion, what is “before religion”, as it were, and will undoubtedly inspire any reader's thinking to consider further the nature of the human situation and spiritual meaning.’ - Graham M. Schweig, PhD – Author-Translator of Bhagavad Gītā: The Beloved Lord's Secret Love Song, and Professor of Philosophy and Religion at Christopher Newport University ‘Nitesh Gor mines two great treasures of Hindu spirituality – the Bhagavad-gita and the Bhagavata Purana – and lucidly presents their teaching of selfless love as the pathway to human fulfilment. Across twenty-two chapters, Nitesh unfolds the notion of “nondual consciousness” as a synthetic vision which can enfold various types of religious questing. This is a deeply insightful exercise of translating ancient Hindu debates regarding reality, language, and self into contemporary language, so that the reader who asks, “but what does it all mean for me?” would find much in it that gives them food for thought as well as nourishment for the heart.’ - Ankur Barua, PhD – Senior Lecturer in Hindu Studies at the Faculty of Divinity, University of Cambridge‘…there is so much here which captures and addresses some of the biggest questions of what it is to be spiritual (and indeed a truly compassionate human) in these challenging times…’ - From the foreword by Professor Mike Younger – former Dean of Education and Head of the University of Cambridge Faculty of Education Read more

This new translation of The Upanishads is at once delightfully simple and rigorously learned, providing today's readers with an accurate, accessible rendering of the core work of ancient Indian philosophy. The Upanishads are often considered the most important literature from ancient India. Yet many academic translators fail to capture the work's philosophical and spiritual subtlety, while others convey its poetry at the cost of literal meaning. This new translation by Vernon Katz and Thomas Egenes fills the need for an Upanishads that is clear, simple and insightful yet remains faithful to the original Sanskrit. As Western Sanskrit scholars who have spent their lives immersed in meditative practice, Katz and Egenes offer a unique perspective in penetrating the depths of Eastern wisdom and expressing these insights in modern yet poetic language. Their historical introduction is suited to newcomers and experienced readers alike, providing the perfect entry to this unparalleled work. Read more