How the Universe was Created
and Our Purpose In It
The Vedic Answers to the Mysteries of Life
by Stephen Knapp
This book provides answers and details about how the universe is created that are not available in any other traditions, religions, or areas of science. It also provides insights into the spiritual purpose of this creation and what we are really meant to do here.
Every culture in the world and most religions have their own description of the creation of the universe, from where we came, and what we should do. Unfortunately, these are often short and generalized versions that lack details. Thus, they are often given the same regard as myths. However, there are descriptions that give more elaborate explanations of how the cosmic creation fully manifested, which are found in the ancient Vedic texts and Puranas of India, some of the oldest spiritual writings on the planet. These descriptions provide details and answers that other versions leave out. Furthermore, these Vedic descriptions often agree, and sometimes disagree, with the modern scientific theories of creation, and offer some factors that science has yet to consider.
Now, with this book, one of the first to ever elaborate on the Vedic version of the universal creation, we can get a clearer understanding of how this universe appears, what is its real purpose, from where we really came, how we fit into the plan for the universe, and if there is a way out of here. Some of the topics included are:
Conditions in the spiritual world before the material manifestation.
How the Supreme Being exists before and after the material creation.
The ultimate foundation and cause of the universe is based on compassion of the Supreme.
How the agitation of the modes of nature cause the appearance of time.
Detailed descriptions of the dawn of creation and how the material energy developed and caused the formation of the cosmos.
The Vedic description of the evolutionary development of the various forms of life.
Manifestation and purpose of the Vedic literature, the blueprints of the cosmos and life within.
Deep insights into the primal questions of, "Who am I? Why am I here? Where have I come from? What is the purpose of this universe and my life? Why the creation exists?"
What is the primary source of the material as well as spiritual elements.
The many incarnations and expansions of the Supreme Being in the material creation.
How everything is but an expansion of the Absolute, and much more.
This book will provide some of the most profound insights into these questions and topics. It will also give any theist more information and understanding about how the universe is indeed a creation of God.
To add some adventure, there is also a special travel section to the holy places of northern India, and to some of the locations that are directly connected to the Indian legends of the universal creation and ancient history. With this tour is included rare descriptions and over 70 photographs of temples, Deities, ancient holy sites, the Himalayas, along with sages and people of the region. The book is 310 pages, trim size 6" x 9", with Index, References, and Glossary.
"How the Universe was Created and Our Purpose In It is profoundly rewarding reading for students of metaphysics and the Eastern philosophies." The Midwest Book Review
How the Universe was Created Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION
PART ONE: THE SOURCE OF THE MATERIAL CREATION
CHAPTER ONE: WHY UNDERSTAND THE CREATION OF THE UNIVERSE
CHAPTER TWO: COMPARISONS BETWEEN SOME OF THE CREATION LEGENDS * Summary of the Vedic Process of Creation from the Manu-samhita * Descriptions of the Beginning of Creation from other early Vedic texts
CHAPTER THREE: EVERYTHING COMES FROM THE ABSOLUTE TRUTH
CHAPTER FOUR: THE SUPREME BEING EXISTS BEFORE AND AFTER THE MATERIAL CREATION
CHAPTER FIVE: THE SPIRITUAL ATMOSPHERE
PART TWO: THE PROCESS OF CREATION
CHAPTER SIX: THE BEGINNINGS OF THE CREATION * Compassion is the Basis of the Material World
CHAPTER SEVEN: THE EXPANSIONS OF THE SUPREME
CHAPTER EIGHT: THE DEVELOPMENT OF MATERIAL NATURE * When the Pradhana Becomes the Mahat-tattva * The Potentials Created from the Mixing of the False Ego and Modes of Nature
CHAPTER NINE: THE ENERGY OF MAYA AND IDENTITY OF SHIVA * The Appearance of Lord Shiva in the Process of Creation
CHAPTER TEN: THE PROCESS OF UNIVERSAL CREATION * The Modes of Nature * The False Ego * The Manifestation of the Elements
CHAPTER ELEVEN: THE UNIVERSAL FORM * The Creation of the Universal form
CHAPTER TWELVE: THE CREATION FROM LORD BRAHMA * Summary of the Creative Process * Lord Vishnu Expands and Enters the Universe and Manifestation of Lord Brahma * The Dawn of Creation * Brahma Begins the Process of Creation * Everything is but a Combination of Atoms * Creation of the Living Beings * Creation of the Kumaras * Creation of Rudra * Creation of Brahma's Mind-born sons * Manifestation of the Vedas * Creation of the Four Social Orders * Creation of Svayambhuva * The Order of the Creative Process
CHAPTER THIRTEEN: CONTINUED TRANSFORMATIONS * The Maintenance of the Universe
CHAPTER FOURTEEN: THE INCARNATIONS OF GOD * The Lord Incarnates in Each Universe * The Main Incarnations of the Supreme Being * The Manu Incarnations * The Yugavataras * The Shaktyavesha-Avataras
CHAPTER FIFTEEN: CLEARING CONFUSION ABOUT THE CREATION
PART THREE: OUR PURPOSE IN THE UNIVERSE AND HOW TO GET OUT
CHAPTER SIXTEEN: HOW AND WHERE THE SPIRIT SOULS ARE MANIFESTED * The Origins of the Jivas * The Nature and Independence of the Spirit Souls * A Fall From the Spiritual World * Karma and Material Existence * Why the Lord Creates the Jiva souls * Conclusion
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: THE NATURE OF MATERIAL LIFE
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: THE PURPOSE OF LIFE
CHAPTER NINETEEN: THE VEDIC TEXTS AND THEIR SOURCE
CHAPTER TWENTY: THE PURPOSE OF THE VEDIC LITERATURE
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE: GETTING BACK TO OUR SPIRITUAL NATURE
SEEING SPIRITUAL INDIA (PART FOUR): SEEING THE MAJOR HOLY PLACES OF NORTHERN INDIA
PHOTOGRAPHS
APPENDIX ONE: SUMMARY OF THE CREATIVE PROCESS
APPENDIX TWO: FURTHER LEVELS OF THE PROCESS OF CREATION
APPENDIX THREE: SEEING BEYOND THE ILLUSION: THE ULTIMATE PURPOSE OF THIS BOOK
APPENDIX FOUR: THE MATERIAL CREATION IS PROOF OF THE EXISTENCE OF GOD
APPENDIX FIVE: MORE ABOUT THE RETREATING GLACIERS OF THE HIMALAYAS
FOOTNOTES / REFERENCES / GLOSSARY / INDEX
ORDERING INFORMATION
This book is $19.95, 310 pages, 6"x9" trim size, available through you local bookstore, ISBN-10: 1456460455, ISBN-13: 978-1456460457, LCCD # 90-71652.
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