The Universal Path to Enlightenment
The Eastern Answers to the Mysteries of Life
Volume Two by Stephen Knapp
This book presents the universal way for everyone to reach the highest levels of
spiritual truth by practical and personal realization, in other words, how to
find God. This book provides a most
interesting and revealing survey of the major spiritual paths of the world and
describes their histories, philosophical basis, and goals. It also promotes
spiritual understanding and provides the information that will help all sincere
seekers of Truth to decide which path may be the best for them.
Although all religions and spiritual processes are meant to lead you toward enlightenment, they are not all the same in the methods they teach, nor in the level of philosophical understanding they offer. So an intelligent person will make comparisons between them to understand the aims and distinctions of each religion, and which is the most elevating. This book will help you do that. It also shows the many similarities between the many religions and spiritual processes to show the way toward a "One World Religion" that can be shared by everyone.
--the essential similarities of all religions that all people of any culture and tradition can practice, which could bring about a united world religion, or "THE UNIVERSAL PATH TO ENLIGHTENMENT."
--how Christianity and Judaism were greatly influenced by the early pre-Christian or "pagan" religions and adopted many of their legends, holidays, and rituals that are still accepted and practiced in Christianity today.
--about evidence that shows Jesus traveled to India to learn its spiritual knowledge, and then made bhakti-yoga the basis of his teachings.
--who were the real Vedic Aryans, the founders of the earliest of organized religions and cultures, and how widespread and influential their civilization was to other cultures, such as the Egyptian, Greek, Oriental, etc., and how the Vedic teachings are still found in Christianity and other traditions today, which makes it the source of the world's spiritual heritage.
--the philosophical basis and origin of Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, Jainism, Sikhism, Taoism, Confucianism, and others.
--about the Chakras, mystical powers, and the different yoga systems, such as raja-yoga, hatha-yoga, bhakti-yoga, mantra-yoga, kundalini-yoga, etc., what the goals are, and how practical each one is in this age.
--about the main philosophical systems of the East, including Nyaya, Vaisesika, Sankhya, Mimamsa, Vedanta, etc. and what the purpose is of each one.
--the different levels of knowledge the many branches of Vedic literature contain, and the ultimate spiritual path they recommend for realizing the Absolute Truth.
--how spiritual enlightenment is the cure for the many problems in society.
--what the qualifications are of a genuine spiritual teacher or guru.
--and, most importantly, what is the real purpose of a spiritual path that you should strive for, which is easily found in the Eastern teachings, and how to practice the path that is especially recommended as the easiest and most effective for the people of this age to reach the highest levels of spiritual understanding and perception.
--plus much more information not easily found elsewhere.
This book also includes a special section on seeing spiritual India. You will tour the famous temples and holy places of Eastern India, from Madras in the South to New Delhi in the North. You will learn about some of the most important and sacred temples and towns in the world where several of the major religions originated. Almost 100 photographs are included of a variety of temples, holy sites, art, sculptures, and people of India and Nepal. This is a must for anyone who would like to know more about traveling and seeing the holy places in this area.
This book is a trade paperback, 6" x 9" trim size, 420 pages, nearly 100 black & white photographs, with glossary, references, and index.
Order your copy today. Send $14.95, plus $2.50 for shipping, or $7.50 for overseas orders (surface mail), to: The World Relief Network, P.O.Box 15082, Detroit, MI. 48215-0082 U.S.A. Or through your local bookstore, ISBN: 0-9617410-2-3. For your convenience, you can download our Order Form.
It is also available at Amazon.com through this link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0961741023/qid=1150425591/sr=1-2/ref=sr_1_2/002-7784767-0343200?s=books&v=glance&n=283155
The Universal Path to Enlightenment Table of Contents
PREFACE
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER ONE: EVERYONE MUST CHOOSE A PATH
CHAPTER TWO: THE LEVELS OF KNOWLEDGE CONTAINED IN THE VEDAS * The four primary Vedas * The Upanishads * The Vedanta-sutras * The Itihasas * The Puranas * The Srimad-Bhagavatam * Different paths in the Vedas * The ultimate path to the Absolute
CHAPTER THREE: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE YOGA PROCESSES * Raja-yoga * Mystic Powers * Hatha-yoga * Karma-yoga * Jnana-yoga * Kundalini-yoga * The Chakras and Koshas * Laya-yoga * Kriya-yoga * Mantra-yoga * Bhakti-yoga
CHAPTER FOUR: THE MAIN PHILOSOPHICAL SYSTEMS OF THE EAST * Buddhism * Nyaya * Vaisesika * Sankhya * Yoga * Mimamsa * Vedanta * Vaishnavism * Jainism * Carvaka * Pasupatas or Shaivism * Shaktas and the Tantras * Sikhism
CHAPTER FIVE: OTHER MAJOR RELIGIONS OF THE WORLD * Zoroastrianism * Judaism * Islam * Confucianism and Taoism * Shinto * Conclusion
CHAPTER SIX: CHRISTIANITY AND THE VEDIC TEACHINGS WITHIN IT * A brief look at Christianity's beginnings * Paganism in Christianity * Vedic influence in Christianity * The dark side of Christianity * Jesus taught Bhakti-yoga * Do all Christians go to heaven? * The Bible teaches the chanting of God's names * The names of God
CHAPTER SEVEN: THE ORIGINS OF VEDIC SOCIETY: SOURCE OF THE WORLD'S SPIRITUAL HERITAGE * Theories of the Aryan origins * The Vedic explanation of the original Aryans * Links between the Vedic tradition and other cultures * Conclusion
CHAPTER EIGHT: THE REAL PURPOSE OF YOGA AND RELIGIOUS SYSTEMS * Purifying the mind * Spiritualizing our existence * The supreme yoga
CHAPTER NINE: THE SPIRITUAL PATH FOR THE PRESENT AGE * Bhakti-yoga * How bhakti-yoga works * The ecstasy of devotional service
CHAPTER TEN: MANTRA-YOGA; A NECESSITY FOR THIS AGE * Chanting the maha-mantra * The power of the maha-mantra: How it works * Attaining liberation through chanting * God inaugurates chanting the holy names * How to chant the maha-mantra * Conclusion
CHAPTER ELEVEN: QUALIFICATIONS OF A SPIRITUAL LEADER * What is a spiritual master * Is it necessary to have a spiritual master? * How the spiritual master teaches * Duty of a disciple
CHAPTER TWELVE: THE ONE WORLD RELIGION
SEEING SPIRITUAL INDIA (PART 2): THE MAJOR HOLY PLACES IN EAST AND CENTRAL INDIA
PHOTOGRAPHS
APPENDIX ONE: THE SIGNIFICANCE OF DEITIES AND DEITY WORSHIP
APPENDIX TWO: THE MEANING OF THE PHRASE "GOD IS LOVE"
APPENDIX THREE: SPIRITUAL ENLIGHTENMENT: A CURE FOR SOCIAL ILLS
REFERENCES / GLOSSARY / INDEX
[From: http://www.stephen-knapp.com]