Knapp - The Secrets Teachings Of The Vedas The Eastern Answers To The Mysteries Of Life

DEDICATED TO

All those who ever gave me any encouragement
on the path to spiritual understanding.

Now it is my turn to give back.

Copyright 1986, 1990, by Stephen Knapp

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher, except for brief quotations.

Cover photo: Sunrise over the Meenakshi temple in Madurai, India.

First edition, August, 1986

Revised edition, 1990

Final revised & re-edited edition, 1993

The many quotes from Bhagavad-gita As It Is, Srimad-Bhagavatam, Sri Caitanya-caritamrita , and Brahma-samhita , are used with permission from the Bhaktivedanta Book TrustInternational. Copyright 1972.

Published by:

The World Relief Network,
Detroit, Michigan

ISBN-13: 978-1466267701

ISBN-10: 1466267704

eBook ISBN: 978-1-61916-961-6

Other books by the author:

1. The Secret Teachings of the Vedas: The Eastern Answers to the Mysteries of Life
2. The Universal Path to Enlightenment
3. The Vedic Prophecies: A New Look into the Future
4. How the Universe was Created and Our Purpose In It
5. Toward World Peace: Seeing the Unity Between Us All
6. Facing Death: Welcoming the Afterlife
7. The Key to Real Happiness
8. Proof of Vedic Cultures Global Existence
9. The Heart of Hinduism: The Eastern Path to Freedom, Enlightenment and Illumination
10. The Power of the Dharma: An Introduction to Hinduism and Vedic Culture
11. Vedic Culture: The Difference it can Make in Your Life
12. Reincarnation & Karma: How They Really Affect Us
13. The Eleventh Commandment: The Next Step for Social Spiritual Development
14. Seeing Spiritual India: A Guide to Temples, Holy Sites, Festivals and Traditions
15. Crimes Against India: And the Need to Protect its Ancient Vedic Tradition
16. Destined for Infinity, a spiritual adventure in the Himalayas
17. Yoga and Meditation: Their Real Purpose and How to Get Started
18. Avatars, Gods and Goddesses of Vedic Culture: Understanding the Characteristics, Powers and Positions of the Hindu Divinities
19. The Soul: Understanding Our Real Identity
20. Prayers, Mantras and Gayatris: A Collection for Insights, Protection, Spiritual Growth, and Many Other Blessings
21. Krishna Deities and Their Miracles: How the Images of Lord Krishna Interact with Their Devotees.

You can find out more about
Stephen Knapp
and his books, free ebooks, research,
and numerous articles and photos,
along with many other spiritual resources at:

http://Stephen-knapp.com

Contents

CHAPTER ONE
WHY STUDY THE VEDAS IN OUR SEARCH FOR HAPPINESS

CHAPTER TWO
WHAT ARE THE VEDAS

CHAPTER THREE
THE HISTORY AND TRADITIONAL SOURCE OF THE VEDAS

CHAPTER FOUR
OUR REAL IDENTITY: THE SCIENCE OF THE SOUL

CHAPTER FIVE
REINCARNATION AND THE LAW OF KARMA

CHAPTER FIVE (PART B)
AVOIDING ACTIVITIES THAT CAUSE BAD KARMA

CHAPTER SIX
THE MODES OF NATURE: DETERMINING YOUR FUTURE EXISTENCE

CHAPTER SEVEN
HEAVEN AND HELL AND THE BASIC STRUCTURE OF THE UNIVERSE

CHAPTER EIGHT
THE SOULS EVOLUTION THROUGH LIFE, DEATH AND BEYOND

CHAPTER NINE
WHY IS THERE ANYTHING?

CHAPTER TEN
PERSONAL GOD OR IMPERSONAL FORCE?

CHAPTER ELEVEN
RECOGNIZING THE EXISTENCE OF GOD

CHAPTER TWELVE
DESCRIPTION OF THE SPIRITUAL WORLD

The present work is the first volume of an extensive project of four volumes on The Eastern Answers to the Mysteries of Life contemplated by Stephen Knapp in order to provide an exhaustive understanding of the various aspects of human spirituality and spiritual evolution. This volume is titled The Secret Teachings of the Vedas . It focuses specifically on the Vedic and post-Vedic philosophical and religious responses to the persistent curiosities and inevitable queries of the human mind in its encounter with the spatiotemporal immensity of the universe, about its whence and whither, and the place and purpose of the human person within it, for whose emergence and existence on the earth, the entire universe is but necessary.

Not only the primordial reality, the raison detre of the universe, but even the universe itself with its myriad inorganic and organic systems is a mysterium tremendum et fascicans , a mystery ever engaging and challenging the human intellect to unravel its not-so-impenetrable visage. It opens up its deepest secrets to the probings of the scientific and religious minds, unless the same human mind through its deviant irrationality decides to precipitate a general catastrophe that spells destruction of all its erstwhile achievements.

The author authentically and ably presents the ancient Indian thoughts and insights in dealing with numerous questions regarding life and its origins, the whys of life and the material world surrounding it, the soul and its passage through various life-forms and through various human planes to its ultimate destiny, the nature of God, our spiritual identity, the law of karma and reincarnation, the modes of Prakriti and the consequent character of actions, karmic disposition and free will that determine the quality of future existence, the nature of good and bad karmas, vegetarianism, the structure of the universe, including heaven and hell, and the description of Vaikuntha or the spiritual world. The discussion of the brain-mind-consciousness question is of special interest.

The book is a labor of love and an act of devotional service. It is a genuine expression of what Stephen Knapp has thought through in his spiritual journey and the conviction he has found in the course of his personal life-experiences. That is the reason why the book is written with such simplicity, lucidity, and accuracy. It is enlivened by examples from practical life to bring home spiritual ideas. The main basis of exposition of these ideas is the Bhagavata Purana which the author copiously cites.

The book is not only a discussion of the issues concerning the mystery of existence and of human life in terms of Indian teachings of the Vedic literature, but also a conscious effort to relate those insights to the contemporary age and its ethos.

In conclusion, Stephen Knapp advocates that the Vedic teachings offer us guidance through the maze of modern maladies brought about by the complex industrial and technological civilization, and make human life worthwhile.

The book is a welcome introduction to the teachings of the Vedic and Puranic literature on the various topics of metaphysical and spiritual interest.

There are many books being written these days on spiritual or occult subjects by authors who present their ideas and teachings as if they were facts, but do not provide any traditional references or scriptural evidence to justify what they write. This book, The Secret Teachings of the Vedas: The Eastern Answers to the Mysteries of Life , is written to establish an alternative to the highly speculatory, inconclusive, and often times problematic theories about the universe, the soul, life after death, where we have come from, where we are going, and the various ideas about the Absolute that are presently being spread and accepted today.