Beginner books on Advaita and Hindu history

[shays860]

I'm looking for beginner friendly books on Advaita Vedanta, especially with instructions on how to achieve union, and Hindu history especially as it relates to Advaita. Stuff that places it in it's historical context and is friendly to the modern american mind. Not needlessly dogmatic. Hope I'm not asking too much. I have a couple books by Shankara and intend to get them all at some point but he is not at all friendly to my modern american mind... surely I'm not the only one to have this problem. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I'm really thinking this could be the path for me I just need some help getting started.

[Eastern Mind]

I'm looking for beginner friendly books on Advaita Vedanta, especially with instructions on how to achieve union, and Hindu history especially as it relates to Advaita. Stuff that places it in it's historical context and is friendly to the modern american mind. Not needlessly dogmatic. Hope I'm not asking too much. I have a couple books by Shankara and intend to get them all at some point but he is not at all friendly to my modern american mind... surely I'm not the only one to have this problem. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I'm really thinking this could be the path for me I just need some help getting started.

Vannakkam Shays860: Welcome to HDF: This is an excellent question, and I'm really not sure if what you're asking exists. Have you tried reading books like 'The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna" which is pretty advaitic, I think. I'm also not sure what you mean by 'historical context'. As you may have discovered by reading threads, many Hindus take differing views on our own history. Best wishes with it.

Aum Namasivaya

[shays860]

I read Ramakrishna and his disciples a long time ago. I'm looking more for philosophy, practice and history though. I've already read a lot of biographical stuff over the years. When I say historical context I mean the circumstances under which the idea developed. For exampl,e the way Buddhism developed largely in response to corrupt brahmin priests, as I understand (hope I'm not offending anyone by saying that). If what I am looking for doesn't exist I find that very sad. It seems like the world could benefit from the philosophy of Advaita. Guess I will just have to do this the hard way and do the research myself. Thanks for the response.

[shays860]

In looking at another thread I saw that people here seem to to pay more attention to etiquette here than on most websites so let me go ahead and say hello and introduce myself.

Hello :) My name is Stevie and I am from the southern United States. I am hoping to learn more about Hinduism, especially Advaita Vedanta and I would greatly appreciate and help I can get. Thank you.

[brahman]

I'm looking for beginner friendly books on Advaita Vedanta, especially with instructions on how to achieve union, and Hindu history especially as it relates to Advaita. Stuff that places it in it's historical context and is friendly to the modern american mind. Not needlessly dogmatic. Hope I'm not asking too much. I have a couple books by Shankara and intend to get them all at some point but he is not at all friendly to my modern american mind... surely I'm not the only one to have this problem. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I'm really thinking this could be the path for me I just need some help getting started.





Dear Stevie, Welcome to HDF,

The change-over from a conditioned modern American Mind to that, say, of Eastern philosophy, especially the classical Indian philosophical understanding takes long years of soaking into the epistemology, methodology, and valuue factors that hang together, giving unity to them. Thus says wise.

So please be around with us and let’s learn together as everyone is a beginner here. Thanks and Love:)

[Mana]

Namaste Stevie,

Welcome to HDF, the past is as changeable as the future, your perception of both depend upon many things; including your perception of the present, untangling this knot is quite a noble goal. It is a fantastic thing for you to be on this path.
My beliefs are not yet of any traditional schools of thought as I am not yet fluent in the scriptures of any lineage, yet I am learning so as to be able to better communicate with my piers as to the here and now and ins and outs.
I have found both the Bhagavad Gita and the Upanishads as transcribed and embelished by Eknath Easwaran to be a good starting point from my Western origins.
You might find them agreeable as an introduction; others may recommend differing transcriptions. It is important to be aware that there are different interpretations of these divine classics.
You will also find fantastic wisdom and information lovingly shared amongst the pages of this forum; If you are anything like me it can be daunting to find your way around initially, and it is so true that timing is very much of the essence when it comes to receiving wisdom; but I go as a general rule that instinct and intuition are an important part of our development, as much as the shared wisdom of those about us. Your heart will tell you when to absorb.

Welcome to HDF...


praNAma

mana

[Eastern Mind]

In looking at another thread I saw that people here seem to to pay more attention to etiquette here than on most websites so let me go ahead and say hello and introduce myself.

Hello :) My name is Stevie and I am from the southern United States. I am hoping to learn more about Hinduism, especially Advaita Vedanta and I would greatly appreciate and help I can get. Thank you.

Vannakkam Stevie: It seems to me then you have done some exploring already. What is it that points you in the direction of Advaita Vedanta than? Some experiences must have pointed you there, (as opposed to some other type or aspect of Hinduism, like a particular God, temples, etc.) Maybe that would help us assist you.

Aum Namasivaya

[shays860]

I have been reading about religion for about seven years. I've read a little bit about a lot of things. New ageism, Taoism, Buddhism probably other things I'm forgetting right now. And a few things on Hinduism. Ram Das' Be Here Now. Probably not the most respectable source but my spiritual journey was tied up with drug use at first. Autobiography of a Yogi, Ken Wilber books. I've got hundreds of books about religion and spirituality.

The reason I think that Advaita Vedant is the path for me is because the idea that everything is basically God seems logical to me. So I'm looking for a systematic presentation of the idea, it's implications and particular practices associated with it in order to integrate the idea. My daughter is here with me so I apologize if this post is not as coherent as it could have been.

[Friend from the West]

Hari AUM

Namaste and hello Stevie,

Welcome to HDF.

Perhaps not what you are asking directly, but from what other posters on this thread are saying, think post from other very recent thread from YajvanJi may be helpful:

http://www.hindudharmaforums.com/showthread.php?p=78795#post78795

Look forward to your sharing of thoughts on subsequent posts.

Take care.

Om Shanti

FFTW

[yajvan]

hariḥ oṁ
~~~~~~

namasté


I'm looking for beginner friendly books on Advaita Vedanta, especially with instructions on how to achieve union,
I too will be anxious to read the recommendations that are offered on knowledge and specific instruction. When we get into vedānta the upaniṣad-s become front-and-center, and take authorship. The ~instuctions~ for union ( yoga) are directional and not specific. Why so ? It is inferred that one is working with a teacher and it is the teacher's job to give the proper instruction to the individual based upon the knowledge in the upaniṣad-s.

This applies to the another view ( not opposing) of advitīya that is not of the vedāntic classical theme that offers instruction, yet written for the teacher to instruct the student.


So, for someone new to this knowledge it will be challanging to get one's complete instruction i.e. actual sādhana instruction from a book. That said, one will be well on the way with study, yet will need practical direct experience.

praṇām

[saidevo]

namaste Stevie.
Here is something that you might find helpful:

Practical Introduction
Advaita: step by step: V.kriShNamUrti
http://www.advaitin.net/Articles/advaitadialogue.pdf

Advaita for Beginners: D.kRShNa aiyar
http://www.sankaracharya.org/library/AyyarAdvaitaVedanta.pdf

Advaita: A Bird's Eye View: D kRShNa aiyar
http://www.telugubhakti.com/telugupages/Adwaitam/Advaita.pdf
http://www.vedantaadvaita.org/

Advaita Sadhana: kAnchi mahA svAmigaL
http://www.advaita.org.uk/discourses/downloads/sadhana.pdf

I am That: Nisargadatta Maharaj
http://home.earthlink.net/~grharmon/I_Am_That.pdf

Advanced
Advaita Bodha Deepika: ramaNAsramam
http://www.sriramanamaharshi.org/downloads/advaita_bodha_deepika.zip

drg-drshya vivekaH
http://www.archive.org/download/drgdrsyaviveka030903mbp/drgdrsyaviveka030903mbp.pdf

Lights on Advaita: V.subrahmaNya aiyar
http://wisdomsgoldenrod.org/publications/iyer/iyerbook.pdf

History and development
http://www.advaita-vedanta.org/avhp/index.html
http://www.advaitin.net/

Practice of yoga mediation for eventual Self-Realization
http://www.swamij.com/

Welcome to HDF and wish you all the best in your spiritual efforts.

[OjasM]

I would recommend you dasbodha(originally in marathi) by samartha ramdas swami. It gives basic ideas and practical examples of Advaita philosophy. It will also provide slight historic context. But u will have to find its apt translation on net.

[shays860]

Thanks again for all the help everyone. I'm glad Eknath Easwaran's Upanishads was mentioned as it reminded me that I already had a copy though I didn't know it was so good. I tried to read a penguin edition of the Upanishads before but without commentary it was so foreign as to be unintelligible. I also have a copy of The Bagavad Gita that I have read so I think I will order a copy of the Brahmasutras with Shankara's commentary and as I understand it I should have the three primary texts of Advaita Vedanta covered (correct me if I'm wrong). I may order an Idiots guide to Hinduism as well and maybe it will at least point me to more and better information... It's just so frustrating to have to wait so long once you decide you want to start learning about something... oh well.

[devotee]

Namaste Shays,

Welcome to the forums ! :)

I am quite busy these days otherwise I would have loved to offer you a detailed response. However, the references given by Saidevo ji will be able to offer you valuable insights.

I think you are looking at "how to go about the practice in Advaita ?". See, in Advaita, you have to do this :

a) Read, listen, discuss and do deep thinking on issues related with Advaita. Keep doing it until most of your doubts are doubts are removed. It will slowly remove the illusion of duality in your mind and you start seeing everything and everyone the expression of the same Reality.

I think you already are doing this.

b) Many Advaita teachers believe including Shankara that deep meditation on the Upanishads' Advaitic teachings would be enough to lead you to Self -realisation as that is a strong prescription for removal of duality.

c) However, that may not be enough as many other teachers recommend Yoga-Saadhana for quickening the process of Self-realisation. That includes among various others : RAj yoga taught by Maharishi Patanjali, Kriya Yoga as taught by Deathless BAbAji and Lord Krishna (not revealed in the Bhagwad Gita), Transcendental Meditation, Shiva Yoga, Khechari etc. etc.

d) There are quite a few Upanishads which specially go in detail about various types of Yoga-KriyAs for Self-Realisation. Yoga-ChuRamaNi Upanishad is one of those.

e) However, I would not advise you to do any of these yoga-kriyas including that indicated in c) above without having a Guru. In the path of Advaita SAdhanA, Guru enjoys a very important role when you want to seriously pursue this path. You will have to find a Sat-Guru for this. Sat-Guru is one who himself has realised Self. There are many fake Gurus available in the market and one should be better maintain a safe distance from them. Anyone asking for exorbitant money (some dakshinA is OK but not commercial fee for material gains) for teaching you something is a clear sign of something fishy. Steer clear of such Self-proclaimed Gurus.

f) In fact, one should not hurry to have a Guru unless you find that you have got stuck in your SAdhanA and you need help. If you are really ready spiritually, you will easily find a suitable Guru for yourself. If not, then you need to wait patiently.

I hope it helps.

OM

[Amit.absolute]

Have a look of the book written by "swami ditatmananda" named
"Modern Physics and Vedanta".

[shays860]

Do you guys know of anywhere to get books on hinduism cheaper than an Amazon or Abebooks? I don't have a lot of money to spare right now. I was going to get a copy of the brahmasutras but it was more than I expected.

[Seeker123]

From your posts it does not look like you want beginner's Advaita. I would probably suggest

Beginner
Vedanta Treatise by Swami Parthasarathy
Kindle Life by Swami Chinmayananda
Intro to Vedanta by Swami Dayananda

Intermediate
Gita by Swami Dayananda then go to Upanishads and finally Brahmasutras

You can most of the books here

http://books.arshavidya.org/cgi-bin/process/shop/display/main?type=display&subtype=category&arg=category&value=Arsha%20Vidya%20Books%2C%20Audio%20%26%20Video

[satay]

namaste,
Go through the list of books in the Library (compiled by Saidevo) at
http://www.hindudharmaforums.com/showthread.php?t=4544
I am sure you will find something useful there before spending any dollars.

[devotee]

Namaste Shays,

1. I agree with Satay. Saidevo ji has developed a very good library of Hindu Dharma books and you can get almost every book therein without spending any penny.

2. There are various sites which offer the translated versions of Upanishads. Upanishads are the origin of all Advaitic teachings and therefore I strongly recommend serious study of Upanishads. I would strongly recommend MAndukyA Upanishad read with Gaudapad KArikA.

3. If Paramhansa YogAnanda's teachings appeal to you then you may enrol with Self Realisation Fellowship which costs very little & it would give you the lessons of Paramhansa Yogananda every month for three years. It has scientific and logical explanations of Advaitic teachings of Paramhansa Yogananda.

4. If teachings of BrahmA KumAris appeal to you then you can enrol with them and their fee too is quite nominal.

5. You can learn simple meditation technique from a suitable Yoga Teacher which would improve your power of concentration which would help in actual KriyAs. You should also learn good sitting postures like "Lotus posture/PadmAsana" in which you can sit standstill for long. I would recommend you to go through Patanjali YogsutrAs to have understanding of YamAs and NiyamAs.

6. Lastly you may go through these threads which would help you :

http://www.hindudharmaforums.com/showthread.php?t=4824
http://www.hindudharmaforums.com/showthread.php?t=4941
http://www.hindudharmaforums.com/showthread.php?t=5798
http://www.hindudharmaforums.com/showthread.php?t=192
http://www.hindudharmaforums.com/showthread.php?t=5562
http://www.hindudharmaforums.com/showthread.php?t=3078

These threads have special characteristics ... they are available free of cost !

OM

[Sahasranama]

You may also be interested in looking at Indian philosophy from a broader perspective. A lot of new commers to Hinduism put all their eggs in the advaita vedanta basket and almost all of them end up getting confused reading the works of neo vedantins.

A History of Indian Philosophy by Surendranath Dasgupta [All 5 Volumes Combined, 2517 Pages, High Quality, with Complete Outlines] (From 1922 to 1955)

http://www.archive.org/details/AHistoryOfIndianPhilosophyBySurendranathDasgupta-5Volumes

or some introductory reading:

http://www.iep.utm.edu/category/traditions/indian/

[anirvan]

[QUOTE=devotee;78877]Namaste Shays,

4. If teachings of BrahmA KumAris appeal to you then you can enrol with them and their fee too is quite nominal.

Namaste Devotee,

Do you ever visited BrahmaKumaris?Does their teachings have any glimpse of Vedant teachings.I think they are more dangerous than Christianity.just teach prejudice and hatefulness and sucks money from innocents after putting them in trance and fantasy.

[devotee]

Namaste Anirvan,




Do you ever visited BrahmaKumaris?Does their teachings have any glimpse of Vedant teachings.I think they are more dangerous than Christianity.just teach prejudice and hatefulness and sucks money from innocents after putting them in trance and fantasy.

Is it ? You may be right, if you have been regular to this organisation. I am not sure. One of my seniors was a member of this organisation & I went to their Ashram at Guwahati once. They proclaim to teach RAj-Yoga. They may not be teaching Vedanta as they accept Lord Shiva as the Supreme cause of everything but when it is RAj Yoga, as they proclaim, then how does it matter how non-duality is attained ?

They didn't ask any fee from me, at least. May be it was because I went there for the first time. Had you a long association with this organisation ? How do they suck money, as you say ? I don't think they charge excessively. I would like to know.

OM

[Mana]

Namaste devotee, anirvan, Sahasranama,

There is a BrahmA KumAris near to me in France, I have been once and it was free, I found it to be just that, an adaptation of RajaYoga. May be I should return to see them, as there is nothing else near to me.

My region otherwise does not offer much spiritual guidance. They were very off about speaking of kundalini, which was not much help to me when I saw them is I was in a state of very elevated energy. I am of the belief that If it is demystified, then its power and magic is also reduced with that mystery.

I believe that we should be working with and not against it.. If common knowledge the power of the poison is removed, it is its own antidote. Those who wish to conceal this may have an ulterior motive.

The BrahmA KumAris do not believe in the word Guru, this pains me as the word teacher is totally misunderstood when a spiritual guide is required. This is however a problem of Western language.


praNAma

mana

[devotee]

Namaste Mana and Anirvan,

I have done some more research on BrahmAkumaris. What I have gathered is this :

a) It claims to teach RAj Yoga but doesn't appear to follow the RAj Yoga methodology of Maharishi Patanjali.

b) Its beliefs are significantly different from Advaitic Vedantic teachings.

c) This organisation though claims to teach basic courses free of cost but it has been involved in a number of controversies.

I got confused by their claim of teaching RAj Yoga. Now, I don't recommend this organisation without a thorough knowledge about this organisation by the aspirant.

OM