A Guide to Hindu Spirituality

by Arvind Sharma McGill University

Renowned scholar of Hinduism, Arvind Sharma, presents a concise and highly accessible introduction to Hindu spirituality, focusing especially on the views of the school of Advaita, or non-dual, Vedanta.

Genres: Hinduism, Religion

136 pages, Paperback

First published July 10, 2006

Reviews

[Fr. Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

As has been pointed out, the title is misleading here. I'd suggest "A Guide to the Metaphysics of Advaita Vendanta." That said, this is a really nice book. It's short, but it took me awhile to read it. (Don't be concerned that my reading dates comprise about seven months. I had moved in that time and misplaced the book for several months.) It is well organized and progresses logically. As a book primarily philosophical, I did read it more slowly than other genres I enjoy. Each paragraph, and often each sentence, needed to be absorbed. I have other books I want to read that cover a wider variety of traditions. If you wish to learn about the specifics of how Advaita Vedanta views the universe, I wholeheartedly recommend this text.

[Pine Cone Boy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Deceptive title - it's really more an esoteric discourse on the underlying philosophy of the Advaita Vedanta school, and as such does not say anything about those more obvious elements of Hinduism which form the structure of devotional life for most adherents, and about which many outsiders (myself included) would like most to learn: the complex pantheon, the relations between the varying schools, religious history, key texts, temple rites and private devotion, etc. No, it's mostly just a very narrowly philosophical and metaphysical focus here. But Arvind Sharma is kinda the best, so this wasn't a waste.

[Angel · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked this up when it came in with a new books cart at my workplace library. Once in a while, I like picking up books that will teach me a bit about the religious beliefs of others. This one provides a basic overview and exposition of the spiritual elements in Hinduism. While not the most riveting book, it can be a good book for anyone interested in the topic.

[Erwin Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arvind Sharma’s A Guide to Hindu Spirituality examined three states of consciousness – those of waking, dreaming, and deep sleep. These were considered ordinary states of consciousness that all human beings experience. However, there’s a fourth state known as atman. This was thought of as a person’s true being whereby he or she experiences ‘bliss’ in a dream state. In Advaita Vedanta a dream state tends to be expressed in many states that tend to undermine each other’s reality.
But being in the waking state gives a person the fullest opportunity to do what he or she wishes. And AUM is said to be representative of three Hindu gods of the trinity: Brahma - creation, Vishnu - preservation, and Siva – termination. The tripartite sound of AUM in Advaita Vedanta is also seen as representative of the three states of consciousness viz, waking, dreaming, and deep sleep, but the silence after repeating AUM is considered the fourth state known as ‘atman.’
Sharma wrote that the sacred scriptures of Vedas consist of 1) hymns, 2) explanation of rituals about the hymns, 3) reflections on the importance of these rituals, and 4) contains the secret texts of the greatest mysteries presented in rituals that transfer believers into the realm of spiritual knowledge.

[Chad Ward · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book gives you the basics. It isn't in depth but gives you a general view.