What is Hinduism?: A Guide for the Global Mind

by David Frawley

What Is Hinduism? provides one of the most provocative, engaging and detailed examinations of this oldest religious and spiritual tradition in the world. Followed by over a billion people, including a great majority in India, Hinduism is the third largest religion in the world. The teachings of Yoga and Vedanta are followed by millions in every continent. Enriched with a profound pluralistic view, Hinduism emphasizes that the Truth is One but has many paths. Yet, despite its universality, Hinduism remains the most misunderstood of the world's major religions, partly because of its antiquity and the vast extent of its teachings.

Acknowledging the importance of the religion and its growing influence globally, David Frawley has addressed the prime teachings of Hinduism, its role in India, its place in the information age and has compiled an exhaustive set of questions and answers dwelling on all the significant issues. This essential learning helps us understand our spiritual heritage as a species and the place of India among the greatest civilizations of the world- ancient and modern. Further, the book charts out how Hindus can overcome the challenges confronting them today and communicate their diverse tradition more effectively, making it an ideal book for the Hindu youth.

Genres: Hinduism, Nonfiction, History, India, Philosophy, Religion

274 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

David Frawley (or Vāmadeva Śāstrī वामदेव शास्त्री), b. 1950, is an American Hindu teacher (acharya) and author, who has written more than thirty books on topics such as the Vedas, Hinduism, Yoga, Ayurveda and Vedic astrology, published both in India and in the United States. He is the founder and director of the American Institute of Vedic Studies in Santa Fe, New Mexico, which offers educational information on Yoga philosophy, Ayurveda, and Vedic astrology. He works closely with the magazine Hinduism Today, where he is a frequent contributor.[1] He is associated with a number of Vedic organizations in several countries. He is a Vedic teacher (Vedacharya), Vaidya (Ayurvedic doctor), and a Jyotishi (Vedic astrologer).

Reviews

[Ashish Iyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting book. Eye opener in many ways. Those who don't know anything about Hinduism should read them as well. It covers all basic aspects. You can see how it is different from other religion.

[शिखा · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not just any book but a reference guide. First of all, sincere pranams to the author Dr. David Frawley for his profound research. This book is for those who are confronted with questions about Sanatana Dharma but struggle to answer them confidently. It is for those who lack in their ability to articulate facts into convincing answers.

A book worth reading over and over.

[Kalyan · Rating 4 out of 5]

To start with.... why is the book image missing? It is a beautiful book to look at!

It will always be an onerous task to sum up Hinduism or well correctly put Sanatan Dharma.

This book attempts to put things in perspective from the point of view of a Sanatani(A person who follows the Sanatan Dharma).

An honest book which tries to explain in easy language,with quality print, The Sanatan Dharma and its amazing diversity.

Any one who wishes to start a journey understanding Sanatan Dharma should read it.

As Frawley himself says - open your mind, question, experience, realise enlightment and choose your path :)

[L. Andiric · Rating 5 out of 5]

David Frawley is a westerner who practices Hinduism and writes to explain the core beliefs of this spiritual practice. He is able to explain God from the Hindu perspective with such feeling and elegant description that I sometimes found myself reading passages over and over. The explanations seem so logical and so reassuring in regard to our eventual human destiny whether of not we are Hindu ourselves. The book is very readable and an excellent resource for learning about Hindu beliefs.

[Ashish Iyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another brilliant book by this author. He knows so many things. We all should read his books.

[Sanjana Bhattacharyya · Rating 1 out of 5]

I usually don't write reviews here anymore as I do so in my blog, but I found this book so absurdly fallacious that i must warn readers. The book is entirely based on speculation as I did not see a single citation or smidge of proof corroborating the tall claims. The writer repeatedly proclaimed that the similarities between Hinduism and other old religions is a result of 'influence of Hinduism' on the other religion, not vice versa or, a more probable hypothesis, remnants of an older religion which may be the precursor of the religions in question.

I am not fond of reading 'analysis' from people too close to the matter as it never gives you an unbiased view. The author, who, enamored with Hinduism, has converted and even holds a 'Vedic' name. Evidently, this book is full of convenient half-truths. I read this on someone's recommendation (insistence) as I probably come across as a heretic to their far right sentimentality. But this book is far from enlightening and the agenda is very clear from the get-go.

[Archana · Rating 1 out of 5]

Its too much of a drag
The title doesnt match the information given at all
There is too much of repetitive information
Its another matter that the author is so highly learned depth of info about Hinduism is lacking
I will call it a book for toddler to know about Hinduism

[Akilesh Sridharan · Rating 5 out of 5]

What Is Hinduism: A Guide for the Global World by David Frawley aka Pandit Vamadeva Shastri pieces together the various aspects of Hindu religion (Sanatana Dharma) through relevant topics and questions and answers.

This book is a must-read and a must-have for all true practitioners of Hinduism as it delves deep into the questions of Hindu rituals, traditions, belief system and idol worship,and how it is different from other abrahamanic religions.

In a simple and clear writing, the author explains various misinterpretations made by Western society on Hinduism and how false their intentions and motives are.

The writer also talks about how inclusive and pluralistic the Hindu society at its core with spiritual awakening being its ultimate goal.

A must-read book for youth of today who are misguided by the social media and other western forces spreading fake news about the Dharmic life of Bharat and its people.

[Joseph Everett · Rating 5 out of 5]

If your looking to get a sense of what the core of Hinduism is, this is it!

The author makes an excellent case for the benefits of awakening to the inner divine via Hinduism and similar traditions. It feels very obvious at certain points that he has a strong disdain for Christianity which I found to be in conflict with the core teaching of acceptance and global spirituality that he most often focuses on. That being said, due to the vastness and ancientness of the Hindu system, it is difficult for anyone to put it into words without some level of stark contrast against something else. This book as well as many of his others are excellent resources for Hindu path to an enlightened mind.

[Sudhir Dalal · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book by learned Dr. Frawley is a primer primarily for western readership.. For practicing Hindus it is too basic a guide. Dr. Frawley deals with hundreds of questions on what Hinduism means. He answers questions clearing mis-informations, pre-set conceptions, and vague impressions based on news paper news, articles appearing in western press and these days circulating in social medias. In this he does a really good job.

[Ashwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was an amazing experience reading this. Acharya Vamadeva shares invaluable insights of one of the oldest surviving Dharma

[Pasha Hanifa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every Hindu or those who wish to learn about Hinduism should read this. David Frawley flawlessly presents to the reader what it means to be a true universal spiritual Hindu in the modern world.