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

by Stephen Knapp

The Secret Teachings of the Vedas provides one of the best reviews of ancient Eastern philosophy and summarizes some of the most elevated and important of all spiritual knowledge. This timeless and enlightening information is explained in a clear and concise way and is essential for all who want to increase their spiritual understanding and awareness. This is a book that can give you a new perspective of who you are and where you fit into the scheme of things. Is This Book For You? Yes, if you want to understand: the science of the soul and the eternal characteristics of your real spiritual identity; the scientific evidence that indicates consciousness is separate from, but interacts with, the body; how to attain the highest happiness and freedom from the cause of suffering; the real unity between us all which is beyond bodily identification; reincarnation and how to determine what your next life will be by the actions you perform and the consciousness you develop; reincarnation found in Christianity; life after death--heaven, hell, or beyond; the law of karma and how you accumulate good or bad karma that will affect your future; how residents of a country collectively create national karma; what is the spiritual realm as described in the Vedic texts; the nature of the Absolute Truth--personal God or impersonal force; how to recognize the existence of the Supreme; why we exist at all; and much more. There is also an explanation of what the Vedas are, how they were compiled, and how they have influenced Western culture for many years. This book supplies the straightforward answers to questions that are not resolved in other religions or philosophies, and condenses information from a wide variety of sources that would take a person years to assemble. It also uses many quotations from numerous Vedic texts that will show you the lofty insight and wisdom they have held for thousands of years.

Genres: Philosophy, Nonfiction, Religion, Spirituality, Hinduism

First published March 14, 1986

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads data base.

Reviews

[Hrishav Bhattarai · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don’t write reviews but I had to on this one because this is probably the worst book I have ever read. I felt like the book is more of a religious/vedic propaganda than a book full of teachings. Most of the things mentioned in the books are senseless, baseless and utter nonsense. I was shocked by its useless content. On the other hand, the book is boring as hell and it took me a lot of time to finish reading it especially the reading flow and the content-grasp.
These are my views and I would not recommend this book to anyone seeking insights about the topics that this book covers. But maybe I am wrong, so read at your own risk.

[Sujata Morab · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had bought this book to read viewpoint of an author who is not Indian. I must say I am not disappointed. A lot of research has gone into making of this book. The topic is very vast and deep. To the credit of the author, he has done a commendable job. I have only read “Bhagvad Gita As It Is” by Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada. I am richer in knowledge today because of this book. I would recommend this book to all who are Seekers in Spiritual Pursuit.

[Kalpana · Rating 3 out of 5]

At first, I was amazed at the profund knowledge shown by this American on Vedic literature. It's a good book for beginners. For others, it's just another book. It definitely doesn't answer all my questions to the mysteries of life.

[Phillias · Rating 5 out of 5]

Approachable and upbeat primer to the Bhagavad Gita and it's rationale. Not a rigorous Vedantic effort but a great launching point.

[Srinidhi Kasagar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book if you want to know about Vedas. Author has given a nice compilation of all our holy books including Bhagavadgita. Would love to read it again.

[Adi Prasanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting compilation of Indian philosophy by a westerner. The book starts with introduction and history of vedas and scriptures and covers many topics like soul, super-soul, reincarnation, evolution, heaven and hell etc. Though the book title makes readers to expect much from the four vedas, it covers most of the topics from Bhagavath Geetha and Bhagavatham. Author has done extensive research of Indian scriptures including vedas, puranas, Geetha, Bhagavatham. He also compares few topics with western philosophy and science. Overall, it's an interesting read which will need lot of patience, time and thorough understanding.

[Indranil Saha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Provides in depth spiritual insight.Not easy to comprehend though. The experience has to be more of realisation than simple reading. Expected more detailed description of the four Vedas, but the book gives more emphasis on The bhagavat gita.

[Vijay Kumar · Rating 5 out of 5]

A study of eastern philosophies by a western scholar.

[Vijay Kumar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing introduction to Vedas by a western scholar.

[Thangaraj Kannan · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the easiest way of understanding the Hindu way of living.

Written in a simple language so that it can be understood by all. It is a must read for all spirituality enthusiasts.

[Raja G · Rating 2 out of 5]

It is surely with a deep sense of sadness that I write a 2 star review of this book. I found it in a bookstore in Bengaluru, India, in February 2025. The revised and expanded version by the Jaico publishing company was released in 2010. The original was published in 1993. The author has written no less than 44 books so far, certainly a formidable effort.

The title of the book is "The Secret Teachings of the Vedas: Answers to the Mysteries of Life." For this author, the "Vedas" include the extensive literature of the Vaishnavas, the devotees of the God Vishnu. For them, all such literature is to be considered to be part of the Vedas, which they are not. They are very much Vaishnava teachings. They are certainly included as part of the Hindu heritage, but to repeat, they are not part of the Vedas. The Rig Veda only mentions the name Vishnu six times. The author thinks they are; that is his prerogative. He is an ardent devotee of Shri Prabhupada, who founded the Krishna Consciousness movement. Their belief is that Lord Vishnu is "The Supreme Personality of Godhead." The huge irony here is that the word "Godhead" is very much part of the Abrahamic faiths. As per Wiki, the word is derived from Middle English godhede, "godhood", and unrelated to the modern word "head." In Christianity, it refers to the substantial nature or essence of the Christian God. We Indians are so anglicized. Prabhupada also looked down on other Hindu traditions, particularly the Shaiva tradition. Hinduism is as vast as an ocean, whereas people like Prabhupada limit it to a small lake of Vaishnava belief. The Vaishnava tradition likely arose a thousand or more years after the time of the Vedas including the Upanishads which are considered to have been taught 3000 years ago. To repeat, Vishnu was yet another Déva (deity) at the time of the Vedas and surely not the "Supreme" deity.

In summary, the "secret teachings" that Stephen Knapp refers to are derived from the Vaishnava tradition, which goes completely contrary to Hinduism because it claims: "My God (Vishnu) is the Supreme God." This book is absolutely not the one to read to truly understand Hinduism. If, however, you are an ardent devotee of the Vaishnava tradition, you will revere and adore this book. The book refers to "Secret Teachings," and here is the most profound secret of the Bhagavad Gita (pronounced Geetha): wherever Lord Krishna says "Me," interpret that to mean the "Me" within ourselves, the Immortal Consciousness, the Aathman (usually spelt Atman, making it sound like Batman :)), that dwells within us. THAT is the ultimate Spirit and Guide, the ultimate Guru. The immortal Vedic teaching is "Tat Tvam Asi," pronounced Thuth Thvam Asi, which means "That Thou Art," or in simple English, "You are That." Your Aathman, the Soul that empowers you, is a fragment of That, the Infinite Consciousness called Brahman in the Vedas.

[Amit Jadhav · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE SECRET TEACHINGS OF THE VEDAS

Henry David Thoreau once remarked:

“What extracts from the Vedas I have read fall on me like the light of a higher and purer luminary, which describes a loftier course through a purer stratum. In the morning I bathe my intellect in the stupendous and cosmogony philosophy of the Bhagvad-Gita, since whose composition years of the gods have elapsed and in comparison with which our modern world and its literature seems puny and trivial.” (Walden, Chapter XVI)

What is common between Thoreau, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Napoleon, Leo Tolstoy, Walt Whitman, Thomas Jefferson, Voltaire, Wolfgang von Goethe, Charles Dickens, Walt Whitman, Henry Ford, Schopenhauer, Huxley and Carl Jung. All of these are some of the greatest philosophers, thinkers writers and change makers of the last 300 years the world has seen. And the things they have most common to them is “THE VEDAS” and “REINCARNATION”.

Stephen Knapp with his extensive four decade study of the Vedas and other scriptures brings to the common reader a brilliant extract of some of the secrets of the Vedas hidden in plain sight. The writing of the book clearly displays a detailed understanding of the Vedas.

The book answers some of the most controversial questions that have haunted humankind for centuries like :- WHY THERE IS LIFE AT ALL, THE STRUCTURE OF THE UNIVERSE, EVOLUTION, REINCARNATION, KARMA & DEATH.

No unwanted exaggeration, written to the point with crisp precision.

A must read if you have questions, questions you look for and seek answers to all your life.

Definitely worth a read for the inquisitive mind.

One word to describe the book: Insightfully eye- opening.

[Majnoo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short summary of Vedic literature in simple language

I started reading this book and was fascinated by first few chapters. Author has done a great job explaining vedic philosophy in simple language, especially for people from western origin, this will serve a good starting point. However, I had to limit my rating due to the following reasons:
1. The book does not cover any verses fro.Vedas, but is based on literatures like Upanishad, Purana, Shrimad bhagwatam and Geeta
2. Later part of the book, focuses only on bhakti yoga and tries to emphasize that it's the best way to know the truth
3. Second half of the book loses track and the concluding chapter could have been better

Nevertheless, the first half of the book is worth reading for anyone interested in Vedic philosophy .

[Kashish Mehta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow amazing to read this in quarantine time. Vedas so much similar to Jainism. Loved Stephen knapp and how knowledge he has in the vedas. Amazing read to give you the basic ideas of the upinshads vedas and the bhagvatam. A superb mythology religion book

[Gautam Srihari · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found the book very illuminating and prophetic. I agreed with the author on most of the aspects except I had some differences on his views on the Vedas being against Abortion. On the whole it was a very concise overview of the Vedas by a foreign author.

[Harish B · Rating 2 out of 5]

It’s a heavy read. Opinions dominate but gives a perspective of ancient teachings

[Samicannou · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book

[Vijay Peddada · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the finest book on Vedas....

[Ankit Kumar · Rating 5 out of 5]

A musttttt read for all who are searching for the mysteries of life, birth, death and beyond.

[Kajal Gaur · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spiritual book illustrating the eastern philosophy

[Jaishree Jaishree · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book about the Hindu scriptures. Gives extensive information and also lists out all the important scriptures, for those who may want to read them in detail.

[Shailja · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book is a good read only for beginners. However, I feel the author didn’t do justice to the title. Most of the content is a commentary from bhagvat purana which is a small part of vedas and rest little part is taken from various Upanishads and bhagvat gita.
The book doesn’t represent the true knowledge of vedas and present a concoction of knowledge according to the shallow and superficial understanding of author along with his christian philosophy. The part of karma presented in book was too disappointing and felt a little misguiding.
There is little focus on individual consciousness and it’s connection to universal consciousness or brahaman which is the basis of transcendental vedic knowledge. Overall the book presents only superficial teachings of vedas through the shallow lens of author’s understanding.

[Pramod Nair · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy to understand explanation of the Vedic philosophical view of life and gives great spiritual insights in to the Vedic literature.

[Abhishek]

hope its going to be interesting reading :-)

[Avinash Kalkote]

good