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

313 Pages·1990·1.48 MB·English

by  Knapp

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 Trust—International. 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 Culture’s 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

TITLE PAGE
COPYRIGHT PAGE
FOREWORD By Professor Mahesh Mehta
PREFACE
INTRODUCTION
What is Vedic
CHAPTER ONE
WHY STUDY THE VEDAS IN OUR SEARCH FOR HAPPINESS
Finding the answers * Guidance from the Vedas
CHAPTER TWO
WHAT ARE THE VEDAS
The Influence the Vedas have had on the West * Rediscovering Vedic
science
CHAPTER THREE
THE HISTORY AND TRADITIONAL SOURCE OF THE VEDAS
The Compiling of the Vedas * Rig Veda * Yajur Veda * Sama Veda *
Atharva Veda * The Puranas * Srila Vyasadeva Was Still Dissatisfied
CHAPTER FOUR
OUR REAL IDENTITY: THE SCIENCE OF THE SOUL
Finding ourselves * Review of Western philosophies * Problems with
scientific theories of consciousness * Vedic recognition of the soul’s
presence * The soul is eternal * The Vedic description of the soul * The
nature of the soul * Supersoul: the unifying factor * Description of the
Supersoul * Relationship between the soul and Supersoul * Being ignorant
of the self * The cause of suffering * Achieving peace for the individual
and for the world * Attaining the highest happiness
CHAPTER FIVE
REINCARNATION AND THE LAW OF KARMA
Reincarnation in Christianity * Other references and believers in
reincarnation * Approaching death * Rebirth * The law of karma and
destiny * Free will and choice * Getting free of karma
CHAPTER FIVE (PART B)
AVOIDING ACTIVITIES THAT CAUSE BAD KARMA
Being truthful * Practicing austerity * Inner and outer cleanliness * The
issue of abortion * Sex or no sex * Showing mercy and being vegetarian *
Biblical quotations about meat-eating * The karma of the nation
CHAPTER SIX
THE MODES OF NATURE: DETERMINING YOUR FUTURE EXISTENCE
What are the modes of nature * How the modes of nature work * Action
and consciousness in various modes * Where the modes take us *
Becoming free from the modes
CHAPTER SEVEN
HEAVEN AND HELL AND THE BASIC STRUCTURE OF THE UNIVERSE
The basic universal structure * Description of hell * Description of heaven
* The opportunity in this earthly existence
CHAPTER EIGHT
THE SOUL’S EVOLUTION THROUGH LIFE, DEATH AND BEYOND
Darwin’s theory * The Big Bang Theory * Our ignorance of life * The five
basic stages of human evolution * Life in the womb and birth of the living
entity * Life in the material world * Old age and death * The afterlife—
heaven, hell, or beyond
CHAPTER NINE
WHY IS THERE ANYTHING?
Why the material world exists * Why there is life at all
CHAPTER TEN
PERSONAL GOD OR IMPERSONAL FORCE?
God is personal and impersonal * The Absolute Truth is a person *
Descriptions from the Brahma-samhita
CHAPTER ELEVEN
RECOGNIZING THE EXISTENCE OF GOD
The universal form
CHAPTER TWELVE
DESCRIPTION OF THE SPIRITUAL WORLD
CONCLUSION
REFERENCES
GLOSSARY
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Foreword

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 d’etre 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.