Table Of ContentDEDICATED 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 Bhagavadgita As It Is, Srimad-Bhagavatam, Sri
Caitanyacaritamrita, 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://Stephenknapp.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.
The book is not only a discussion of the issues concerning the mystery of
existence and of human life in terms of Indian teachings of the Vedic literature,
but also a conscious effort to relate those insights to the contemporary age and
its ethos.
In conclusion, Stephen Knapp advocates that the Vedic teachings offer us
guidance through the maze of modern maladies brought about by the complex
industrial and technological civilization, and make human life worthwhile.
The book is a welcome introduction to the teachings of the Vedic and Puranic
literature on the various topics of metaphysical and spiritual interest.
Prof. Mahesh Mehta
Department of Religious Studies
University of Windsor
Windsor, Ontario, Canada
Preface
There are many books being written these days on spiritual or occult subjects
by authors who present their ideas and teachings as if they were facts, but do not
provide any traditional references or scriptural evidence to justify what they
write. This book, The Secret Teachings of the Vedas: The Eastern Answers to the
Mysteries of Life, is written to establish an alternative to the highly speculatory,
inconclusive, and often times problematic theories about the universe, the soul,
life after death, where we have come from, where we are going, and the various
ideas about the Absolute that are presently being spread and accepted today.
The truths that are contained in the ancient texts often hold the clearest
understanding of life that can be found anywhere. This will become more
apparent as we present various parts of the Vedic teachings to clarify many
theories that an increasing number of people are starting to seriously consider.
These include such concepts as the eternality of the soul, reincarnation, karma,
destiny, who we are, the meaning of life, and all the questions that often go
unanswered for lack of knowledge.
We have seen, for example, that many times children will ask their parents
questions concerning matters about life and death that the parents hardly
understand themselves. The elders may take questions to their own spiritual
leaders, such as the local minister or priest, who often leave their congregational
members with little more understanding than what they already had. In this way,
many difficult questions about life go unanswered and are dismissed because
precise information does not seem to exist.
Sometimes it is taught that, “It’s not meant for us to know,” or “God will tell
us when we are fit to receive it.” Or we may even be told that we will not know
the answers until after we die, so just keep the faith. But this book is an attempt
to show that this is hardly the case. There are many answers awaiting us,
especially in the area of Eastern philosophy. And any person is fit to receive this
knowledge when they care enough to search for it. However, to receive full
understanding you must approach that source of complete knowledge in the
proper way, which is in a mood of respect and humility. A challenging attitude
will not do. After all, we are born in ignorance and, regardless of whatever
technological skills we may acquire, we can easily die in spiritual ignorance
unless we qualify ourselves with spiritual knowledge. When this knowledge and
the laws of the universe become known, then the mysterious reasons and causes
for the present day problems of the world become obvious. Then the reasons
why we are in this world and why we go through the things we do are also
understood.
For those, however, who feel hesitant to consider alternative viewpoints due
to a feeling of allegiance to a certain religion or philosophy, I hope you will read
this book with an open mind. If, for example, you are a Christian, you should
have the attitude of following in the footsteps of Jesus Christ while reading this,
since there are many recorded references of his traveling through the East and
studying the Vedic writings. However, some people may say that they have their
own religion, so what more do they need? Why should they study the philosophy
of the East or the science of yoga? The point is that the word religion comes
from the Latin word religio, which means to bring back or to bind, while the
Sanskrit word yoga means to connect with or to unite. To bind or unite with
what? The Supreme, of course. Thus, there is no difference between the purpose
of religion and the goal of yoga: they are the same. Yet it has been shown that
the knowledge of the Vedas is much more expansive and deeper than that found
in most conventional religious philosophies. It is like the difference between an
abridged dictionary and one that is unabridged. They are essentially the same;
yet, one is more complete. Therefore, one can get a much better understanding of
whatever spiritual philosophy he or she follows by studying the Eastern texts. It
brings one to a high level of consciousness.
In fact, for many hundreds of years, the East, especially India, has been the
focal point when it comes to spiritual knowledge. As we will see in Chapter
Two, many great writers, poets, theologians, etc., have increased their
understanding of themselves and their own viewpoints of life simply by
investigating the wisdom of the East. So now let us begin the grand adventure of
examining the essential, universal, spiritual truths as presented in this discourse
on Eastern philosophy.
THE AUTHOR
Introduction
This book takes information that is widely scattered throughout many volumes
of Vedic literature and condenses it into the present work for an in-depth
introduction to the Vedic teachings. For the average person, it would take many
years of study to acquire or assimilate what is presented here. Thus, the purpose
of this book is to supply the reader with clear and concise knowledge and
references of spiritual topics that normally would be difficult to find, or would
be reached only after many years of research through dozens of various books or
texts. I recognize that in this age not everyone has time to do everything he or
she would like, and our priorities may require so much of our day that there is no
time left to do anything but work for our essential needs. In light of this, I have
tried to compile this book so that with a limited amount of time and expense one
could still have access to some of the most elevated knowledge and spiritual
realizations ever recorded or known to man.
This book, however, is not meant to be read and digested in a few days like an
adventure novel. Of course, one may try to do that if they wish and will still get
much insight from it. But I suggest that readers go through it and absorb it at
their own pace, reading certain portions of it each day and meditating on various
parts of it that they may find especially enlightening.
In supplying this information, I have tried not to write too extensively, but
only enough to make things clear for the reader without being vague. I have also
used direct quotations from the Vedic literature whenever possible to allow them
to speak for themselves, and to let the reader get a better understanding of the
kind of knowledge and wisdom the Vedas and its literature contain. The reader
may want to study some of these chapters more than once, since it is well-known
that Vedic knowledge remains ever-fresh and reveals newer and newer insights
as one advances in spiritual understanding. Of course, if you are only looking for
specific information, the chapters are divided into segments by sub-titles making
it easier for you to find those references in which you may be particularly
interested.
Each chapter is complete in itself and will convey a thorough understanding of
the topic with the most essential information in the beginning portions of the
chapter. As one continues through the chapter, deeper knowledge is revealed.
For the beginner in Eastern philosophy, the most important chapters in this book
are Chapters One and Four, which give clear insights into who and what your
real identity is and how the Vedic texts offer guidance that help us understand
the real purpose of life. The information in these chapters also provides a better
understanding of other spiritual philosophies. Chapters Two and Three explain
how the Vedic literature has influenced many of the great men of our times, and
give information on the background of the Vedas and how they were compiled.
Chapter Five gives a thorough view of what the law of karma and reincarnation
is and how it affects us. Chapter Six may seem a little detailed but the
information is an integral part of understanding how we incarnate into different
types of bodies in different lives. Chapter Seven describes a little about the
structure of the universe and the heavenly and hellish planets, and shows how
there are many levels of existence and consciousness throughout this universe.
Chapter Eight puts it altogether and discusses the theory of evolution and
describes the Vedic concept of spiritual evolution and how the living being goes
up and down through the higher and lower planets and species of life according
to his or her consciousness, and how to get out of this cycle of repeated birth and
death. Chapter Nine explains why we have to go through all of this and why we
exist at all. Chapters Ten and Eleven explain how God is not only an impersonal
force that pervades everything, but is also the Supreme Person whose influence
can be recognized in all areas of our everyday life. Chapter Twelve, which is all
about the spiritual world, provides information that is found no where else in
such detail except in the Vedic literature.
For some readers, the information in this book may seem so different that it
may border the fantastic and be quite controversial. For others, it may make a lot
of sense and provide an understanding of life for which they have long been
looking. For others, it may kindle a reawakening of what, deep in their hearts,
they already know but could not quite remember.
Spiritual knowledge is meant as much for women as it is for men, so if it
seems like I use the words “he” or “him” a lot in this book when referring to the
individual, the aspirant, or yoga practitioner, it actually means anyone, he or she.
I use the word “he” mostly for ease of writing, not to show some bias.
Further information on the knowledge of the East will be supplied in future
volumes, such as The Heart of Hinduism. This book will explain the real purpose
of the yoga systems, how they work, the conclusion of Vedic knowledge, and
how to follow the path for spiritual self-realization that is meant for this age. It
also contains an explanation of mystic abilities, the qualifications of a true
spiritual leader, and much more. In books such as Proof of Vedic Culture’s
Global Existence, we see the connections of modern religion to the Vedic
tradition based on the linguistic and archeological evidence, and how they
expanded from one ancient but common source: which is the Vedic Aryan
culture. It is a volume that provides important information and much
enlightenment for those on the path, or those seeking a path to the Absolute.
