The Secret Teachings of the Vedas: The Eastern Answers to the Mysteries of Life Volume One (Paperback)

~ Stephen Knapp (Author) "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..." (more)
Key Phrases: fruitive work, fruitive activities, bodily platform, Supreme Lord, Sri Krishna, Supreme Personality of Godhead (more...)

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: World Relief Network; Rev Sub edition (December 15, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0961741015
• ISBN-13: 978-0961741013
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #137,851 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #2 in	Books > Religion & Spirituality > Hinduism > Vedas
  #11 in	Books > Nonfiction > Philosophy > Eastern > Indian

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The spiritual Journey to Mysterious Horizons, September 8, 2002

By	Ilaxi S. Patel "Editor, kidsfreesouls.com & A... (India) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Stephen Knapp's book focus on eastern answers to the mysterious horizons explaining the theories about the universe, the souls, life after death and the ideas of the Absolute Lord. It's an indepth introduction to vedic teachings. The easter philosophy is well explained with Chapters one to four giving clear insights into who and what is your real identity and vedas give an understand as to what life really is. Chapters Two and three explain how vedas influence great men of the decade and the vedic background info of its compilation. Fifth chapter focus on Law of Karma and reincarnation. The sixth chapter is on reincarnation of different lives in different bodies. Chapter seven describes a little about universe structure and heaven n hell. Chapter eight reveals the evolution theory and vedic spiritual growth with a cycle of repeated birth and death. Chapter nine gives an insight of human existence. Tenth and eleventh chapter explain how God is Supreme Power whose influence should be recognized in our everyday Life.Chapter Twelve speaks of spiritual world which is found only in vedic literature.

I remember reading 'Our Daily Bread' booklets and having read Bible stories & Bhagwad Gita parts, do feel that Vedic Literature stands class apart when it comes to spiritual knowledge and it demands understanding and indepth reading.As most of vedic philosophy scholars know, originally refer original four vedas : The Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharva Vedas. The book on Vedas refer to upanishads, Vedanta sutras, Brahmanas and aranyakas - all the texts revealing knowledge whereas the remaining parts of Vedic literature consists of the Mahabharata, Bhagwad gita, Ramayana and Puranas.Stephen's Book is must read for people who are trying to understand human evolution and existence and how to attain happiness, cause of suffering, real unity between us, how to achieve freedom, how to achieve individual and global peace, law of karma and incarnation, the Absolute - Supreme God realization and much more.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Insights into Spiritual Wisdom, December 12, 2004

By	A reader from the midwest - See all my reviews

The Secret Teachings of the Vedas is a great book to look into the lofty spiritual insights of the Vedic literature. I rarely write any such reviews, but I've been reading Knapp's books for some years now and have always found them easy to read and understand the uplifting nature of the Vedic philosophy. I also wanted to say that I don't understand how Henry Booth wrote in to say he was disappointed. It's as if he took a few points he had problems with and forgot all the other significant things in the book.
Like he says Knapp believes you only go from one physical birth to another. This is absolutely untrue since the book spends many pages dealing with the spiritual realm, along with heaven, hell, subtle realms and subtle beings. If that is not life between physical births then what is? Maybe he just didn't get that. Or did he really read the whole book? He also says that Knapp doesn't buy the Big Bang theory, which he says is a proven premise. But that depends on who you talk to. Some scientists are already saying that the Big Bang theory does not uphold the law of matter and energy, and does not properly explain how various elements could have been created. Others feel that the superclusters in space are not what would be expected from an explosive model like the Big Bang, nor would the smooth nature of the background microwave radiation that is detected. So these and other factors point out that there has to be some other explanation. So maybe there is good reason why the Vedic literature does not support what some think is the Big Bang.
So these theories are changing, as is always the case in science. But the Vedic literature does say that the universe is expanding, which is the premise from whcih the Big Bang theory was developed. So it perturbs me when someone writes a review of something based on their own lack of information. So let me conclude that this book on the Vedic viewpoint remains a great source of spiritual wisdom and insight. There are a lot of other points that this book deals with. No one will go wrong with buying this book.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unlocking the door to a vast treasure house, September 7, 2002

By	"mindfighter" (London) - See all my reviews

For too long, and for too many insidious reasons, the Vedas have been ignored, marginalised or just plain derided by Western scholars. They deserve far better treatment, and Stephen Knapp shows us why. Hidden in the Sanskrit texts of the ancient Vedic writings one can find sublime knowledge on every imaginable subject. The author is doing a great service by making this knowledge easily accessible, and anyone searching for answers to life's problems could much worse than start looking here. Well done Mr Knapp.