The Vedic Mind

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Eternal truths An essence of three erudite classics – Upanishads,

Bhagavad Gita, Yoga Sutra

Source: Free Press Journal

 

Vedic Mind

By Ram K Piparaiya

201pp. Mumbai: Indusvista Editions. Rs.950

 

Review By Beena Menon

 

In his foreword, Sri Sri Bharathi Theertha Mahaswamiji says, "Vedic

Mind stands for all those ideas, purposes, influences, institutions

and the ways of life and conduct that shape the character and

evolution of man, both as an individual and as a member of the

society". The demands of our materialistic existence leave us with

little time for self-contemplation. Yet, somewhere there is discord

and discontentment. An increasingly disillusioned people are

desperately seeking harmony and peace. While there is plenty of

literature available for spiritual pursuits, the vastness and

profundity of religious texts are confounding. For a novice, the

concise verses, lucid explanations, and vibrant colors of the Vedic

Mind serve as a good launch pad to acquaint with the inherent value

of Vedic literature.

 

Today, style is the buzzword and packaging matters. On that score

the Vedic Mind is a sure winner. Fashioned as per the new trademark

concept, WisdomArt, it effectively meets its stated objective to

combine the profoundness of wisdom with the splendor of art.

Inspired by the maxim, Satyam Shivam Sundaram, this is an enchanting

blend of Truth, that lies in Ram K. Piparaiya's abstracts from the

Vedic classics and Beauty, which emanates from Vikas Vinayak

Patnekar's artistic creations.

 

The book begins the spiritual quest with a detailed analysis of the

soulful and moving Gayatri Mantra, followed by excerpts from the

Upanishad, said to have been conceived in the ancient times by

anonymous sages. "Verily, all this universe is Brahman. From Him do

all things originate, into Him they dissolve and by Him they are

sustained". This sets the theme for the nearly hundred verses

selected from the Vedanta Upanishad, with explanations and

illustrations in pencil colors. It attempts to demystify `God' and

propound the concept of the Supreme Power as the Brahman that

creates and sustains the self and the soul of human beings.

 

``When a man acts without longing, having relinquished all desires,

free from the sense of I and mine, he attains peace``. If the

Upanishads dealt with spiritual truths, the Bhagavad Gita is their

practical application revolving around the main themes of work,

worship and wisdom. The verses, set in a profuse splash of

watercolors, are followed by brief commentaries from a contemporary

perspective. Although all passages from the scriptures are in

English, for interested readers the author has provided an appendix

with the original Sanskrit verses.

 

``Practice of various components of Yoga destroys mind`s impurities.

This gives rise to an inner Light of Wisdom which leads to awareness

of Reality``. With elaborate explanations and abundant blush, next

come 29 aphorisms from the most ancient, authoritative and

fundamental classic that deals exclusively with Yoga, Patanjali's

Yoga Sutra. Yoga, of which meditation is an indispensable part,

strives for perfect harmony between the external physical self and

the inner Being that can only be achieved by managing the mind. In

the end, while you are still far from attaining the exalted status

of a Karma Yogi, Vedic Mind does let you tread the spiritual path in

inimitable style. Another noteworthy aspect is that the teachings of

these scriptures are universal, transcending social and religious

borders. The quest for peace and happiness remains eternal. With the

Vedic Mind, it has just begun.