Book Review Primer of Spirituality by Prof V Krishnamurthy
Ram Chandran
Namaskar:
I am sharing a copy of my Book Review: Primer of Spirituality by Prof V Krishnamurthy
I have read many of ProfVK’s (Prof V Krishnamurthy) previous books on Hindu scriptures from early Eighties. What I have noticed is that spiritual growth is much faster than his age as it is revealed through his writings. As founder and moderator of the Advaiin mailing list I had the opportunity to know ProfVK who had been an active contributor and moderator. His scholarship and humility is always appreciated by the list participants. It is an honor and privilege to share this review of this well written book to benefit those who want to know but afraid to ask.
With his mathematical skills, he cleverly stratified the book into four parts consists of (1) question and answers to general questions on Hindu Religion; (2) Answers for the questions related to Traditional Religious practices; (3) Answers to Questions on Spiritual Sadhana with a focus on Vedanta. In the last part of the book ProfVK summarizes Acharya Shankara’s message of Oneness or the theology of Advaita Vedanta in simple English. Interestingly, the book is an attempt for those who want to know the process of spiritual development. The organization of the book exhibits how an ordinary human gets transformed to become spiritual and getting ready for liberation. Whatever his father taught him from his childhood, the lessons got absorbed, fully digested and delivered through his writings. He implicitly demonstrates the importance and nobility of the ‘oral tradition’ of passing spirituality from one generation to the next generation.
Here are some key questions that will inspire those who want to know why this book is worthwhile as a reference text for their library.
· Can Science and Religion co-exist in the same person?
· Are there things that we can’t explain?
· Could Gita be an interpolation in the Mahabharata?
· Why do Avataras allow our sufferings?
· Does Hinduism underrate the importance of worldly life?
· Karma or Birth: Which was earlier?
· Why did God allow the existence of evil?
· How do we accept Happiness is not outside?
· Is deity worship consistent with advaita?
· Different Teachings – How to synthesize?
· What are Shravana, Manana, and Nididhyanasana in Gita?
· Is not jnana path also a kind of karma?
· Is consciousness a complete blank?
· What is meant my Self-Enquiry?
· Karma or JnAna?
· Neti Neti – Why two times?
The answers indicated by ProfVK are quite crisp and clear along with explanations and references. For most questions he offers the answers indicated by eminent scholars. He further provides detailed explanations depending on the complexity of the questions and the context. One of the advantages of buying and reading this book is that very likely it will save lots of time searching for answers through books, Webs and other sources to comprehend religion and spirituality.
The last part of the book is totally dedicated Advaita Vedanta Philosophy as understood by Adi Shankaracharya. Since the entire subject matter of spirituality is dealt through questions and answers, ProfVK points out the importance of Satsangh discussions with like-minded seekers. He synthesizes the messages from the Upanishads, the epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata and Bhagavatam highlighting one-ness. ProfVK asserts what is the Brahman by using a quotation from Kena Upanishad (U.I-5): “It is something which the words cannot describe, the eyes cannot see, the ears cannot hear “ In short, I strongly recommend everyone that include beginners, enthusiasts, and advanced scholars who pursue a spiritual life.