CONTENTS:- Preface; Introduction; Vedanta; General Considerations, The Hindu Concept of Religion: A Scientific View, Liberation. Restrictions and Obligations, Ishvara Upasana (Worship of the Lords), The Joy of Death, Distress. Part 1. Yogic View, Distress. Part 2. From Spirituality to Psychobiology, Happiness. Part 1. The Vedantic View, Happiness. Part 2. Role of Psychosocial Variables.
DESCRIPTION
This Volume is an example of fusion of philosophy and Science. It seeks to interpret the concept of religion through the eyes of a scientist. Right at the outset, the author explains that vedanta is not a religion but a philosophy of religion. The author points out the importance of meditation: "The effectiveness of meditation, one of the eight limbs of the science of yoga, in overcoming stress and related complications has now been accepted even by the hard-core antagonists of this methodology." In the chapters on happiness, the author first deals with the vedantic view and then proceeds to psychosocial variables. The chapter on the "Joy of Death" convincingly argues that the fear of death is baseless and that death is not the end of life. The author concludes that "those who are desirous of liberation have to lead a life which represents a synthesis of karmayoga, jnanayoga and bhaktiyoga philosophy". This volume is the culmination of years of in depth research done meticulously by a scientist who has turned to philosophy and religion. It should be of great value to scholars as well as laymen. It is hoped that readers who have distanced themselves from spirituality will have a second thought after reading this book.
