Helen Plum Library

Considered one the four canonical texts of the Hindu religion, known collectively as "The Vedas", "The Rig Veda" is one of the most important works of Hindu scripture. The work is a collection of poems, sayings, prayers, and origin myths. Written sometime between 1700-1100 BCE, "The Rig Veda" is one of the oldest works of the Indo-European languages. The hymns included in the collection are dedicated to various deities in Hindu mythology, including...

My first acquaintance with the Gita began in 1888-89 with the verse translation by Sir Edwin Arnold known as the Song Celestial. On reading it, I felt a keen desire to read a Gujarati translation. And I read as many translations as I could lay hold of. But all such reading can give me no passport for presenting my own translation. Then again my knowledge of Sanskrit is limited, my knowledge of Gujarati too is in no way scholarly. How could I then...

Thou hast made me endless, such is thy pleasure. This frail vessel thou emptiest again and again, and fillest it ever with fresh life. This little flute of a reed thou hast carried over hills and dales, and hast breathed through it melodies eternally new. At the immortal touch of thy hands my little heart loses its limits in joy and gives birth to utterance ineffable. Thy infinite gifts come to me only on these very small hands of mine. Ages pass,...

Learning Bhagavad-Gita Step by Step is a study guide to help novices and students of Bhagavad-Gita to learn and understand the message in a question and answer format. This book targets an English-speaking audience unfamiliar with the message of the Bhagavad-Gita and helps one to learn the subject in a step-by-step approach. This is a self-study guide to learn the Bhagavad-Gita.

Over the course of seven days, Paramahamsa Sri Swami Vishwananda captivated an eager audience with his commentary on the Shreemad Bhagavatam, extracting the essence of its message and deepening the understanding and experience of everyone present. This book is the result of that event. About the Shreemad Bhagavatam: Despite being compiled long ago by Sage Veda Vyasa, the Shreemad Bhagavatam's message is very relevant today for it describes the powerful...

The original teachings of the Baal Shem Tov, the founder of chasidism, on more than fifty subjects.

The wisdom of Jewish spirituality and mysticism can be a companion for your own spiritual journey. Tanya, "It Was Taught," is one of the most powerful and potentially transformative books of Jewish wisdom. Written in 1797 by Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, the founder of Chabad Hasidism, Tanya sets forth the fundamentals of Jewish spirituality and mysticism. While a focus of daily study by tens of thousands of Hasidic Jews, Tanya is little known outside...

From the author of Inside the Yoga Sutras, comes this new and unique study guide for all who are interested in a deeper dive into the Yoga Sutras. Rev. Jaganath Carrera breaks down each of Patanjali's words so the reader can further grasp the richness and depth of meaning in each of the Sanskrit words. As each word is unpacked, new levels of understanding behind each sutra are revealed. The book also explores different topics in the Yoga Sutras in...

The "Mahabharata" tells the narrative of the Kurukshetra War and the fates of the Kaurava and the Pandava princes who are part of it. Along with the "Ramayana" it is one of two Sanskrit epics of ancient India. The authorship of the work is generally attributed to Vyasa, who is also a major character in the epic. Intermixed within the descriptions of conflict between the warring factions of this epic are numerous philosophical digressions and discussions...

Unlocking the secrets of Tantra-one of the most alluring forms of Buddhism Often misunderstood, Tantrism focuses on a particular style of meditation and ritual. Having far more to do with the sacred than the sexual, Tantric Buddhism is believed to have originated around the 5th Century AD in the rich cultural basin of Bengal and spread throughout the Asian world. Today it is widely practiced in Tibet, Japan, and the West. The Secrets of Tantric...