A dense, multifaceted book about the unseen forces in the universe.
Hariramsait reveals the yogic structures of the cosmos in this debut spiritual work.
Like many thinkers before him, the author argues that man need not wallow in ignorance: “Perfection or enlightenment is within the reach of all of humanity and only ignorance” is what “veils or clouds our mind...the Yogi in deep contemplation is able to remove and transcend all veils and thus transcends all planes and dimensions and therefore is beyond dream and reality, life and death.” Hariramsait takes the reader through a spiritual history of the world, one plumbed from the ancient texts of India as well as from the Bible, the writings of Carl Sagan, ancient astronaut theories, and many other varied sources. It is a story of men that stood 100 feet tall and lived for 100,000 years; of cloning performed by Sage Vyasa 5,500 years ago; of ancient spaceships and floating cities; of a future where teleportation will become the dominant form of travel (“Utilising one’s own body to perform teleportation is the safest manner possible for the Lord Himself says in the ‘Sri Shiva Gita’ that among all of creation, the human body is the most perfect, complex and wonderful of them all”). The book begins with a lengthy synopsis that introduces the author’s worldview, followed by a list of 205 concepts that are then discussed in detail, building to a brief conclusion. This syncretic work is exceedingly dense: while Hariramsait makes an effort to cite in text (or at least reference) the many sources from which his material is gleaned, the ideas pile up on each other in a way that makes it difficult to follow his train of thought for more than a few lines. He includes neither footnotes nor a bibliography, so the reader is left without any means of verifying his claims. Because this is a spiritual book, the burden of proof is essentially nonexistent; even so, it’s hard to imagine any but the most open-minded reader being persuaded by Hariramsait’s arguments. While great emphasis is placed on meditation and the rejection of worldly distractions, there is little practical instruction for those interested in pursuing such activities. There is much here to stimulate the spiritually curious mind, but the soupy prose and unintuitive structure will likely turn away many readers.
A dense, multifaceted book about the unseen forces in the universe.Pub Date: Jan. 15, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-4828-6946-0
Page Count: 310
Publisher: PartridgeIndia
Review Posted Online: Feb. 25, 2016
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.
A compendium of charts, time lines, lists and illustrations to accompany study of the Bible.
This visually appealing resource provides a wide array of illustrative and textually concise references, beginning with three sets of charts covering the Bible as a whole, the Old Testament and the New Testament. These charts cover such topics as biblical weights and measures, feasts and holidays and the 12 disciples. Most of the charts use a variety of illustrative techniques to convey lessons and provide visual interest. A worthwhile example is “How We Got the Bible,” which provides a time line of translation history, comparisons of canons among faiths and portraits of important figures in biblical translation, such as Jerome and John Wycliffe. The book then presents a section of maps, followed by diagrams to conceptualize such structures as Noah’s Ark and Solomon’s Temple. Finally, a section on Christianity, cults and other religions describes key aspects of history and doctrine for certain Christian sects and other faith traditions. Overall, the authors take a traditionalist, conservative approach. For instance, they list Moses as the author of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible) without making mention of claims to the contrary. When comparing various Christian sects and world religions, the emphasis is on doctrine and orthodox theology. Some chapters, however, may not completely align with the needs of Catholic and Orthodox churches. But the authors’ leanings are muted enough and do not detract from the work’s usefulness. As a resource, it’s well organized, inviting and visually stimulating. Even the most seasoned reader will learn something while browsing.
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2005
ISBN: 978-1-5963-6022-8
Page Count: -
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 23, 2010
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
This a book of earlier, philosophical essays concerned with the essential "absurdity" of life and the concept that- to overcome the strong tendency to suicide in every thoughtful man-one must accept life on its own terms with its values of revolt, liberty and passion. A dreary thesis- derived from and distorting the beliefs of the founders of existentialism, Jaspers, Heldegger and Kierkegaard, etc., the point of view seems peculiarly outmoded. It is based on the experience of war and the resistance, liberally laced with Andre Gide's excessive intellectualism. The younger existentialists such as Sartre and Camus, with their gift for the terse novel or intense drama, seem to have omitted from their philosophy all the deep religiosity which permeates the work of the great existentialist thinkers. This contributes to a basic lack of vitality in themselves, in these essays, and ten years after the war Camus seems unaware that the life force has healed old wounds... Largely for avant garde aesthetes and his special coterie.
Pub Date: Sept. 26, 1955
ISBN: 0679733736
Page Count: 228
Publisher: Knopf
Review Posted Online: Sept. 19, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1955
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