Indian Mythology and Philosophy: The Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, Kama Sutra… And How They Fit Together (Ancient Wisdom)

A cultural and intellectual history of Ancient India. All the deepest secrets of the East, between just two covers.Winner Best Indie Book Award 2024Sitting down with the Bhagavad Gita at the age of sixteen opened many new channels in my mind. Ever since, for the best part of thirty years, I have been searching for a book on Indian thought that ties it all up, coherently and succinctly.Write the book you want to read, they say—and this, here, is it.While covering all the important areas (see contents list below), you will learn:How the Vedic gods are related to the Greek and Roman ones.The secret of the self that even the gods were desperate to learn.How to stop suffering, according to the Buddha.How to achieve enlightenment, according to the Hindus, Buddhists, and Jains.How the swastika came to be appropriated by the Nazis.How Gandhi’s non-violence is rooted in Indian philosophy.Why the Kama Sutra is about a lot more than sex.What yoga’s actually about—not even my yoga teacher knew this.How the Gupta Golden Age led to the invention of zero, chess, and nose jobs.And much, much more.About the authorDr Neel Burton FRSA is a psychiatrist and philosopher. He is a Fellow of Green-Templeton College in the University of Oxford, and the recipient of several book prizes including, the feather in his cap, a Best in the World Gourmand Award. His work features regularly in the likes of Aeon and Psychology Today, and has been translated into several languages.Editorial reviews Never before has the history and substance of Indian thought been laid out as clearly and succinctly, and completely, as in Burton’s book. —Prof Nicolas Martin, Institute of Asian and Oriental Studies, University of Zürich Impeccably crafted… a monumental achievement. —Rich Follett for Readers’ Favorite ★★★★★The parallels between Indian and Greek philosophy amazed me… This book will hold your interest until the last page. —Courtnee Turner Hoyle for Readers’ Favorite ★★★★★Burton shines a fascinating light on one of the world’s most ancient, and still thriving, cultures. —The US Review of Books (Recommended)Insightful and thorough … Having practised yoga for years, learning about its background and significance offered me a new perspective. —The International Review of BooksContents listPrefaceIntroduction: A Picture of India1. The Indus Valley Civilization2. The Aryans and their Vedas3. Vedic Gods: Indra, Agni, Soma, and the Rest4. Sanskrit and the Grammar of Panini5. The Upanishads6. Brahman and Brahma7. Atman, or the Self8. Karma, Samsara, Moksha, Yoga9. Life of the Buddha10. Buddhist Philosophy11. The Jataka Tales12. The Panchatantra13. Jainism, Ahimsa, and Gandhi’s Satyagraha14. The Mauryas: Chandragupta and Ashoka15. Greek India16. Dharma, the Laws of Manu, and the Caste System17. The Arthashastra of Kautilya18. The Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana19. The Ramayana of Valmiki20. The Mahabharata of Vyasa21. The Bhagavad Gita, or Song of God22. The Puranas: Vishnu, Shiva, and Devi23. The Guptas: The Golden Age of India24. The Six Darshanas: Samkhya-Yoga25. The Six Darshanas: Nyaya-Vaisheshika26. The Six Darshanas: Mimamsa-VedantaFinal Words: India Today◆ Grab your copy now and become an expert in one of the world’s oldest and richest cultures. Read more