The Artful Universe

This book serves as an introduction to the Vedic religious tradition of ancient and classical India, a tradition that in many ways has stood as the foundation for much of Indian spirituality for 3,500 years and more. The discussions in the following pages emphasize Vedic ideas regarding the nature of divinity and its relationship to the natural and human worlds; Vedic cosmology and metaphysics; the nature and process of revelation and its relationship to poetry and other forms of expression; the structure and purpose of ritual performance and other forms of hallowed activity; and the function and practice of meditation. Consideration of such topics leads to a presentation of other related Vedic ideas and aspirations as well; the connection between liturgy and contemplation; the relationship between the soul and ultimate reality; the yearning for and experience of transcendence, freedom, and immortality.