Summary
"Renowned lecturer Mark W. Muesse brings readers into an encounter with the world's oldest living religious tradition, known as Hinduism. Muesse's brief survey challenges the perception of Hinduism as one religious tradition, showing how wonderfully rich and diverse this ancient story truly is. Muesse traces the vast history and practices of classic and diverse traditions, moving from the origins in the Indus Valley up through classic and contemporary periods. He exhibits a keen sense of the myriad spiritualities associated with Hinduism, demonstrating how the religious tradition is both monotheistic and polytheistic. With photographs and maps, chapter overviews, timelines, summaries, key terms, study questions, suggested readings, and a glossary, Muesse's work incorporates valuable pedagogy to enhance his engaging account of the many Hindu traditions"--Publisher description.
Contents
Hinduism in time and space
The Indus Valley civilization
The Noble Ones
The world of the Vedas
Rebirth and karma
Dharma and caste
Men, women, and the stages of life
The way of action
The way of knowledge
Seeing God
The way of devotion
The Goddess and her devotees
The modern period.