How the Universe was Created and Our Purpose In It

Rating:
Summary: AT LAST
Review: I HAVE READ A LOTOF BOOKS OVER MANY YEARS BY VARIOUS PHILOSOPHERS (EAST AND WEST), PHYSICISTS, MYSTICS,ETC. ALSO, ON SUBJECTS SUCH AS CONCIOUSNESS, VARIOUS RELIGIONS, DEATH, THE AFERLIFE, THE OCCULT,ETC.
RAISED CHRISTIAN, I NOW FAVOR THE EASTERN RELIGIONS, ESPECIALLY HINDUISM. AFTER READING TEXTS ON THE VEDANTA, UPANISHADS, ETC., I WAS LOOKING TO FIND AN AUTHOR WHO WOULD CONCEPTULALIZE THESE BELIEFS IN A SIMPLE WAY. I CAME ACROSS "HOW THE UNIVERSE WAS CREATED AND OUR PURPOSE IN IT" AND STEPHEN KNAPP. I FOUND CHAPTERS 17, 18 AND APPENDIX 3, PARTICULARILY ENLIGHTENING AND THEY SUMMARIZED A LOT OF IDEAS I HAD BEEN READING ABOUT IN MORE DETAILED PUBLICATIONS.
HIS WEB SITE "STEPHEN-KNAPP.COM" ALSO HAS NUMEROUS ARTICLES THAT CAN BE VIEWED ON-LINE OR FREELY DOWNLOADED. I WOULD RECOMMEND THIS BOOK TO ANYONE ON THE SPIRITUAL PATH.


Rating:
Summary: Absolute rubbish
Review: I picked up this book hoping for some insight and was thoroughly disappointed.
The author displays a profound ignorance of modern cosmology and his
"arguments" are completely vacuous.
Many of the "unsolved problems" in science such as "how could galaxies have
formed" have already been adequately answered without any help from the Vedas
or any other religious text.
I have considerable reverence for Hindu philosophy, but erecting a caricature of modern science and claiming that the Vedas address "unsolved problems" only exposes
this ancient and rich philosophy to ridicule while insulting science at the same time.

Rating:
Summary: Stephen Knapp reveals conditions in the spiritual world
Review: In How The Universe Was Created And Our Purpose In It: The Eastern Answers To The Mysteries Of Life, Stephen Knapp reveals conditions in the spiritual world before the material manifestation; how the Supreme Being exists before and after the material creation; the ultimate foundation and cause of the universe being the compassion of the Supreme Being; how the agitation of the modes of nature cause the appearance of time; detailed descriptions of the dawn of creation and how the material energy developed and caused the formation of the cosmos; the Vedic description of the evolutionary development of the various forms of life; manifestation and purpose of the Vedic literature; profound insights into the primal questions of life; the primary source of material and spiritual elements; the many incarnations and expansions of the Supreme Being in the material creation; and how everything reflects an expansion of the Absolute. How The Universe Was Created And Our Purpose In It is profoundly rewarding reading for students of metaphysics and the Eastern philosophies.

Rating:
Summary: Congratulations to the author
Review: My congratulations to the author for a well thought out and meticulously researched book. Stephen does what he says he will do, which is to present the Vedic version and all its details of how the world was created. I have read a little about the Vedic description of the universal creation in the Rig Veda and Upanishads. Though it has always intrigued me, it is not a topic that is easy to understand. The author has done a commendable job in putting it all together in a format that's much easier to grasp and follow. This Eastern tradition always had much more information about the creation process than any other culture or spiritual tradition, and is worth looking at. So I especially appreciate the many dozens of quotes or references from the ancient Vedic books and Puranas that the author uses to illustrate the lofty concepts that they contain. Anyone interested in Eastern thought or alternative spiritual views will appreciate this book and the endeavor that was put into it.

Rating:
Summary: Summary of philosophy that explains the creation of universe
Review: The purpose of this book and many of his other books written by Stephen Knapp is to identify our constitutional position as a pure spiritual soul that is superior to material nature. Recognizing our eternal place and working towards to get back there is the esssence and purpose why this universe is created to discipline the rebellious souls. Stephen brings this point forth with clarity out of innumerable references from many scriptures. With his practical experience in practicing bhakti yoga over years helps giving useful practical hints for the souls that are interested in putting this material into use. Like his other works, the content of this book can be best appreciated only when one has open mind and thinks beyond the perception of material senses.