Ancient and contemporary lessons for a spiritual awakening Tracing the metaphysical literary heritage of the Indian Subcontinent, A Treasury of Indian Wisdom brings us a wealth of enlightenment from the last 5000 years of Indian teachings. Beginning with the Vedic hymns, the anthology leads us into the heart of Vedantic philosophy through the Upanishads, further exploring the fundamental truths offered by Buddhist and Jain monks. Presenting the beauty and devotion in the verses of the Bhakti, Sufi and Sikh gurus as well, it culminates with contemporary ideologies of modern teachers like Sri Aurobindo, Jawaharlal Nehru and Osho. Dr Karan Singh’s selection draws from the wide-ranging wisdom of saints and scholars, thinkers and reformers, poets and leaders, and comes as an inspiration for a generation seeking its place in the world.

The echoes of ancient Indian wisdom can be heard from the oldest of scriptures that existed many years ago. Even thousands of years before they were written down on palm leaves, the teachings were passed on from generations to generations, from the teachers to the disciples in their oral form. These works are amongst the oldest of humanity. They laid the foundation of one of the most tolerant and diverse religions in the world, the Sanatan Dharma or Hinduism, which is marked by a wide range of ethos and philosophical approaches. Covering the vastness and immensity of the ancient Indian scriptures is akin to capturing a gigantic ocean in a small pitcher. Thus, in this book, the author has tried to catch a few 'echoes' resonating with age-old wisdom and has presented them to the readers. the book unravels the knowledge hidden inside the Samhitas, Brahmanas, Aranyakas and Upanishads of the Shruti that form the Vedas, and in the Smriti like Agamas, Dharma Shastras and so on. In short, it provides a glimpse, or rather a macro view of the ancient treasure of India.

Here is a timeless collection of traditional stories that recount the personal spiritual journeys and true acts of selflessness by saints from various religious traditions indigenous to India, including Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism, and Sufism. The authors present a diverse selection of these inspirational tales—about both men and women saints, from a variety of time periods, and from all over India—and make them relevant for a modern audience. The stories reveal that, despite their perceived differences, the same spiritual principles underlie all the great religious traditions.

Since times immemorial, India has been synonymous with spiritual knowledge and people have been drawn to her sacred land. Some were philosophers, poets, writers, historians, scientists and travelers. Some came to India; others read translations about her rich and imaginative literature and felt genuine enthusiasm for her. The fourth Caliph in the 7th century is reported to have said: The land where books were first written and from where wisdom and knowledge sprang is India. Despite the wars and imperialism, ancient India s spiritual influence and wisdom has had considerable impact on the West, especially on its imagination, science, and literature: English Romantic poetry in particular, Scientists, scholars, poets, writers and philosophers all have paid the highest compliment to India s wonderful metaphysical, religious, artistic, linguistic, and cultural genius by imitating and incorporating some of these ideas and theories into their own work.

The Pañcatantra is the most famous collection of fables in India and was one of the earliest Indian books to be translated into Western languages. It teaches the principles of good government and public policy through the medium of animal stories, providing a window onto ancient Indian society. This new translation vividly reveals the story-telling powers of the original author, while detailed notes illuminate aspects of ancient Indian society and religion to the non-specialist reader.

This remarkable yearbook presents the wise words of a great master, philosopher or poet for every day of the year, accompanied by Olivier Föllmis beautiful and moving photographs of Indian people and places. The effect is transcendental and transformative, awakening our senses and preparing our souls to receive these simple yet profound teachings. Contemporary specialists on Indian culture have also contributed to Indian Wisdom 365 Days, which draws on such timeless sources as poems by Rabindranath Tagore and Krishnamurti; the longest epic in world literature, the Mahabharata; and the most significant of the Hindu sacred writings, the Vedas. Danielle and Olivier Föllmi have written fifteen books, including Buddhist Himalayas, also published by Thames & Hudson. They are the Dalai Lamas official photographers.