About the Author: Paul Hourihan
Paul Hourihan, an award-winning author and teacher with a Ph.D. in American literature from Boston University, was a long-time student of Vedanta and the great mystical traditions of the world.
His teaching career began in southern Ontario, Canada where his interests in mystical studies eventually led him to teach courses on the great illumined teachers such as Buddha, Christ, Ramakrishna and their wisdom traditions and also literary mystics such as William Blake, Henry David Thoreau and Walt Whitman, for a period of 15 years.
His own commitment to the spiritual path began with a life-transforming experience in his early thirties and continued for the remaining 45 years of his life. It wasn't until the last part of his life that he began in earnest to write his compelling works which numbered a dozen.
He passed away peacefully in 2001 in northern California where he lived with his wife Anna, who continues to carry on his work.
Drawing from his own experiential knowledge, Dr. Hourihan's work uniquely combines his literary and spiritual sensibilities to show how the liberating and practical wisdom of Vedanta gives meaning and understanding to our lives.
PRACTICAL TEACHINGS FOR PEACE AND FULFILLMENT
In this clear introduction to the Vedanta philosophy of India, you'll discover a new perspective that can bring inner peace, inner strength and improve your relationships for a happier life. This spiritual book written by Paul Hourihan, an American, introduces these ancient teachings in a way that Westerners, in particular, can easily relate to and understand.
Why learn about the teachings of Vedanta?
- According to Vedanta, ignorance of our real nature is the cause of our suffering and grief. The practical application of this philosophy is the means to Self-discovery, integration and inner peace for those of all faiths and those with no particular faith.
- By stressing the universal truths common to all religions, they provide a unifying basis for mutual understanding and peace in a world increasingly fragmented by opposing beliefs.
- They provide a foundation for understanding why a moral and ethical life are necessary.
- This knowledge gives us the means for realizing our true identity as Children of Immortal Bliss.
Using the teachings of the Upanishads, this study covers the main principles and core concepts of Vedanta and covers important subjects such as meditation, nonattachment. It also provides an overview of the mysticism of India and a summary of the Yoga system of thought, as well as the Bhagavad Gita, another key Vedantic scripture.
The last section reveals the universality of these teachings through confirmations of great mystics from other traditions including Plotinus, Lao Tzu, Meister Eckhart and the Sufis of Islam.
Vedanta shows the way to inner peace, harmony among all peoples, and respect for all life.
