Sacred Texts of the World

The world's sacred texts hold profound significance for the cultures that produce them; considering five reasons for the importance of studying them, from their accessibility to the wisdom they contain.

Grasping the nature and roles of sacred writings within Hinduism, as contrasted with the Judeo-Christian tradition; learning about the structure of the Vedas and their function in Hindu rituals; reading excerpts from the Vedas.

The Upanishads constitute the philosophical or wisdom texts of the Hindu Vedas; studying the composition of the Brihadaranyaka and Chandogya Upanishads; the influence of the Upanishads on westerners.

A second body of Hindu sacred writings encompasses literature and explore the nature of dharma; discovering the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, two great Indian epics, about kinship and familial discord as well as bonds.

Learning about Hindu sutras, shastras, Puranas and Tantra; exploring the Laws of Manu, a text that outlines rules, customs and guidelines for living for the four Indian castes; the Bhagavad Gita speaks to matters of spiritual insight.

Tracing the evolution of the Sikh religion and the lineage of gurus that produced the Adi Granth, the faith's sacred text; studying the composition of the Adi Granth and its hymns, poems and prayers; how Sikhs revere the book as a living guru.