When I began my empathetic study of Hinduism, I didn’t know where it was going to lead me. I was still entrenched in the understanding of Christianity that I had developed from my own readings of the Bible and the teachings of the Church of Scotland. Opening my mind to the ancient truths of Vedanta Hinduism expounded in the sacred literature of India took me on a spiritual adventure full of colour, action and excitement.

I soon discovered that a religion’s richness and wisdom can only be grasped by letting that religion stand on its own rather than placing it in opposition to the others. Christianity was one world view; Hinduism was a different way of looking at life. It didn’t replace my view of Christianity. It simply settled in another compartment of my mind.

Reading the Vedas, I was impressed by the conclusions the ancient Rishis had reached as a result of deep soul-searching. They were talking my language. One great eternal spirit, the Brahman, awakens and permeates all, is all. It is a creative force, an energy that has both a male and female side working together to create a whole.

Life in this world is Maya, illusion. We may think life consists of what we can experience with our puny senses. In fact, it is way beyond anything we can imagine. Originally, out of the initial chaos, order prevailed, and life appeared. Each aspect of life is an aspect of the Brahman and to be given respect and care, from plants and animals—including human beings—to the smallest microbe.

When individuals or cultures seek the Brahman, it reveals itself to them, each time doing so in the unique form that they need to understand it. This creates tolerance and allows people to live together even if their culture and belief systems are different. All are part of the Brahman.

Karma rules the cycle of life and death. When we die, we move on to another life in this world to allow us to further progress in our spiritual development. The cycle of regeneration that we see in nature extends beyond life in this dimension. As we develop wisdom and become immersed in the Brahman, we eventually step off the wheel of life in this world, to unite with the Brahman in the next. We find Moksha, oneness with the Brahman and liberation from the cycle of death and rebirth.

We accept life as it is. We don’t try to change the world. We don’t judge the actions of others. We understand that everyone has to work out their own life path in the cycle of Karma. We accept that our responsibility is to practise self-control, be happy and work with others, doing our own little bit to improve the lives of those around us. We play our part as we are called to do. This enlightenment leads to a peaceful, contented life.

We work through the life cycle of chaste and obedient student, responsible married householder with children and extended family, a retirement spent inquiring into wisdom and truth, and finally renunciation of this world and all that is in it. In the last stage of life, we let go. We prepare for our final journey through death, into our next adventure.

This is the essence of the soul of the East. As I incorporated it into myself, I found myself growing into a more complete human being. The ideas of the sacred literature of India resonated with me and validated my own ideas.

Researching and writing The Incense and the Lotus was an invaluable part of my spiritual development. I hope you find it helpful for yours!

August 2023, Toronto, Ontario, Canada