Information About His Books on Spirituality and Eastern Philosophy
A Doorway to the Highest Levels of Spiritual Reality
This site is for anyone interested in Spiritual Enlightenment, Eastern Philosophy, the Vedas, Vedic Culture, Yoga, Hinduism, reincarnation, life after death, the science of the soul, comparative religion, traveling to the holy places of India, as well as global unity and peace, and more. Here you can find information on the books of the writer, author, philosopher, spiritual practitioner, traveler, photographer, and lecturer Stephen Knapp. For years now he has been an independent researcher and honest and bold writer of spiritual truth as he has discovered it. His books, which include much information on the above topics, can easily and quickly help give the insights and knowledge for you to better understand who you are, your spiritual identity, where you come from, where you are going, and the real purpose of life from a spiritual point of view.
The main purpose of Stephen's work is to offer simple ways and explanations to comprehend the lofty insights found within the spiritual philosophy and Vedic culture of India. So far his intention seems to be working. In a recent letter one of his readers said, "You have a rare gift in explaining the complexities of the Infinite and Incomprehensible in attractive words." C. K., from Australia, May 5, 2001.
Among the books he has written are The Eastern Answers to the Mysteries of Life series, which include:
(1) The Secret Teachings of the Vedas,
(2) The Universal Path to Enlightenment,
(3) The Vedic Prophecies: A New Look into the Future, and
(4) How the Universe was Created and Our Purpose In It.
Other books he has written include:
(5) Toward World Peace: Seeing the Unity Between Us All,
(6) Facing Death: Welcoming the Afterlife,
(7) Proof of Vedic Culture's Global Existence,
(8) The Key to Real Happiness, available soon and now online.
(9) Destined for Infinity, a spiritual adventure to be published sometime in 2003.
(10) Why Be a Hindu: The Advantages of the Vedic Path, a free and simple "e-book" for easy reading on the web or distribution through email for providing and promoting a better understanding of the Vedic process, commonly called Hinduism.
More books are in the works.
 | Complete information about these and any new
publications and how to order them is available by using the following link:
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| This link will take you to the main web site where you will also have access to Book Reviews to see what others have said about Stephen's books. |
| You will also find his many Articles, which can provide a look into the deeper levels of wisdom and spiritual understandings that are available. These provide numerous samples of Stephen's writings and information on various and interesting philosophical topics. You will find a variety of over 50 articles, arranged alphabetically, that provide something for everyone. These include excerpts from Stephen's books and introductions to the many answers to questions about life that the Eastern and Vedic philosophy contain. These are offered in two parts. PART ONE provides such diverse articles as, About the Name Hindu * About Vedic Prophecies * A brief biography about His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, with 15 photographs of him that have never before been published * A New Species of Humanity * The Brahma-Madhva-Gaudiya Disciplic Succession and Its Unique Characteristics * Christianity's Similarities With Hinduism * Consciousness: The Symptom of the Soul * Dispelling the Fear of Death * Frequencies that can Kill, Heal, and Transcend * Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, What's so Special About Chanting Hare Krishna? * Karma of the Nation * Photographic Evidence of a Mislabeled Vedic Temple * Reestablishing the Date of Lord Buddha * Seeing Beyond the Illusion * Seeing the Divinity in Everyone * Spiritual Enlightenment: A Cure for Social Ills * Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu * Sri Krishna * Srila Vyasadeva * The Disappearance of the Ganges * The Greatness of India * The Material Creation is Proof of God's Existence * The Meaning of "God is Love" * The Purpose of Life * The Ratha-Yatra Festival at Jagannatha Puri * UFO's and Vimanas * Uncovering the Truth about India's History * Universal Brotherhood Includes the Animals * Vedic Culture is the Parent of Humanity * What is the Vedic Aryan Culture * When Religions Create Divisions and How to Avoid It * Why Study the Vedic Path * Why Understand the Creation of the Universe * World Peace is a Possibility * Your Thoughts Create Your Future. |
| PART TWO includes articles that focus on particular issues dealing more specifically with Hinduism, such as: The War Against Hinduism * Speaking Out Against Prejudice Toward Hinduism and India * Christian Persecution in India: The Real Story * Are the Hindus Destined to Become an Extinct Race? * Time to Plan the Survival of Vedic Culture * An Action Plan for the Survival of Vedic Culture * Casteism: Is It the Scourge of Hinduism, or the Perversion of a Legitimate Vedic system? Check them out. All articles are briefly described and listed in alphabetical order on the "Articles" page. |
| The "Seeing Spiritual India" page provides an introduction to traveling to the holy places of India with links to a large selection of color photos taken by Stephen. This provides many interesting and beautiful views of the country, holy sites, major festivals, and its people. This is listed as one of the "Articles." Anyone who loves traveling or who wants to see more of India will like this. Many other black & white photographs and information about how to travel to the holy sites in India can be found in his books. |
| The Kumbha Mela 2001 relates background information and Stephen's personal experience of this incredible and huge festival. It is the largest spiritual gathering of people in the history of the world, with over 70 million people attending from all over the planet. It also saw an amazing increase in Westerners, even famous movie stars, curious to see what the Mela is all about. Why is this festival so unique? Why does it attract so many people from all over the world? What are its benefits? And what happens at this festival? You can find out the answers through the fascinating articles and photographs listed on this page. |
| Was the Taj Mahal a Vedic Temple? The Photographic Evidence is a special article that presents photographs that belonged to the Archaeology Survey of India that shows how the Taj Mahal and other buildings were originally Vedic temples and palaces. Also presents the Vedic influence in old drawings and art from elsewhere in the world. Even if you do not accept all of this information, it makes for an extremely fascinating story. |
| Links to other websites are also included for more helpful information and news about India and its culture, spiritual groups, Hinduism, or to have access to other spiritual books and resources for enhancing your spiritual adventure and progress, plus links for travel information, vegetarianism, and much more. |
| Directories of Temples, Ashramas and Spiritual Organizations are now provided in response to people who have inquired about where there might be temples or centers near them. Such places are where they can continue their study or associate with similarly interested people. And if you can't find anyone near you, you can always write to Stephen, so Stay in Touch through his email address. |
| Vegetarian Recipes and Cookbooks is a page that provides plenty of ways to start or enhance your ability to be a vegetarian. It provides access to plenty of articles on the benefits of vegetarianism, and links to supplies, ingredients and resources for whatever you may need for a vegetarian diet. |
| So please use the link and discover a well of information, some of which may seem revolutionary, and spend some time there. Then be sure to mark the website for future reference and assistance. We will be adding more information and resources from time to time. It is our pleasure to serve you in this way. This is why we are here. |
Stephen has dedicated himself to spreading the deepest and most practical levels of knowledge about the soul--our real identity. It is his strongest realization that our existence on this earthly plane becomes much easier and more vibrant the more we expand our spiritual awareness to perceive the higher dimensions and purpose of things around us.
Though this world may give us numerous challenges, when we rise above the basic materialistic view and its limited search for solutions, our evolutionary development on all levels greatly accelerates. By recognizing that we are all spiritual beings who are, basically, attempting to achieve the same essentials for our existence--namely love, acceptance, harmony, peace, and happiness, not to mention the ordinary needs of food, water, clothing and shelter--we can reach a new level of cooperation with each other. Then everything can be much easier for everyone. It is Stephen's conviction that this can be attained by the distribution of genuine spiritual knowledge. This is one of Stephen's purposes in what he does.
It is through this means that we can discover who we are and get a better understanding of what is our position in this universe and our relationship with God. Fortunately, many of the answers to the numerous questions in this regard have already been given, as seen in the ancient spiritual texts of the East. These have provided not only the insights but also the timeless methods for our continued spiritual development. Stephen has studied these numerous ancient texts and practiced the methods prescribed therein for over 30 years. He is now presenting this enlightening information in a much needed, concise, and easy to read format.
Stephen Knapp grew up in a Christian family, during which time he seriously studied the Bible to understand its teachings. In his late teenage years, however, he sought answers to questions not easily explained in Christian theology. So, he began to search through other religions and philosophies from around the world and started to find the answers for which he was looking. He also studied a variety of occult sciences, ancient mythology, mysticism, yoga, and the spiritual teachings of the East. Finally, after his first reading of the Bhagavad-gita, the classic summary of Vedic philosophy known as The Song of God, he felt he had found the last piece of the puzzle he had been putting together through all of his research. This increased his understanding of everything else he had been studying. Therefore, he continued to research all of the major Vedic texts of India to gain a better understanding of the Vedic science.
It is known amongst all Eastern mystics that anyone, regardless of qualifications, academic or otherwise, who does not engage in the spiritual practices described in the Vedic texts, cannot actually enter into understanding the depths of the Vedic spiritual science, nor acquire the realizations that should accompany it. So, rather than pursuing his research in an academic atmosphere at a university, Stephen directly engaged in the spiritual disciplines that have been recommended for hundreds of years. He continued his study of Vedic knowledge and spiritual practice under the guidance of a spiritual master, His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Through this process he was given the spiritual name of Sri Nandanandana dasa and became initiated into the genuine and authorized spiritual line of the Brahma-Madhava-Gaudiya sampradaya. This is a disciplic succession that descends back through Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Sri Vyasadeva, the compiler of Vedic literature, and further back to Lord Sri Krishna, who originally enlightened Lord Brahma to help in the universal creation, and who again appeared on this planet 5,000 years ago in Mathura, India to display His pastimes.
Besides being brahminically initiated, Stephen has also been to India several times and traveled extensively throughout the country, visiting most of the major holy places and temples, and many minor ones, and gaining a wide variety of spiritual experiences that only such places can give. His knowledge of India and familiarity with traveling in such a diverse country has made him an advisor for those who would like information concerning their own journeys to India. He also enjoys showing selections from the thousands of slides that he has to groups of interested people about the many historical and spiritual sites in India and Nepal. Below he is shown at one of the five small stone temples, called the Five Rathas, at Mahabalipuram, now known as Mamallapuram, in Southern India.
