ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book discusses how the normative dimension of reality grounds dharma, the rules for right living. It explores devotional religion. The book explores the philosophy of disciplined meditation as a means of removing the obstacles to direct insight into the true nature of reality. It examines the functions of the Gods and Goddesses in Hinduism. The book also examines how the problem of bondage is central to systematic philosophy. In Jainism, the ascetic ideal is carried to its logical extreme; the ascetic hero engages in a holy fast unto death to achieve perfect purity and total liberation. The book examines the Vedic way of sustaining and renewing life through ritual action. It focuses on the concept of dharma. The book reveals how levels of reality were conceived initially and how reality ideas relate to the quest for liberation.
