Initiation to the Vedas
by Raimon Panikkar and Milena Carrara Pavan

This short book is just an invitation to read The Vedic Experience-Mantramanjari--an anthology of the Vedas for modern man and contemorary celebration by Raimon Panikkar. Such a book may not be easy reading, especially for those who are not familiar with Indic culture, which has so much to offer provided that one approaches its prodded not by mere curiosity, but urged by a genuine longing to discover in ourselves he morning light of humanity's primordial spiritual awareness.

The Vedic experience unfolds the process of man's becoming conscious, of discovering himself along with the three worlds -- human, cosmic and divine and their mutual relationships. It represents an initiation path which, following the rhythm of life in the cosmos, takes us to the realization of the birth of real life in ourselves. The hymns we find here are prayers. To be able to invocate, that is, to call upon something greater than ourselves and so break our own boundaries is the beginning of wisdom, the source of hope and the condition of joy.

This book amounts to an initiation path which, following the rythm of life in the cosmos takes us to the realization of the birth of real life in ourselves.