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Hindu Mysticism
Eastern Wisdom: Five Paths to Enlightenment explores Buddhism, Taoism, Hindu Mysticism, Confucianism, and Shinto. Here are spiritual paths that most Westerners have no real understanding of, but the wisdom here is both timeless and liberating. These five classics-The Creed of Buddha; The Sayings of Lao Tzu; The Yengishiki; The Great Learning, and Hindu Mysticism-are valuable introductions of the religions of the East.
80 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1927
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
April 28, 2026
Hindu Mysticism is a thoughtful and historically significant work that succeeds admirably in one of the hardest scholarly tasks: presenting Indian mystical traditions to a global audience without reducing them either to exotic fantasy or dry abstraction. Based on a series of academic lectures, the book carries the clarity and structure of a gifted teacher addressing intelligent newcomers.
Dasgupta’s greatest strength lies in showing that Indian mysticism is not “woo woo,” irrationalism, or vague spirituality, but a serious intellectual and experiential tradition rooted in disciplined reflection. He presents a compelling developmental arc from Vedic sacrifice, through Upanishadic inwardness, to yogic method and later devotional experience. Even where modern scholarship would complicate this linear narrative, it remains pedagogically powerful and gives readers an intelligible map of a vast subject.
One of the book’s standout achievements is its treatment of early Vedic concepts such as Ṛta. Rather than translating them crudely into “law” or “morality,” Dasgupta helps readers grasp their wider metaphysical significance as principles of order, truth, and right functioning within cosmos, ritual, and human conduct. This alone makes the book worthwhile.
Dasgupta is also fair-minded in comparative perspective. He does not dismiss Western or Christian mysticism, but distinguishes it carefully from Indian traditions whose assumptions about God, sacrifice, liberation, and spiritual realization arise from different theological and ritual backgrounds. This comparative restraint gives the work dignity.
The main limitation of the book is methodological rather than substantive. Dasgupta often interprets the Vedic Saṁhitās through the lens of the Brāhmaṇa texts, emphasizing the ritual-theological system that later preserved and elaborated them. This is understandable, since the Brāhmaṇas provide explanatory context and connect naturally to later developments. Yet it can flatten the poetic diversity of the hymns themselves—their speculative, ecstatic, political, and multivocal character. Readers seeking the raw texture of the Ṛgvedic sūktas may find the presentation somewhat over-systematized.
Still, this criticism does little to diminish the book’s value. Hindu Mysticism remains an elegant synthesis, an important document of early modern Indian scholarship, and a bridge text between traditional learning and comparative academic discourse. It may no longer be the final word, but it is very much worth reading—especially for those who want to understand how Indian spirituality was first presented as a rigorous philosophical tradition to the modern world.
Dasgupta’s greatest strength lies in showing that Indian mysticism is not “woo woo,” irrationalism, or vague spirituality, but a serious intellectual and experiential tradition rooted in disciplined reflection. He presents a compelling developmental arc from Vedic sacrifice, through Upanishadic inwardness, to yogic method and later devotional experience. Even where modern scholarship would complicate this linear narrative, it remains pedagogically powerful and gives readers an intelligible map of a vast subject.
One of the book’s standout achievements is its treatment of early Vedic concepts such as Ṛta. Rather than translating them crudely into “law” or “morality,” Dasgupta helps readers grasp their wider metaphysical significance as principles of order, truth, and right functioning within cosmos, ritual, and human conduct. This alone makes the book worthwhile.
Dasgupta is also fair-minded in comparative perspective. He does not dismiss Western or Christian mysticism, but distinguishes it carefully from Indian traditions whose assumptions about God, sacrifice, liberation, and spiritual realization arise from different theological and ritual backgrounds. This comparative restraint gives the work dignity.
The main limitation of the book is methodological rather than substantive. Dasgupta often interprets the Vedic Saṁhitās through the lens of the Brāhmaṇa texts, emphasizing the ritual-theological system that later preserved and elaborated them. This is understandable, since the Brāhmaṇas provide explanatory context and connect naturally to later developments. Yet it can flatten the poetic diversity of the hymns themselves—their speculative, ecstatic, political, and multivocal character. Readers seeking the raw texture of the Ṛgvedic sūktas may find the presentation somewhat over-systematized.
Still, this criticism does little to diminish the book’s value. Hindu Mysticism remains an elegant synthesis, an important document of early modern Indian scholarship, and a bridge text between traditional learning and comparative academic discourse. It may no longer be the final word, but it is very much worth reading—especially for those who want to understand how Indian spirituality was first presented as a rigorous philosophical tradition to the modern world.
November 21, 2021
Fantastic read by an amazing scholar of Hinduism. He explores various mystical practices of Hinduism without getting into the nitty gritty, for Surendranath Dasgupta in this book, he describes things in broad strokes, but with just enough specification for the reader to differentiate. From Advaita Vedanta, to Yoga, to Upanishads, to Northern Bhakti, and South Indian Bhakti, Ramanuja, Alwars, Chaitanya, Tulsidas. He has it all, conveniently described for a first time reader. Obviously I'm familiar with all of these having read and studied much of it beforehand, but this was still very great to read. Its a great refresher for those already aware of Hindu Mysticism across the various schools of thought that exist in India, and also it is great for those who are learning for the first time.
June 10, 2024
One of the books I’m currently reading and it’s one of though it deals with mysticism and it’s types it’s proving to be a self help book to me making me understand life.
It’s more like for lost people who want to learn about the higher power/God. This book shower light on various schools of thoughts that exist in India.
I can’t review this book because I am not as great to review the work of a gyaani like SN Dasgupta ji. It deserves more star that five just for the sake of it 5/5
I would like people to read it but I also know it’s not a cup of tea for 95 percent of the readers. If you’re interested in Hindu philosophy, Vedas, Upanishads you can try reading it.
It’s more like for lost people who want to learn about the higher power/God. This book shower light on various schools of thoughts that exist in India.
I can’t review this book because I am not as great to review the work of a gyaani like SN Dasgupta ji. It deserves more star that five just for the sake of it 5/5
I would like people to read it but I also know it’s not a cup of tea for 95 percent of the readers. If you’re interested in Hindu philosophy, Vedas, Upanishads you can try reading it.
March 16, 2025
I love how well each part is put together, the author tries to remain unbiased and not shove his opinion (which seems such a breath of fresh air!). The author does a fabulous job of summarizing the scriptures and verses as reference to the context without over burdening the reader or drifting from the true intention of the topic. It is a great book for someone ready to deepdive into Hinduism without getting overwhelmed by all the complexities that's out there.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews