Mantra: Hearing the Divine in India and America
In a wide-ranging introduction to the use of mantra in Indian religions, Coward and Goa deal with the philosophy of its use in Yoga and Mimamsa, as well as its actual use in Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, Muslim and Christian Communities. This is a lucid and empathetic treatment, calling attention to parallels in Western Christian practices. The book will be read with interest and understanding by undergraduate students and provides a welcome possibility for inserting this often neglected aspect of Indian religious life into introductory courses. Using Diana Eck's Darshan as a companion book, students will be introduced to two concepts that illuminate much of Indian religious practice: seeing and hearing the divine.