The world has changed significantly within the last few years. Many of these changes are very concerning, especially the casual talk by some politicians about the possibility of a nuclear war, and the dangers of artificial intelligence, which will not only render many jobless and possibly directly influence our thoughts, but may even go out of human control. Further, the big economic downturn in many countries and the increasing censorship of speech. It seems as if the world is moving towards a China-type controlled one-world society.

In this scenario, social media is both a boon and a bane. It is a bane, when it keeps our attention, addictively, on scrolling for ever more information or entertainment, without giving us a break to be present in the here and now—the most important place and time of our life. And our phones may even lure us into debasing our life with violent computer games or pornography.
Yet, on the other hand, social media has also contributed greatly to waking people up to what is happening. ‘Deep State’ has become a household word. Mainstream media has lost the trust of many. Even science, academia, and medicine have come under scrutiny and do not look so good and innocent any longer. Too many claims, ridiculed by the media as ‘conspiracy theories’, have unfortunately been confirmed as true.

There is another, very positive aspect which gets traction, and that too, is thanks to social media platforms—more and more people are searching for the Truth—not merely questioning facts that are presented by the media, but searching for the big, transcendental Truth about God and themselves.
Many Westerners are going back to Christianity and declaring their faith in Jesus. Even a decade ago, it would have been inconceivable that Tucker Carlson, a big American influencer, would ask Russell Brand, a big British influencer, on stage to lead an audience of ten thousand in prayers.

I consider it a good development for Westerners. The erosion of belief in a Supreme Power was obviously planned—starting in Russia and China with communism and taking root in the West with the Hippie movement of the 1960s.
Now, there is a pushback against the agenda which wants us to identify only with the body, and focus only on sensual enjoyment, never mind how low that enjoyment may be. The Zeitgeist is changing, even though the elite still try to convince us that ‘It is ridiculous to believe in a God or a soul’ (a recent quote by the celebrated historian and author, Yuval Noah Harari who is a regular at the World Economic Forum).

Yet, I wish that people all over the world would know about Bharat’s Eternal Wisdom, called Sanatana Dharma. Or rather, I wish they would know what this Eternal Wisdom is really about and not be influenced by false, mischievous claims by those who don’t want this Wisdom to be known.
The reason: Sanatana Dharma is closer to the Truth than Abrahamic religions.

Devotion to God or Jesus or Allah is definitely helpful in life. But doubts may arise from time to time, because those religions are all about ‘belief in a story’ that happened several hundred years ago. It is all about ‘thinking’ and not about ‘who or what enables thinking’.

Since ancient times, India was the ‘Land of Wisdom’. Vedic wisdom is not based on belief in a story. It gives knowledge about the Absolute Truth and asks us to verify it by experiencing it within ourselves—true Self-Realisation.

The most important knowledge is: We are not small persons in a big world, but are one with Brahman. And Brahman, though indescribable, is best described as limitless, blissful Consciousness, out of which, this world and everything in it, ‘appears’. It means, the world and our small, individual selves are not solid. They are more like Virtual Reality, or in Indian terminology, Maya. What is ‘solid’ and really true is only our essence or self—Pure Consciousness.

When I heard this for the first time back in April 1980, at the Kumbh Mela in Haridwar—it immediately made sense to me. For the first time, I got convincing answers to questions that had troubled me since my teens.
Questions like:
– What is most important in life?
– Is there a God?
– Is death the end of me?

These questions were now replaced with the most important question:
– Who am I really?
Yet, this question cannot be answered with words. It needs to be ‘known’ within. The goal of our life is to realise the truth of who we are.

I wanted to dedicate my life to search for the Truth and stay on in India, because the country was just more conducive for spiritual search. Yet to do this, I needed a longer visa and earn some money.
So, in 1981, I wrote my first article—about insights I had gained while being in the presence of Sri Anandamayi Ma and other great spiritual personalities like Devaraha Baba, and from reading numerous books and sitting still for many hours in meditation. I felt that this precious wisdom, which is still alive in India, is lacking in the West.

I was fortunate. This first article was published in the German magazine Psychologie Heute; two other magazines reprinted it. The editor asked me to continue writing, as he had rarely seen such clarity regarding Indian Wisdom. He even gave me an advance for my next article—a report on a conference in Mumbai on ‘The Convergence between Indian Wisdom and Modern Science’. Obviously, back then in 1981, India’s Wisdom was appreciated.

During the first 20 years, I stayed in the ‘spiritual Bharat’ of ashrams, pilgrimage places, sadhus, and mainly met Indians who were connected to their roots. I thought that all Indians were like this. After all, their tradition and scriptural heritage is a treasure trove.

Only when I moved into a ‘normal’ environment in 2001, did I realise that Hindu Dharma is not only ignored in education, but also viewed negatively by the media and academia.

I realised only then that on the one hand, many Indians had converted to Islam and Christianity during the long foreign rule, and naturally, their new religion indoctrinated them into believing how bad their previous faith was.
And, on the other hand, even many Hindus have no idea about their spiritual treasure. Especially the convent-educated Hindus who often dismiss their tradition as ‘primitive’, without knowing even a basic text like the Bhagavad Gita.
They are like those proverbial people who are sitting on a box of gold but do not know it, and instead go for artificial jewellery elsewhere.

This ‘box of gold’ has many aspects.
The most important one is:
India has preserved the most profound philosophical and spiritual insights of the ancient rishis (sages), and their methods on how to fulfil one’s life’s purpose and how to be truly free and fearless.
Yet it seems, free and fearless people are unwanted in our times. Otherwise, it is hard to explain why the media and academia hardly ever mention anything positive about India. It almost seems as if they do not want to draw any attention to India, maybe because they fear that people might discover that great treasure.

This book is a collection of forty-three of my over 200 articles. Some are unchanged, like my letter to Pope Francis, who has meanwhile passed away, or my reply to Zakir Naik, a radical Islamic preacher. Many are updated or have otherwise been improved.

The main topics are:
– The truth about who we are, what is our purpose in life, and where can we discover true love and happiness.
– Some aspects of the living Hindu culture.
– How Hinduism relates to Buddhism and to the Abrahamic religions.
– What is special in Hinduism—like Rebirth or the regard for animals.
– Why is Hinduism attacked so much?
– The great influence that India had on German philosophers.

In recent times, attacks on Hinduism have become very vicious. Hindu Gods are called demons not only by Christian missionaries but also by Western academics and certain Indian politicians who want the faith of the Hindus to be ‘eradicated’.

There are mischievous attempts to associate Hinduism with dark satanic cults, whose existence in secret societies of the topmost global elite can no longer be ignored. Those cults are the complete opposite of the benevolent Sanatan (= Eternal) Hindu tradition.

Hinduism’s focus is on a dharmic (righteous) life and, to overcome one’s ignorance regarding this illusionary world and to realise one’s true Self.
In contrast, the focus of those satanic cults is on achieving pleasures, riches, and power in this ephemeral world, even if it requires selling one’s soul to the devil.

Are the attacks on Hinduism an expression of the spiritual fight of the forces of darkness against the forces of light? Of the egoistic Asuras against the benevolent Devas?

Bharat is probably the only country in the world, where the Devas are worshipped every day in thousands of temples across this ancient, vast land.
And, Bharat is probably the only country in the world, where the knowledge about our essential divinity is still alive; and, where not only countless sadhus, but also many ordinary Hindus dedicate some time daily to connect with divinity.

The vicious attempts of reviling the Hindu tradition need to be countered. At the same time, the precious wisdom of the ancient Vedas, which uplifts and gives meaning to life, needs to be spread.
People will then realise that Hinduism is not what mainstream media, Western academia, or the clergy of Abrahamic religions want us to believe. Rather, it is our best guide to true fulfillment and love.
I hope this book contributes in spreading this profound knowledge and inspires readers to search for true love and happiness within.

by Maria Wirth

the books are available on Amazon, PadhegaIndia, Hindueshop
in Hindi https://www.amazon.in/dp/9391154832
in English https://www.amazon.in/dp/8119670655
abroad the English version is available, also on Kindle.
My earlier Book “Thank you India”, too is on Amazon.

The post Why Hindu Dharma is under attack? first appeared on Maria Wirth.

Maria Wirth’s latest book is a guide in Shatrubodh
Communists, Christian Evangelists, and Islamists are at the forefront of defaming and demonizing Hindu Dharma. I would add HINOs (Hindus in Name only) to this Hindudveshi/Hinduphobic group. Maria’s latest book has 43 essays that answers several uncomfortable questions including the deliberate demonization of Hindu Dharma by the aforementioned forces. These essays also teach Hindus how to counter the hateful propaganda directed at us. I would call this a handbook in Swayambodh and Shatrubodh that every Hindu should read to deal effectively with the anti-Hindu propaganda and defeat the agenda of these inimical Hinduphobic forces.

Most hate directed against Bharatiya civilization comes from deep-rooted hatred for practices such as reverence for cows, murti Puja, and others that these groups term as ‘primitive’ and ‘irrational.’ This stems more from hatred that is instilled in Abrahamics along with a sense of superiority since the start. Maria brings out the difference between inclusive Hindu Dharma and exclusive dogma of Abrahamic faiths clearly in her essays.

Maria believes that Hindu Dharma’s openness makes it a threat for Abrahamic religions who believe that only their path is the right one. The biggest strength of Hindu Dharma is its resilience that has made it stand tall in the face of repeated invasions for centuries. Despite an overwhelming number of HINO Brown Sahibs, Hindu Dharma has managed to survive and thrive. Maria Wirth also highlights that these English educated Brown Sahibs are also the harshest critics of Hindu Dharma because they believe that anything associated with Bharatiya tradition is ‘backward’ and in contrast, anything western is ‘modern.’

Review of the book
In the 43 essays, Maria Wirth covers a variety of topics from Ram Mandir Struggle, Kanwar Mela to Vedic Wisdom and and Caste Questions. The book begins with the Bharatiya wisdom that anti-Hindu forces don’t want people to know. The chapter on Vedic wisdom along with the first chapter equips Hindus with the important knowledge about Hindu Dharma.

There are chapters explaining the ‘difference’ between Hindu Dharma & Hindutva, why Buddhism is readily acceptable & projected as ‘intellectual’ while Hindu Dharma is hated, if Germany is Christian why Bharat shouldn’t be Hindu, the letters to Pope and Zakir Naik and many others that keep you hooked. Maria has kept the language simple and the book has a smooth flow from start to end.

As someone who has been active on Social Media for more than a decade and has witnessed a lot of hatred towards Hindutva, both from within and outside Bharat, I found this book talking to me. Questions that I have often asked to myself, have been addressed by Maria Wirth with exceptional clarity and lucidity.

For example, a simple post celebrating the Ram Mandir verdict triggered many of my Christian and Muslim friends even though I had never been hostile to them or their religious beliefs. When you read this book, you’ll realise that Abrahamics are conditioned to see Hindu Dharma as something ‘evil’ and its followers who would receive hellfire for not believing the ‘one true God.’ Very few are able to move beyond this conditioning. Also, Hindus need to be thankful that we aren’t conditioned to hate irrationally.

I recommend this book to anyone who wants to equip themselves to take on the anti-Hindu brigade, in addition to gaining clarity about their Dharma. Maria has explained various aspects of Hindu Dharma with extraordinary clarity. We must take pride in the fact that we belong to a Dharma that sees divinity in all things and motivates its adherents to discover the truth within themselves.
(end of review)

link
link: https://www.amazon.in/dp/8119670655
it’s also available abroad under amazon.com and is on Kindle

The post Review of my new book in Hindu Post by Maitri first appeared on Maria Wirth.

This was a question on Quora to which I replied the following:

I doubt that you are a born Hindu. It sounds as if you want to ‘encourage’ other Hindus to reflect if “multiple gods work for them’…

And if you are indeed a Hindu, you obviously don’t know the basics of your tradition. Your tradition claims that all this temporary multiplicity is like many waves on the one ocean, or is like the multiple pictures of a movie on one screen. All is permeated by the eternal Brahman or Paramatman – Satchitananda or blissful consciousness. Names don’t matter, because Brahman doesn’t fit into words or thoughts.
And yes, not only humans, the Devas, and other beings too, are permeated by Brahman and are ultimately nothing but Brahman, like the waves are one with the ocean.

Even the CIA admitted in a 2016 declassified document on cultural trends that “the religion (Hinduism) has a sophisticated philosophical and ethical system, called Vedanta based on the Upanishad section of the four Vedas.”

Compared to Hindu philosophy, the theology of the Abrahamic religions has no solid basis. Their ONE God is separate from his creation. You must NOT claim that you are one with the Divine. It is declared heresy.
Obviously, their God is part of the multiplicity, of Maya in Hindu terms or of the virtual reality in modern terms. Moreover, how can the topmost power in this universe be biased against the majority of humans and send them eternally to hell? Only because they don’t believe in one particular person or one particular book?
But if a Christian, Muslim or Jew has intense bhakti (devotion) towards God/Allah/Yahwe, it will reach the one true Source beyond Maya and he can realise oneness with the Divine. It happened to some. But they were excommunicated (like Meister Eckhart) or even executed, like the Sufi Mansur Al Hallaj who famously declared Ana al haq (I am the Truth/God).
In Hinduism, people who realised their oneness with the Divine are venerated.

Think, reflect and don’t try to be clever…

by Maria Wirth

if you like my writing, consider getting my books
Title: “Why Hindu Dharma is under attack by Muslims, Christians and the Left” 2025, Rs 311
link: https://www.amazon.in/dp/8119670655 or

Why Hindu Dharma is Under Attack by Muslims, Christians and the Left: A Collection of Essays

Title: “Thank you India – a German woman’s journey to the wisdom of yoga” 2018, Rs 349
link https://garudalife.in/thank-you-india-by-maria-wirth
they are also available as Kindle

The post A dishonest or ignorant question on Quora first appeared on Maria Wirth.

It was a spontaneous exchange. I didn’t reflect much on my replies. Unfortunately, he was stuck in his ‘law of non-contradiction’ and couldn’t grasp that name and form are temporary, and the essence is eternal simultaneously.

My original post:

Why this opposition and even hatred for Hinduism? The reason may be that India’s wisdom endangers Christianity, Islam and Judaism, because it is empowering the individual and makes sense.
Three important factors are in favour of Hindu Dharma:
1. If people of other religions come to know about the Hindu concept of One Consciousness as the essence of all, they might realize that the concept of a separate and vengeful God in the monotheistic religions is a distortion and cannot be true.
2. If they hear of karma and rebirth, it probably would make more sense to them, than the claim that we all have only one life, which decides if we go to heaven or hell.
3. If they hear that the one consciousness permeates also animals and nature, they might stop this massive daily bloodbath of slaughtering our younger brothers and sisters, the animals, and respect nature.

Comment by @OsamaKhalid
The idea of multiple gods can never make sense to sane minds. There is but One Almighty Who reigns. The concept of equally powerful gods is nonsense
2. Karma is the one of the most diabolical concepts one could endorse. What you confused with vengeance is justice.

My reply:
You are right. the Source of everything must be one. the Vedas were the first to postulate the one source (Brahman, pure consciousness). Like all other forms and names, devas (and asuras) are within Maya, only longer lived and more powerful but not eternal.
Names and forms are like the temporary waves on the eternal ocean (Brahman). It means the Divine is within us. This knowledge lifts Hindu Dharma above the ‘monotheistic’ religions.
imo, the idea of a vengeful, separate God as being the one source behind this universe can never make sense to sane a mind, isn’t it? Check out my new book “Why Hindu Dharma is under attack by Muslims, Christians and the Left…”

Osama Khalid’s reply
Basically, for the 1st comment, you have fallen prey to the law of non-contradiction which the monotheistic religion doesn’t suffer from.
Again, what you confuse with vengeance is justice. A result for one’s efforts makes sense to sane minds.

My reply:
I don’t get what you mean in your first para – eternal oneness versus temporary plurality is no contradiction. Compare the one movie screen with the plurality of changing pictures on it.
And yes, result for efforts makes sense but, eternal hell for being born in the “wrong” family?? Does this make sense?

His reply:
Exactly, the example of law of non-contradiction, the changing pictures represent the mortal despite being the part of immortal i.e. the eternal. Its illogical either the picture is fully mortal or immortal. Who doesn’t know the reward is also eternal?

My reply:
It’s not illogical. The screen is ever the same, the pictures are ever changing. Yet when you touch any “thing” in the movie, you touch only the screen. The screen is the essence of all, similarly, Brahman is the essence in this Lila or Maya.
Try to understand, not just try to refute. Imo, Vedic wisdom is top. Your ancestors discovered it.

His reply:
It’s illogical since the picture/essence can either be immortal or mortal, can’t be both simultaneously. It’s like saying one likes hot-cold ice-cream. I am simply answering to your responses. &, btw, it’s was your original post which tried to refute monotheism.

My reply:
Can’t you see that the pictures are not the same (‘eternal’ doesn’t apply here as no analogy is fully apt for the truth) and the screen is the same simultaneously? Btw this ‘screen – movie analogy’ was given by Ramana Maharshi.
Monotheism postulates a separate, Creator-God somewhere in heaven. Monism or panentheism (Indian view, but why should we speak Greek?) is closer to truth. Truth does not fit into logic. but it also does not contradict it.
To defend logically the position that there is a separate God without addressing the question where it came from and with what he made the universe, is difficult.
The Rishis claim: something (not a thing of course) eternally is/exists (consciousness and it can be felt in yourself) and out of that the universe ‘appears’.

I really wish, Muslims would understand that their disdain for Hinduism is unjustified. Meditation is helpful to understand.
The division between Hindus and Muslims fits so well into the agenda of the deep state to divide societies everywhere.
Why should we do its bidding?

So far I haven’t heard back to my last comment.
By Maria Wirth

if you like my writing, consider getting my books
Title: “Why Hindu Dharma is under attack by Muslims, Christians and the Left” 2025, Rs 311
link: https://www.amazon.in/dp/8119670655 or

Why Hindu Dharma is Under Attack by Muslims, Christians and the Left: A Collection of Essays

The post An exchange with a Muslim on X (Twitter) first appeared on Maria Wirth.

I replied that fundamental questions about the purpose and goal of life are convincingly answered and several paths (Bhakti, Jnana, Karma…) are shown so that we can know our divine nature (Atma is Brahman).

Hindu Dharma makes a distinction between THAT what is eternally, absolutely (means not dependent on anything) true and that what is not eternal and depends on THAT what is eternal. (Brahman versus Maya or Prakriti).

An analogy is given: in a pottery shop, diverse cups, jugs, plates, and bowls are displayed in the shelves. We look at the shapes, colors, and decorations, completely overlooking the clay or mud, which is absolutely essential and more “true” than the form or the name. For, when the cup breaks, the cup is gone, but the mud is still there.

The cup depends fully on mud, yet while the cup exists, we overlook the mud. The mud is ‘hidden’ in the cup, even though – if we would reflect deeper – the essence of the cup is obviously mud. Similarly, our essence is pure, blissful consciousness (Brahman or Atman),but as long as our body exists, we overlook this essence, though it is obvious. Consciousness is the most important ‘quality’ of us.

However, when one accepts Hinduism, one will NOT get a bag of rice as bribe to twist your conscience and make you repeat that only Christianity and Jesus can save you…

By Maria Wirth

if you like my writing, consider getting my books
Title: “Why Hindu Dharma is under attack by Muslims, Christians and the Left” 2025, Rs 311
link: https://www.amazon.in/dp/8119670655
Title: “Thank you India,a German woman’s journey to the wisdom of yoga” 2018, Rs 349
link https://garudalife.in/thank-you-india-by-maria-wirth
they are also available as Kindle

The post What benefit one gets by accepting Hindu Dharma? first appeared on Maria Wirth.

If you have hundreds of millions of Indians who despise Hindus because according to their belief, Hindus commit a great sin against the ‘true one God”, whether called God or Allah, a harmonious society is tough to achieve and enemies of Bharat have a field day to instigate trouble and chaos.
IF Hindu clergy had explained the basics of the Vedas right after Independence in a big way, many of those who had converted to Islam and Christianity would have come back. Anyone who has common sense will come to the conclusion that Hindu Dharma is superior to all 3 Abrahamic religions.

It almost seems, as if the highest wisdom (Advaita Vedanta) is hidden even from Hindus. Great saints, like Ananadamayi Ma stressed it, but others mainly explain Dharma in Katha sessions. No doubt, this is also very important, but the foundation why a dharmic life is important, needs to be known.
Meanwhile Westerners make videos on this highest wisdom which in its purest form has been preserved in India. but they don’t mention or hardly mention India.

Today I saw the start of a video called “the Monad – the true God hidden from us”. It talks about the ‘highest God who is hidden from us’ and starts with a quote “There is One, eternal perfect… the source of all that appears.” It is attributed to Hermes Trismegistus. Google says, he is a “legendary personification of ancient knowledge rather than a historical individual.”
There is no mention that this quote is pure Advaita, still known in India, though less and less known by the youth due to the education system which focuses only on material success.

It would be good, if Hindus would propagate the profound insights of the Rishis about what is really true, about the absolute Oneness (Brahman) and the apparent world of plurality (Maya). Without this knowledge, Hindus don’t know what makes Hindu Dharma stand above the Abrahamic religions.
by Maria Wirth

if you haven’t seen my new book, “Why Hindu dharma is under Attack by Muslims, Christians and the Left”, check it out. it is good and helpful for all, not only Hindus.
it’s on amazon.in and com (abroad more expensive) and on PadhegaIndia. in
right now a big discount is on offer due to Dassehra (Amazon for Rs 279 and PadhegaIndia for Rs 248)

Why Hindu Dharma is Under Attack by Muslims, Christians and the Left: A Collection of Essays

The post It would be good if Hindus propagated their faith first appeared on Maria Wirth.

This review was written by Saumya of Vitasta Publishing for the ‘books and beyond blogspot’.

I recently had the opportunity to read an upcoming book by Maria Wirth — a German author and seeker who has long written about the depth and beauty of Indian spiritual traditions. Her upcoming work is a bold, honest, and at times uncomfortable interrogation of the widespread hostility and misconceptions directed toward Hinduism — not just from the outside world, but also from within India itself.

Wirth’s central question is simple, yet profound: Why is Hinduism so hated, mocked, or dismissed — especially by those who often don’t understand it at all?

Wirth argues that Hindu Dharma has been misunderstood, misrepresented, and even demonised by three main forces: Christian missionaries, Islamic supremacists, and the global Left. The reasons range from ideological hostility and colonial hangovers to sheer ignorance. In the eyes of many critics, Hindu practices like idol worship, cow reverence, and vegetarianism are seen as primitive or irrational — even though they are rooted in a deep sense of sacredness and interdependence.
One of the most striking observations in the book is the contrast between Hindu Dharma’s inclusive nature and the exclusivist dogma of many Abrahamic faiths. Christianity and Islam often come with the threat of eternal hell for non-believers. In contrast, Hinduism holds that all paths can lead to the truth, and that spiritual experience matters more than blind belief. There’s no central authority, no forced conversions, no threats — just a lifelong journey toward self-realisation.

So why the hostility?
Wirth suggests that this very openness is seen as a threat — by those who believe only their way is right. Hindu Dharma doesn’t try to dominate, but it also doesn’t surrender. It survived invasions, colonialism, and now a culture war in its own homeland, where many English-educated Indians look down on their own traditions. Ironically, some of the harshest criticism comes from within — from those who’ve inherited the colonial mindset that anything Western is “modern,” and anything rooted in Indian tradition is “backward.”

One of Wirth’s key observations is about the asymmetry of religious tolerance. Hindus are often taught — and sincerely believe — that all religions are the same, that all paths lead to the same divine. But this generosity is rarely reciprocated. Most Abrahamic traditions explicitly reject the validity of other faiths and warn of eternal damnation for non-believers. So while Hindus grow up saying “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” (the world is one family), they don’t realise that many others do not see them as part of that family at all.

What Maria Wirth’s book does beautifully is not just defend Hinduism — it explains it, with clarity and conviction, especially for those conditioned to see it as regressive. She urges readers to move beyond colonial hangovers and to see Sanatana Dharma as a living, breathing tradition — one that celebrates the divine in all things, embraces complexity without fear, and recognises the truth that lies within.

In a world fractured by absolutism and religious superiority, the Hindu way of seeing — through multiplicity, compassion, and inner awakening — may be exactly what the world needs most.
(end of review)

I feel that the book is good and helpful. In fact, my ‘certified secular’ editor (her own words) told me that she enjoyed reading my book and it changed her outlook…

The book is just out in Bharat.
it is available under the following links:

https://www.flipkart.com/hindu-dharma-under-attack-muslims-christians-left-collection-essays/p/itme00daf4da3fc5?pid=9788119670659

Why Hindu Dharma is Under Attack by Muslims, Christians and the Left: A Collection of Essays

https://www.vitastapublishing.com/store/new-arrivals/why-hindu-dharma-is-under-attack-by-muslims,-christians-and-the-left-a-collection-of-essays-detail

it is meanwhile also available for pre-order in USA and UK
USA: https://www.amazon.com/dp/8119670655

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/8119670655

The post My new book is out – a review first appeared on Maria Wirth.

This morning, I woke up with a thought, which puts Indian philosophy into a nutshell and please correct me if I get it wrong:

Whatever happens right now, has to happen as it does – in the world and also in private. It is the dream of Brahman, where good and evil battle it out, and it is clearly a thriller.
The different persons seem to have agency, but actually, they have not. A robber in my dream is not an independent actor who can decide what he does, but he is contained in my mind and ultimately unreal. Similarly, we humans, animals or even Devas and rakshasas have no independent agency in this play of Maya which plays out within the pure, infinite Consciousness, called Brahman.

So this gives some comfort. Everything is as it must be. But this is only ONE level.

Now the second level:
The Bhagavad Gita and other texts tell us that we need to do what is dharmic, trying to stop the evil and foster the good, and even fight adharma if need be.

But why should we follow dharma (which means to do the right thing in the given circumstances)? Because there are laws within Maya. One law is the law of Karma: if we do evil, we suffer. Eternal hell does not exist, but time-bound hell does exist within Maya. Even though evil people seem to thrive, they will suffer, or they may even suffer while seemingly thriving.

I am reminded of a podcast where a chapter of Whitney Webb’s book “A nation under blackmail” was mentioned. It is about an interview with Leslie Wexner, the billionaire financier of Jeffrey Epstein. He said in an interview with the New York Magazine in 1985 that he feels possessed by a demon. He even gave the demon’s name: dybbuk, a malicious spirit in Jewish folklore. This demon pushes him to always want more and more and ever more…

This brings me to another level within Maya: we humans are not the only conscious, intelligent beings. There are many others, as the Puranas explain, beneficial and maleficent ones, and some are more powerful than we are. They don’t have bodies like we have, but are nevertheless as real as we are within Maya.

Anandamayi Ma asked her devotees to guard against the influence of maleficent entities by repeating the mantra of one’s Ishta Deva, and talked about such different entities, which she saw.

So the conclusion: what is, has to be as it is. And since we are in Kali Yuga, it’s not a bed of roses. No need to become depressed about it.
But also: live a dharmic life. That’s the way to fulfil your life’s purpose and ultimately realise that our person or ‘avatar’ in this play of Maya is not who we really are.

And when the going gets too tough and in case desperate thoughts intrude, remind yourself that all is Maya and our essence is already one with Sat-Chit-Ananda, blissful Consciousness, even if we can’t feel it yet.
by Maria Wirth

the photo is by Shivansh Sharma, taken from Pixels

The post No need to despair, but be upright in the storm first appeared on Maria Wirth.

I commented:
So true. The Church has a horrifying history.
I find it hard to understand that Indian Christians who know this history still identify as Christians.
By all means, worship God and love Jesus but ‘being Christian’ means to accept the irrational Church dogmas which have nothing to do with “salvation” but with division and power. They want converts to Christianity believe that God loves only Christians and sends Hindus to eternal damnation.
Can anyone believe this??

One Rudy Torres commented to my tweet:
‘Anyone who doesn’t believe this is saying that Jesus was lying when he clearly stated: “John14:6 KJV [6] Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. ”
Pardon me if I take the Son of God’s word over modernity.’ (end quote)

It took me some time to realise that he meant that of course one needs to believe that Hindus are sent to eternal damnation.

My reaction to him:
Just reflect: there was no tape recorder. How to know what Jesus really said? Blind belief is needed.
But let’s take his words for true and see if they make sense:
What if he didn’t say “I am the way…” but said “I AM” is the way, truth, life? I AM (pure, thought-free consciousness) is the truth and leads to the truth says Vedanta. This makes sense. (I have in earlier articles written extensively about Vedanta and won’t repeat myself here).
There are claims that Jesus was in India during his missing years between 12-30 and learnt about Advaita Vedanta philosophy.

He also said “I and my Father are one”,
Now, did he mean ONLY himself, as the Church claims, or humans generally, as Advaita Vedanta says: Aham Brahmasmi?.
Of course it makes more sense if he meant humans generally because we all are made from the same intangible, invisible, eternal ‘stuff’ (which is of course no ‘stuff’ or object, but the one subject – consciousness.

Or what did Jesus mean when he said, “The kingdom of heaven is within you”?
Did he mean the Mahavakya (great saying) of the Upanishad: Atman = Brahman (the individual consciousness is one with the universal consciousness)? Or what else could he have meant?

And of course one more question:
why were the Church officials so incredibly brutal to Hindus and even to Christians, who were caught practising part of their old tradition? All this in the name of a loving God?

I know, indoctrination in childhood is tough to overcome, but blind belief is not satisfying either. It’s actually a relief to get out of blind belief. I speak from experience.
Please ask questions and try to find answers in yourself.

By Maria Wirth

The post Blind belief is not satisfying first appeared on Maria Wirth.

I was baptized as a Christian (Catholic) in Germany when I was only 3 days old, but if somebody asks me whether I am Christian, I reply that I am Hindu though I did not do any ritual to ‘become’ Hindu.

Conversion means to change into some other state. Christianity and Islam do it big time. They force perfectly normal human beings into blindly believing some unverifiable dogmas that do not add to their spiritual wellbeing.

For example, even as children they are told to believe that the Supreme Power loves only them and it does not those others who don’t sign up to their brand of belief.

Such belief is not natural. It has no basis. But since it is being repeated from childhood on and all others around also seem to believe it, it is taken as truth by the majority who don’t want to think about “what we anyway can’t know”. This attitude that man need not even try to think about what is true, as he can never know, is also bandied about as truth in Christianity and Islam.

To become a normal human being again means to lose faith in these dogmas and start thinking for yourself. It is rather a de-conversion.

And to become a Hindu means when you come to conclusions about the truth which are in tune with the ancient Indian rishis.

The most notable conclusion of all: your consciousness (Atma, Self) is one with the One Consciousness (Brahman) that is the essence of all that is -visible and invisible. You are not what you think you are. You are not a separate, unconnected body and mind.

Now this belief is not blind. It can be verified provided you are ready to follow some rules which is called sadhana.

One can compare it with the following ‘belief’. Let’s say you live in Delhi and you have never seen the ocean. If somebody tells you that if you continue to travel south you will reach a vast expanse of water, so vast as you have never seen in your whole life, you may not believe it. You may even denounce this person as a fraud if not worse.

But suppose you believe him and travel, you will realise that it was true what he said.

Similarly, the wisdom of the Rishis can be made one’s own. One can realise the Divinity within.

This realisation is not limited to people living in India. It happened also to persons (though rarer) who lived in a Christian or Muslim environment.

However, the difference is that, while in India such persons are revered, in Christianity and Islam such persons live in danger. There are examples that they were even killed or excommunicated.

The highest goal of the Rishis – realising one’s oneness with the Divine- is considered heresy in those dogmatic religions.

It of course also means that all religions are NOT the same.

By Maria Wirth

if you like my writing, check out also my 2 books:
“Thank you India” published in 2018 by Garuda Prakashan on my life in India since 1980
https://padhegaindia.in/product/thank-you-india-a-german-womans-journey-to-the-wisdom-of-yoga/ (PadhegaIndia sells it at a discount at Rs 374)

and my new book (Vitasta Publishing July 2025) “Why Hindu Dharma is under attack by Muslims, Christians and the Left.” https://www.amazon.in/dp/8119670655

The post Are there people who have converted into Hinduism from other religions? first appeared on Maria Wirth.