The Sermon on the Mount According to Vedanta

The Sermon on the Mount according to Vedanta

by Swami Prabhavananda


NAL/Penguin Inc., New York, New York    © 1972   126 pp.

In this gem of a book, Swami Prabhavananda shows in simple and direct language that what Jesus preached in the Sermon on the Mount is the same teaching a Vedantist follows. As in Vedanta, Christ taught that “man’s real nature is divine.” All we have to do is follow Christ’s teachings, and lo and behold, we also will recognize that divinity. 

For anyone who is attracted to mystical Christianity this book is a must-read. It takes the often complex and symbolic language of the Gospel and translates it into simple terms. The way Prabhavananda draws parallels between Vedanta and Christianity is simply amazing—so amazing that not only does this book help Christians better understand their tradition, it clarifies the teachings of Vedanta and Hinduism as well. Short and to the point, this book is not just a one time read, but can be used as a pocket reference for when the going gets rough.

-- reviewed by Tom Kurzka