Today there is a new worldwide seeking for a universal form of spirituality above and beyond the limitations of organized religion. To meet the challenge of the global culture dawning today we must create a universal spiritual tradition that can encompass all the diversity of human culture both religious and secular. Yet the idea of a universal tradition is not new. It is the very foundation of one of the world's great religions, the most diverse and oldest, the religion known as Hinduism, whose original name is Sanatana Dharma or "the eternal tradition of Truth."

To renew such a universal tradition it is important that we look to its already existent formulations which, though distorted by time, still contain a solid foundation and enduring structure on which to build. It is not surprising therefore that the idea of the unity of all Truth has most been promoted in modern times primarily by Hindus like Ramakrishna, Vivekananda, and Gandhi, as this view is part of the Hindu heritage.

Having personally experienced the universal basis of Hinduism and having tried to present various facets of it in books on various aspects of Vedic knowledge, I felt it necessary to write a book expressing this discovery. My search for a universal tradition and comprehensive spiritual science led me to various Hindu-based teachings, which culminated in an encounter with the universal view, Sanatana Dharma, behind these teachings. As few people today, including the great majority of Hindus, understand the background of this complex religion and culture, I have tried to present the universal view behind it, that others might share in my discovery.

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