Building a Noble World
Building a Noble World documents humanity's development in material and spiritual knowledge. Reading it, one gains a solid background in basic yoga philosophy including kundalini yoga, shaktipat, and meditation while also being introduced to such monumental historical figures as Albert Einstein, Carl Jung, Dalai Lama, Martin Luther King, Jr., Abraham Lincoln, Patanjali, Swami Muktananda, Gurumayi Chidvilasananda, Swami Rama Tirtha, Ramakrishna Paramahansa, Swami Vivekananda, Yogananda Paramahansa, Swami Sivananda of Rishikesh, Swami Satyananda, Swami Vishnu Tirtha, Kabir, Anandmayi, Aurobindo of Pondicherry, Sri Chinmoy, Nisargadatta Maharaj, Narayan Swami of Muzzafarnagar, Swami Lakshman Joo, Swami Prabhupada, Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, John Woodroffe, Herman Hesse, and others.
There is even an innovative solution to the Kashmiri crisis and an economic proposal for the unification of the Asian subcontinent.
A significant prediction made by Swami Rama Tirtha for future India is quoted in the book, Building a Noble World: “After Japan, China will rise and gain prosperity and strength. After China, the sun of prosperity and learning will again smile at India.”
Shiv R. Jhawar describes his spiritual journey as beginning on September 16, 1974 with a dramatic Kundalini awakening experience in the physical presence of the holy man Swami Muktananda at Lake Point Tower in Chicago. He describes the awakening in his book Building A Noble World:
"Suddenly, I felt a great impact of a rising force within me. The intensity of this rising kundalini force was so tremendous that my body lifted up a little and fell flat into the aisle; my eyeglasses flew off. As I lay there with my eyes closed, I could see a continuous fountain of dazzling white lights erupting within me. In brilliance, these lights were brighter than the sun but possessed no heat at all.I was experiencing the thought-free state of 'I am,' realizing that 'I' have always been, and will continue to be, eternal. I was fully conscious and completely aware while I was experiencing the pure 'I am,' a state of supreme bliss.” “Baba [Swami Muktananda] noticed that the dramatic awakening of kundalini in me frightened some people in the audience. Therefore, he said, ‘Do not be frightened. Sometimes kundalini gets awakened in this way, depending upon a person’s type.'"
Overview
Building a Noble World takes the reader through the distinction between spirituality and religiosity, observing that religiosity divides and spirituality unites. The central theme revolves around the attainment of inner and outer peace and the unification of humanity. It presents a path for world peace by calling for a stronger United Nations, creating regional unions like the European Union, offering a solution to the Kashmir issue, and reconciling differences between religions.
Reception
R.R. Bowker, the world's leading company for book information and the official U.S.A. agency for assigning ISBN, posted its following unbiased review of Building a Noble World at www.bookwire.com:
Building a Noble World addresses the key post-modern political issues that hinder world peace. At a time when the world faces acute problems of [...], cross-border conflicts, racial and religious differences, Shiv R. Jhawar offers us a path to emerge out of this darkness and move towards world peace and unity. The issue of [...] that has intensified, especially after the 9/11 attacks in the United States, is also well tackled. Jhawar states that its root cause is the condition of the human mind, which must be improved in order to overcome crime and war. In order to spread harmony and prosperity, we must be able to connect with the spirit within each of us and must rise above social, political and racial biases by accepting, respecting and celebrating diversity in all walks of life.
Building a Noble World gives an insight into Yoga as a means to attain inner peace. It also discusses varied subjects such as religion, spirituality, meditation and the author's experiences of shaktipat in which you transcend your physical body and mind, and experience absolute reality.
Jhawar offers simple yet profound solutions to global political issues such as the ongoing crisis in Kashmir and the possibility of unifying the Indian subcontinent for promoting regional economic prosperity. While striving in a quest for global harmony, the author recognizes the indispensable role played by the United Nations for negotiating and tackling cross-border issues.
The central theme of the book revolves around the importance of attaining inner peace and the unification of humanity for attaining world peace. It guides humanity towards peaceful co-existence. It is a well researched, easy to read book with sound concepts, as well as quotes from renowned world leaders and spiritual masters. Insightful, inspiring and practical, Building a Noble World is a book that promotes world peace and adds value to life.
Jhawar was interviewed by Ashok Vyas about his book, Building a Noble World, on ITV, New York.