Author name: jharna sasmal

A sourced guide to the Holy Rule of St Benedict: its origins around 530, its main themes of prayer and work, its chapter structure, translations, and lasting influence.

The Holy Sinner (Der Erwählte) is Thomas Mann’s 1951 novel retelling a medieval legend of sin, penance, and grace. Learn its plot, sources, themes, and translation notes.

A guide to Rev. Lawrence G. Lovasik’s The Holy Rosary, a Catholic picture book on the Rosary’s prayers and mysteries, with editions, use tips, and tradition notes.

Learn how the Holy Rosary with Scripture pairs the prayers with Gospel passages for each mystery, how the prayer is structured, and how editions differ.

A sourced guide to the thirty minor Upanishads: how the collection is grouped into Vedanta, Physiological, Mantra, Sannyasa, and Yoga texts, the 1914 English translation, and how to read them with care.

A sourced guide to Thomas Mann’s novel The Holy Sinner (Der Erwählte): its medieval source, plot, themes of sin and penance, editions, and how to read it.

Which are the three holy books? This guide explains the Torah, Bible and Quran, why the grouping is a popular framing, and how Hindu scripture differs.

Learn what the Tripitaka is, why it is called the Buddhist ‘three baskets’ canon, how Pali, Chinese, Tibetan and other canons differ, and how it differs from Hindu scriptures.

Is there one true holy book in the world? Learn why sacred texts are compared by tradition, how Hindu scripture like the Vedas is understood, and how to evaluate claims.

Turat, or Tawrat, is the Arabic name for the Torah revealed to Prophet Musa in Islamic belief. Learn its meaning, Quranic references, and how it differs from the Jewish Torah.