We can only hope that people take the advice in a friendly spirit.
1. The veda is not your typical “spiritual book”. The sam̐hita portions are NOT to be read like:
1. bhakti-stutis/stotras
2. Instructive texts such as smṛtis including gītā or upadeśas in purāṇas & itihāsas.
The veda is not to be treated as a text that speaks to “Hindus” generically. The mantras in the veda are not directions on what to do or avoid. Nor are they a straightforward discussion of “spiritual truths”. The mantras have a deep meaning that isn’t easy to discern.
The mantra portion of the veda is inseparable from the ritual portion of the veda. One cannot ignore that when trying to understand the mantras.
The mantras have to be grasped with the aid of the brāhmaṇas, mīmām̐sā, kalpa, nirukta, vyākaraṇa & the reflections on the deeper import of vedamantras by pūrvācāryas.
This is a laborious & painful process that would require guidance for most. The veda was never intended to be a direct, im-mediate resort for all. It is most certainly not intended for any casual, “family reading”.
A rather famous example of the nonsense that results from a casual reading of the veda & the meaning as grasped by tradition:
There are so many other texts given by our sages. Why not pick up one of them instead? //End
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