Seyyed Hossein Nasr summarized this essay as describing "the metaphysical significance of mâyâ as both veil and principle of relativization and manifestation of the Absolute." Although the terms Âtmâ and mâyâ come from the Vedantic tradition, the essay includes examples of a number of Christian doctrines considered from the standpoint of these metaphysical principles.

Rama P. Coomaraswamy writes from the perspective of a modern day Catholic, discussing the confusing mesh for many modern practitioners of “‘pre-Vatican’ training—however poor — [and] the pronouncements and sermons of the modern clergy.” He describes the confusion, errors and assumptions present in much of modern religious literature and thought.

Much of the quality of a civilization can be inferred by its daily apparel. In this discussion of traditional Indonesian textiles, Hobson and Abdurachman focus on two methods of decoration: Ikat weaving and Batik printing, explaining the cosmological symbolism of the methods themselves as well as common design motifs.

Both Indian Cosmology and modern science constitute attempts to understand the cosmos at its most basic level. However, modern science is essentially materialistic, seeking an explanation of the universe in terms of "basic particles", whereas Hindu Cosmology is concerned with non-substantial, "basic principles." The adoption of science as the ultimate approach to understanding the cosmos is based on the assumption that the universe must be reduceable to physical phenomena alone. Ian Watson offers Hindu Vedānta, which rejects this notion, as an alternative.