Swami Abhedananda

This volume comprises lectures delivered in a systematic and scientific manner by Swami Abhedananda before a talented audience in America in 1924 on the subject of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. "The Yoga Psychology" discloses the secret of bringing under control the disturbing modifications of mind, and thus helps one to concentrate and meditate upon the transcendental Atman, which is the fountain-head of knowledge, intelligence and bliss.

These lectures constitute the contents of this memorial volume, with copious references and glossaries of Vyasa and Vachaspati Misra.

About the Author:

SWAMI ABHEDANANDA, a direct disciple and apostle of Sri Ramakrishna, spent his early life among the brotherhood in Baranagar monastery near Calcutta in severe austerity - traveled barefooted all over India from 1888-1895. Landed in New York, he took charge of the Vedanta Society in 1897. He was appreciated for his profundity of scholarship, intellectual brilliance, oratorical talents, charming personality and nobility of character.… (more)

A yogi (Sanskrit, feminine root: yogini) is a term for a person who practices various forms of the path of Yoga, maintaining a steadfast mind, the process of transcending the lower self. These designations are mostly reserved for advanced or daily practitioners. In contemporary English yogin is an alternative rendering for the word yogi. This word is often used to describe Buddhist monks or any lay person or householder who is devoted to meditation. The Shiva-Samhita text defines the yogi as someone who knows that the entire cosmos is situated within his own body, and the Yoga-Shikha-Upanishad distinguishes two kinds of yogins: those who pierce through the "sun" (surya) by means of the various yogic techniques and those who access the door of the central conduit (sushumna-nadi) and drink the nectar. (Quote from wikipedia.org)

Table of Contents:

Publisher's Preface; Preface; Introductory; What Is Yoga?; Hatha Yoga; Raja Yoga; Karma Yoga; Bhakti Yoga; Jnana Yoga; Science Of Breathing; Was Christ A Yogi?

About the Author:

Swami Abhedananda was born in Calcutta on October 2, 1866. His father, Rasiklal Chandra, was a senior teacher of English in the Oriental Seminary of Calcutta. His mother Nayantara Devi named him "Kaliprasad",meaning grace of the Divine Mother Kali. His keen interest in Sanskrit and philosophy took a lion's share of his studies in his boyhood. Even before he came of age, he felt an inner inspiration to learn Yoga. His longing for yoga practice drove him to Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsadev at Dakshineswar. Sri Ramakrishna recognised him as a great yogi in his previous birth and that this was his last birth. He readily agreed to teach him yoga practices and initiated him with mantram. The mystic touch of the Guru immediately led him to deep Samadhi. Right from this beginning and during the course of his spiritual sadhana Kaliprasad experienced many divine visions till he reached the state beyond name and form. (Quote from ramakrishnavedantamath.org)… (more)