Adhyatma Yoga

With great delight we place before the aspirant-world, the present work 'Adhyatma Yoga' by Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj, the world renowned sage, who needs no introduction. This work contains over four hundred highly illuminating and inspiring poems on a variety of subjects connected with religion, philosophy, etc.., and will serve as a happy companion to the author's other poem-books published already, viz. 'Wisdom Sparks', 'Waves of Bliss'. 'Jnana Jyoti', and 'Wisdom in Humour'.

Coming as it does from the pen of a realised sage, this book is rich in sagely wisdom and wit and should prove an invaluable asset to every seeker in his onward march to Godhead. We hope the aspirant world will take advantage of this precious boon, study it assimilate the wisdom contained in it, and practising it in their everyday life expedite their march to Perfection, Peace and glory.

Born on the 8th September, 1887, in the illustrious family of Sage Appayya Dikshitar and several other renowned saints and savants, Sri Swami Sivananda had a natural flair for a life devoted to the study and practice of Vedanta. Added to this was an inborn eagerness to serve all and an innate feeling of unity with all mankind.

His passion for service drew him to the medical career; and soon he gravitated to where he through that his service was most needed. Malaya claimed him. He had earlier been editing a health journal and wrote extensively on health problems. He discovered that people needed right knowledge most of all; dissemination of that knowledge he espoused as his own mission.

It was divine dispensation and the blessing of God upon mankind that the doctor of body and mind renounced his career and took to a life of renunciation to qualify for ministering to the soul of man. He settled down at Rishikesh in 1924, practised intense austerities and shone as a great Yogi, saint sage and Jivanmukta.

In 1932 Swami Sivananda started the Sivanandashram. In 1936 was born The Divine Life Society. In 1948 the Yoga-Vedanta Forest Academy was organized. Dissemination of spiritual knowledge and training of people in Yoga and Vedanta were their aim and object. In 1950 Swamiji undertook a lightning tour of India and Ceylon. In 1953 Swamiji convened a 'World Parliament of Religions'. Swamiji is the author of over 300 volumes and has disciples all over the world, belonging to all nationalities, religions and creeds. To read Swamiji works is to drink at the Fountain of Wisdom Supreme. On 14th July 1963 Swamiji entered Mahasamadhi.

The attainment of God-realisation is the goal of human life Great seers, saints and sages have been from time immemorial voicing this truth and striving to spread the gospel of God-realisation in different ways, through books, speeches, heart-to-heart talks, etc. and exactly it is to remind man of his Goal, and to show him the path that leads to it that this book 'Adhyatma Yoga' is dedicated.

The first chapter of this book deals with the nature of God. The second chapter throws light on the concept of religion. Various subjects connected with philosophy are discussed in the next chapter. The fourth chapter raises the clarion call to Sadhana, pointing out to man the false, perishable nature of the world, and the glory and sublimity of a life in Sprit. The fifth chapter is rich in profuse instructions to aspirant on their path of Sadhana, and will be treasured by all earnest aspirants. Formulas for Vedantic meditation are given in the sixth chapter. The seventh chapter, containing a series of addresses made to the mind and senses will be found highly useful by all Sadhaks, as it throws much light on how to coax and cajole the riotous mind and senses. The path of devotion is dealt with in chapter VIII, and the glory of Divine Name is described in chapter IX. In this age of hatred and dissension, the massage of love alone will be the saving factor, and a full chapter (viz. chapter X) is devoted to a discussion of Love' and its infinite potencies. Sadhana to be Successful, has to be done under the guidance of a Guru. The glory and need of Guru are dealt with in chapter XI chapter XII gives out the experiences which are the Sadhak' s ideal. A description of the characteristics of a saint is given in chapter XIII. Chapter XIV is a highly interesting treatise on a wide variety of subjects, and thinkers and intellectuals will immensely like the thoughts contained in this chapter Definitions, from a spiritual angle of different things and phenomena are given in chapter XV. A description of women, the spiritual helpmate of man, is given in chapter XVI. Chapters XVII and XVIII respectively convey valuable lessons through humour and stories. The concluding chapter deals with the means of acquiring health and long life, so very essential for attaining God-realisation.

It is hoped that all aspirants will make the best use of this book, by studying it and putting the teachings into actual practice.

May Lord bless you all.