Meditation: Mind and Patanjali's Yoga

Meditation: Mind and Patanjali's Yoga

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Book Specification

Item Code: IDG623
Author: Swami Bhaskarananda
Publisher: Sri Ramkrishna Math
Language: English
Edition: 2019
ISBN: 8171209912
Pages: 270
Cover: Paperback
Other Details 7.9
Weight 330 gm

Book Description

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Reviews:

An Important characteristic of the author is his ability to analyze a subject from all points of view, all possibilities, never having a partial unilateral vision. He always searches for the deepest and the most correct meaning. To have this broader enlightened view from one of the most important ancient subjects of Indian Philosophy is a reward to everyone who will have the opportunity to read this book.

- Suzana de Albuquerque Paiva, Jungian Psychologist chief of the Department of Psychology at the Hospital Prontocor Professor in Faculty of Human Sciences Fundacao Mineira de Educacao e Cultura Belo Horizonte, Barasil

Swami Bhaskarnanda has developed a good rapport with Western ideation; he has explained Patanjali in terms which can be easily understood and has done it well.

By helping to bring the wisdom of the East to the West the Swami provides a fertile basis for the genesis of ideas. This book should be of great interest to a very wide readership.

-Dr. David Longaden, Ma, MB, B. Chir, (cantab.), DPM, FLCOM, Dorset, England.

I have gone through Swami Bhaskarananda's book, Meditation, mind and Patanjali's Yoga. The manuscript is wonderful. Very clear and very very well presented. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I myself would buy it and would recommend it to my students too.

Prof. John Grimes Dept of Religious Studies Michigan State University

The Book provides a clear, interesting, and comprehensive survey of the Yoga system, from ethics to meditation. Not only does it competently summarize Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, it explains in detail the basic concepts of Sumkhya philosophy, particularly the three gunas, and the fundamentals of Kundalini yoga, most notably the seven Chakras. Examples of Yogic practice are given from the experiences of Swami Bhaskarananda, supplemented with stories from the lives of Sri Ramakrishna and other Hindu saints. This book provides a gentle introduction to the spirituality of India in a Manner accessible to everyone, regardless of ethnicity or religious background. It has been a pleasure and inspiration to read this book!

Christopher Key Chapple Professor of Theological Studies Director, Asian and Pacific Studies Loyola Marymount University

It is a wonderfully rich and mature treatise on meditation and growth in the spiritual life, with many fine observations which should help beginners-and more advanced practitioners as well-to advance along the spiritual path. It is not only a clear exposition of yoga, but it is also a book about integral spiritual development which is reasonably will attuned to life in America today. It deserves serious notice and wide reading.

He speaks from a tradition with good common sense and a sense of rooted-ness. It is a strength of the book that it is focused concisely on Yoga and Yoga works.

Francis X. Clooney, S.j. Professor of Theology Boston College.

CONTENTS

List of Illustrations and diagrams xiii
Preface xv
Pronunciation Guide xvii
INTRODUCTION

1
I WHY WE SHOULD MEDITATE 5
The highest goal of meditation is God-Realization or experiencing the Ultimate Truth 7
Methods of God-realization-the four Yogas 12
II TEACHER AND STUDENT RELATIONSHIP 15
Why we need a teacher 15
The difficulty of finding a competent teacher and avoiding spurious ones 16
Characteristics of genuine spiritual teachers 20
Some tactics of fake spiritual teachers 30
What happens when a sincere spiritual seeker becomes a victim of a false teacher? 35
Sharaddha-a necessary ingredient of student life 36
III STEPS TO YOGA 37
Patanjali's eight-step discipline to Yoga 37
IV YAMA 39
1. Non-Killing 39
2. Truthfulness 41
3. Non-Stealing 45
4. Celibacy 46
Celibacy for monastics 46
Celibacy for married people 47
Other benefits of celibacy 47
Society and the practice of celibacy 49
Lustfulness and its varieties 49
Why lustfulness is harmful for spiritual life 50
5. Nonacceptance of unnecessary gifts 52
V NIYAMA 53
1. Keeping the body and mind clean 53
Pure mind-and how to acquire it 53
The three Gunas 54
The Gunas can only be known indirectly 54
Characteristics of the Gunas 54
The Gunas constitute the entire cosmos 56
Sattwa Guna is essential for purity of mind 56
Smskaras or impressions of past thoughts 57
How to eliminate Samskaras 57
A pure mind enables us to experience God 60
Maintaining physical cleanliness 61
2. Being content with the bare necessities of life 63
3. Getting used to physical and mental austerities 64
4. Regular study of the scriptures and chanting the holy name of God (Swadhyaya) 65
5. The practice of surrendering to God (Ishwara-pranidhana) 65
VI ASANA 69
VII PRANAYAMA 73
What is Pranayama? 73
Dangers associated with the practice of Pranayama 73
Necessary qualifications for a student of Pranayama 75
True meaning of the word Pranayama 76
A safer alternative to the practice of Pranayama 78
VIII PRATYAHARA 79
IX DHARANA 81
Dharana matures into Dhyana, and Dhyana into Samadhi 83
X DHYANA 85
Meditation is guided imagination of the real 86
What we meditate on, we become 88
Some lessons on meditation (Dhyana) 89
Where to meditate 90
What is the best time for meditation? 91
Words of caution 92
Preparation for meditation 93
How to start your meditation 94
Meditations according to Raja Yoga 94
First meditation 94
Second meditation 94
Third meditation 94
Forth meditation 95
Meditation according to Bhakti Yoga 95
Meditation according to Jnana Yoga 96
General points about all meditation techniques 96
XI OBSTACLES TO MEDITATION 97
Obstacles mentioned in Vedantasara 97
1. Sleep (Laya) 97
2. Wandering of the mind (Vikshepa) 98
3. Reluctance to practice meditation (Kashaya) 99
4. Getting stuck in an intermediate joyful spiritual experience (Rasa-Swada) 100
Nine obstacles mentioned by Patanjali 102
1. Disease (Vyadhi) 103
2. Lack of interest (Stayana) 103
3. Doubt (Samshaya) 103
4. Delusion (Pramada) 104
5. Lethargy (Alasya) 105
6. Reluctance to give up sense pleasures (Avirati) 105
7. Erroneous conception (Bhranti-darshana) 105
8. Non-attainment of any level of concentration (Alabdha-bhumikatwau) 106
9. Inability to retain a level of concentration once attained (Anavasthitatwa) 106
Five more subtle obstacles recognized by Patanjali 106
1. Ignorance of one's inherent divine nature (Avidya) 106
2. Egoism (Asmita) 107
3. Attachment (Raga) 108
4. Aversion (Dwesha) 108
5. Clinging to life (Abhinivesha) 110
Other obstacles experienced by spiritual aspirants 112
1. Temptation 112
2. Intense fear (Bhaya-bhairava) 112
Four physical and mental disturbances caused by an unconcentrated mind 113
1. Grief (Duhkha) 113
2. Despair (Daurmanasya) 114
3. Involuntary nervous trembling of the body (Anga-mejayatwa) 114
4. Irregular breathing (Shwasa-prashwasa-vikeshepa) 114
XII HAZARDS IN MEDITATION 115
Dangers caused by the keen mind of an advanced student of meditation 115
The danger of being critical of other 116
Craving praise & appreciation can be a hazard 117
The hazards of supernatural powers gained through the practice of meditation 119
XIII KUNDALINI POWER AND THE SIX CHAKRAS 123
XIV THE SANKHYA THEORY OF CREATION 129
XV SAMADHI 137
Samprajanata Samadhi 137
1. Savitarka Samadhi 137
2. Nirvitarka Samadhi 139
3. Savichara Samadhi 142
4. Nirvichara Samadhi 142
5. Sananda Samadhi 142
6. Asmita Samadhi 143
Asamprajanta Samadhi 143
XVI WHAT HAPPENS AFTER SAMADHI? 149
Different spiritual levels according to various Yoga sources 149
Only divine Incarnation can awake from Turyaga Samadhi 155
Recent examples of genuine saints and godmen who have had Samadhi 155
Shri Trailanga Swami (c 1737-1887) 157
Shri Ramakrishna (1836-1886) 157
Shri Ramana Maharshi (1880-1949) 159
How a Yogi's mind, dissolved in Brahman, can be brought back to the awareness of the world 161
The behavior of a knower of Brahman after Samadhi 163
XVII JAPA 167
The benefits of Japa 167
Three main techniques of Japa 168
Four other techniques of Japa 169
Bija-Mantra 170
Siddha-Mantra 170
How Japa helps in gaining control over the mind 172
How Japa purifies the mind 173
The necessity for patience and steadfastness in the practice of Japa 174
The technique of Spiritualizing secular activities 174
Japa leads to Dhyana and Samadhi 175
Japa is encouraged by Bhakti Yoga, Raja Yoga and Jnana Yoga 176
Obstacles and problems encountered in the practice of Japa 176
1. Boredom 176
2. Wandering of the mind (Vikshepa) 177
3. Sleep (Laya) 177
4. Unwelcome thoughts arising in the mind 178
5. Rejuvenated impressions of past thoughts (Samskaras) 182
XVIII JUDGING OUR WON SPIRITUAL PROGRESS 185
The Gunas explain human behavior 186
Signs and symptoms of genuine spiritual progress 187
Ashta Sattwika Vikara 189
XIX STRESS RELIEF 193
Understanding stress 193
Desire causes stress 194
A Yogic technique to relieve physical stress 196
Techniques to reduce mental stress 197
Managing stress through rational thinking 200
Getting rid of stress through positive comparisons 202
Managing stress through meditation 203
Preparing for the worst and trying to prevent it from happening 203
XX CONCLUDING REMARKS 205
APPENDIX A 209
meditation, Samadhi, and enlightenment shown through pictures & sculpture
APPENDIX B 217
Recommended reading
GLOSSARY 219
INDEX 235
About the Author 253

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