Raja-Yoga; Or, Conquering the Internal Nature

This is an incredible book on Patanjali by the yogi who introduced Indian religion to the West in 1897. Swami Vivekananda, my hero!

Raja Yoga is the King of Yogas. This book really enables you to understand how your mind processes information and how to conquer your own nature to exercise free will. The author Swami Vivekananda was both an enlightened soul and an elequent speaker. His words are powerfull!

Imagine a book that could change your life forever, for so little money. The amount is just secondary consideration, given the concept of Raja Yoga.About the author:Swami Vivekananda, one of the few philosophers who lived by what he taught (i dont want to use the word preach here), gives an authoritative commentary on RajaYoga - one of the four main yogas (the others being Jnana Yoga, Karma Yoga and Bhakti Yoga). The other 3 yoga books are basically a series of lectures by SV. But Raja Yoga is more than a lecture. Its roots are actually in Patanjali's Yoga Sutras. There are several good translations of YS, but SV's is the first (translated in mid 1890s when he was in Thousand Islands, NY) and the most comprehensive. The book:The first part explains the concept of Raja yoga. The second part is verbatim translation of YS with sanskrit text and additional commentary. The sutras by themselves reveal little meaning to a beginner. But when it is reflected from the minds of great people like SV, they reveal a deeper and significant meaning and suddenly everything becomes clear; the perspective of life has shifted a bit and one gains more confidence.I can not stress much of the value of the book in a single review, Raja Yoga is a companion to life. It is not limited to any particular person or religion. Anybody, even an atheist or communist can practice it. Raja Yoga is a set of principles that any man can follow to the "ultimate liberation". You dont have to practice all the principles. Just look at the effects of one of the principles - namely Asana (roughly = yogic postures) - yields in ones life. Yoga transforms a man. For eg, SV explains the difference between the "yogic sleep" and ordinary sleep. A thief goes into ordinary sleep and wakes up as a theif. But in yogic state a thief goes into, comes out a sage. This book is not for reading and adorning the bookshelf, but for thinking for oneself and determining a path of life.

It is an insightful look at Patanjali's yogasutras. These 'sutras' (principles) are gist of meditation guidelines given in the upanishads. Vivekanands, with his broad and deep knowledge of ancient literature provides a good expostion of these profound principles. The stimulating and magnetic style of Vivekanada's lectures and books is somehow not to be found in this book. The principles are difficult to understand by themselves and call for the direction of a teacher for correct understanding and Vivekananda fulfills this role very well.

It is an insightful look at Patanjali's yogasutras. These 'sutras' (principles) are gist of meditation guidelines given in the upanishads. Vivekanands, with his broad and deep knowledge of ancient literature provides a good expostion of these profound principles. The stimulating and magnetic style of Vivekanada's lectures and books is not to be found in this book. The principles are difficult to understand by themselves and call for the direction of a teacher for correct understanding and Vivekananda fulfills this role very well.

great book for the interested