Customer Reviews

I Am That: The Science of Hamsa from the Vijnana Bhairava

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This is a very remarkabe and profound book. I will have to read it many times over in order to gain a fuller understanding of its wisdom. Nonetheless, it is very useful in that it reveals the mantra and its technique that the sages of India use to gain liberation. I find it very natural and elegant. The author claims it is the ultimate mantra.

Muktananada takes verse 24 of the Vijnana-bhairava Tantra and elaborates on it with a wide ranging commentary. He gives the basics of the process of how the breath works in helping us steady our thoughts and empty or fill our minds as required.

It is a very basic beginning as are most of his publications and those of Siddha Yoga. The serious student should go to the original Vijnana-bhairava by Jaideva Singh.

The key is to absorb the dharanas (centering techniques) that are obvious and over time as one's yogic study deepens, many of the others will become apparent. The Vijnana-bhairava was written as the original home-study, Self-study course revealed by Bhairava (God. The practice of any tantric technique is by it's very nature done by oneself.

I AM THAT is a spiritual classic by the Siddha Guru, Swami Muktananda. It clearly delineates the natural and spontaneous meditation of Hamsa, or the radiant life force flowing as the One breath breathing you. In traditional Buddhism, this simple awareness is known as anapanasati and is said to be the Buddha's final meditation before Awakening and the one he most highly recommended to his disciples.

HAMSA is dhyana (natural and spontaneous meditation) and jnana (direct recognition of Truth ). The Hamsa mantra balances the flow of life force so the Kundalini (the capacity of Consciousness to recognize Itself) safely awakens within us and unfolds so the jiva (apparent separate individual) recognizes its true nature as Shiva (the unborn formless Consciousness prior to and yet existing as everything). When this happens, parabhakti or unconditional love and devotion arises for all beings everywhere. As Baba Muktananda loved to point out, "Nothing exists that is not Shiva!" And that includes you! Read this book. It is about the true you.

Swami Muktananda has written numerous books, and this one is as good as all that I have read. He describes the "hamsa" or "so-ham" mantra and talks of how it is naturally occurring every day in everyone (for it is the mantra of the breath). I haven't done much with mantra in meditation, but this book has piqued my curiosity and I have found mantra to be rewarding. I would recommend Swami Muktananda's books to anyone interested in discovering the Self and practicing meditation. I would also strongly recommend The Heart of Meditation: Pathways to a Deeper Experience by Sally Kempton to anyone desiring to begin meditating. Excellent book! ...

The Heart of Meditation: Pathways to a Deeper Experience

Great book, specially for beginners who want to learn how to meditate! help to stay connected with the higher Self, to your own Heart