How to Know God: The Yoga Aphorisms of Patanjali [Paperback]

Swami Prabhavananda (Author), Christopher Isherwood (Author), Patanjali (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 12, 2007

The Yoga Aphorisms of Patanjali is a major work on the practice of yoga and meditation. Through these ancient aphorisms you will learn how to control your mind and achieve inner peace and freedom. Although these methods were taught over 2,000 years ago, they are as alive and effective today as they have ever been. The 2008 edition has been reset and now has an extensive index for reference.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A rendering at once lively and profoundly instructive of a world classic which ... remains as vividly topical, as realistically to the point, as when it first saw the light. --- Aldous Huxley, author of Brave New World --Letter from the Author... beautiful translation, and our personal favorite by far. --Books for Inner Development:...The Soul does not love; It is Love Itself. It Does not Exist; It is Existence Itself. It does not Know; It is Knowledge Itself.--- Patanjali --Quoted by George Harrison in his final album

A beautiful translation, and our personal favorite by far. --Books for Inner Development

The Soul does not love; It is Love Itself. It Does not Exist; It is Existence Itself. It does not Know; It is Knowledge Itself.--- Patanjali --Quoted by George Harrison in his final album

About the Author

The translators have written numerous books on Indian philosophy that speak directly to the western audience. Swami Prabhavananda founded the Vedanta Society of Southern California

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Vedanta Press & Bookshop (December 12, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0874810418
• ISBN-13: 978-0874810417
• Product Dimensions: 4.9 x 6.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (46 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #31,019 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #45 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Hinduism

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 40 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent translation, fair commentary January 27, 2003

By U. G. Desai

Format:Paperback

Swami Prabhavananda has done an excellent job of translating the sutras into understandable sentences - something that surpasses 90% of all other translators, and for this reason alone the book should be in everyone's library. The commentary however reaches neither the depth of of Satchidananda's "Sutras" nor the the burning insights of McAfee's "Beyond the Siddhis". It is obscure and sometimes confusing. All in all, however, an excellent book to add to the true seeker's bag of tricks.

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Gem of a Book September 15, 2006

By Brad VanAuken

Format:Paperback

The Yoga Sutras (thread of aphorisms) of Patanjali are one of the six darshanas of the Hindu or Vedic schools. "How to Know God" is a beautiful translation of those. The book is relatively short (pocket sized with just over 200 pages) and very readable. It offers one of the clearest explanations of the practice of yoga and meditation that I have read. It is surprisingly practical. I value it almost as much as I do "The Art and Science of Raja Yoga: Fourteen Steps to Higher Awareness: Based on the Teachings of Paramhansa Yogananda" and Osho's "The Book of Secrets: 112 Keys to the Mystery Within" as a practical guide to specific meditation techniques. For those who have a Christian background, the book references familiar Christian concepts, making the book all the more readable for the typical Westerner. While one can read the entire book in one sitting (and maybe this is a useful strategy for its first reading), I prefer to digest it slowly, contemplating and savoring each aphorism. I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to enter into a deeper level of spiritual consciousness.

37 of 39 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars ancient but ever new, always true September 1, 2002

By Orva Schrock

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

over 1500 years ago the great indian sage, Patanjali, compiled these yoga aphorisms as a help and guide to his fellow humans. in the cosmic scheme of things 1500 years is the blink of an eye, and so it is these wise sayings remain fresh and workable for the modern lover of spiritual wisdom. the aphorisms stand on their own as originally given to the world. succint, vital, the feel of eternal truth is in them. to read and meditate on these sayings is to go another step closer to your own realization that indeed, it is only ignorance which stops us from seeing the reality of the Atman as One with eternal Brahman, the "satchitananda" or existance, conciousness, bliss, the eternal ground of all that is or ever could be. this beautiful classic is further enhanced by the translation and commentaries of the dynamic duo, swami prabhavananda and christopher isherwood. modern ideas about god and truth come and go, this book has stood the test of time and remains ever new because it's true. i highly recommend this little book to anyone interested in the light that comes when Truth is seen.