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How to Know God, The Yoga Aphorisms of Patanjali

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Although this book is a study of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, it will appeal to devotees of any religion--Hindu, Christian, or Buddhism--or to anyone interested in living a spiritual life. It is not so much a "how-to" guide in knowing God--for "there are innumerable approaches to him" (p. 66), as an examination of knowing one's real Self.

Patanjali's Sutras are dated sometime between the fourth century B.C. and the fourth century A.D. (p. 7), and they offer methods for gaining insights through our own experience into "the Godhead, the Reality which underlies this apparent, ephemeral universe" (p. 15). He observes that in order to know God, one must first cease identifying himself with the mind (p. 213). Our liberation, he tells us, is "retarded" by our past karmas, our fears and desires, our lack of energy (p. 52), our egotism, ignorance, and blind clinging (p. 55), and by such obstacles as sickness, mental laziness, sloth, doubts and despair (p. 64). However, the good news is that no effort to know God, however small, is wasted (p. 52), for God draws us to himself (p. 54). With a little exploration, it is possible to know God everywhere, "both within and without, instantly present and infinitely elsewhere, the dweller in the atom and the abode of all things" (p. 33).

Although I am not qualified to comment on their translation of Patanjali, Christopher Isherwood and Swami Prabhavananda's Vendantist commentary offers worthwhile insights into Patanjali's Sutras.

G. Merritt

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.

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.

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.

I never had much interest in Hinduism until I read this book. After, I was fascinated.

I can even go as far as to say that this book changed me. I've always been interested in philosophy and the more philosophic religions like Buddhism, but I've never been keen on religion. After this book, I had a new appreciation for religion, including things I'd previous not liked about Christianity. By stepping outside of western thought and language, I could better understand western religion. The book also draws a lot of parallels between the New Testament and Vedantic thought, directly aiding that understanding.

Isherwood and his companions were the "first wave" Eastern enthusiasts in America, active on the west coast in the forties. The depth of understanding and nuance in the Vendanta was lost somewhat in the new age pop-spirituality of the sixties and the resulting noise in the zeitgeist from that era still makes it hard to find good coverage of that topic. This is book provides great coverage, free from populist noise.

After reading this book, I felt like a committed yogi for a week or so. It is an absolute favorite of mine, joining The Diamond Sutra, The Dhammapada and the Tao Teh Ching. I would love a Shambala pocket edition- I have a "little" library of about 10 of those tiny books now (mostly Shambala).

It's enlightening to read these and then taking a shot at Wittgenstein and other philosophers of language. Then the history of Western philosophy feels like a slow deconstruction of bad ideas that finally leaves you with Vedic truths conceived over 3000 years ago.

Swami Prabhavananda and Christopher Isherwood have collaborated to create this simple and yet poignant translation and commentary of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras.

The Yoga Sutras which were written approximately 2000 years ago and form the basis for the Yogic tradition. Originally, the Sutras were passed down orally (Sutra in Sanskrit means "thread")with commentary from the teacher or master. Isherwood is a masterful writer and clearly captures the essence of this tradition in both the cadence and style of the work. Much of the commentary is borrowed from greatly esteemed Vivekananda whose deep wisdom and honest razor sharp insight are true gift.

There are many translations of the Yoga Sutras, some arguably more literal, scholarly, and technically accurate. However, this work is one of the most accessible, and beautifully captures the essence and wisdom of the work.

"How to Know God" was my first look into the world of mysticism and yoga. I would have never dreamed how it would change my life."

Most books on religion have been a turn-off. I'm not into "being saved" and other emotion-filled events that won't happen to me.If religion can't be sensible and rational, I'm not interested.If that's how you feel, this may be the book for you. Highly recomended.

How To Know God makes the ancient wisdom and inspiration of the yogi, Patanjali, come alive with with insight and practical applications for the modern world. More than just an interpretation of Patanjali's teachings on the subject of yoga, the book is a "how to" guide for spiritual seekers who want to practice the techniques and experience the mental and spiritual benefits of a science that has served mankind for thousands of years

It took 1 year to read this book, and I can honestly say it changed my life completely. What a gift I just happened to stumble upon during a visit to the Chopra Center in early 2004. This should be required reading for anyone, of any denomination, seeking the spiritual path. There are no words to describe how highly I recommend this book! A MUST for ALL libraries!

The title "How to Know God" may throw some people off, especially those brought up in religions that teach, perhaps inadvertently, to personify god or view "Him" as an object outside of oneself to whom one may pray and ask favors.

The "God" referred to in this concise book is not any objectified god or diety. It is none other than you, the one who is now reading this book review. Or more accurately we can say it is the aspect of each of us that is behind all the "stuff" that occludes our pure underlying nature, soul, or Atman. Reaching that pure self with the full, radiant energy of awareness is the fundamental goal of all yogas. Hence, this book's title--a detailed guide on how to know god.

A compact and accurate guide to the advanced 'limbs' of Ashtanga/Raja/Kundalini yoga. I highly recommend this book for the serious yoga practitioner.