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Meditation, Mind & Patanjali's Yoga: A Practical Guide to Spiritual Growth for Everyone

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Meditation is a topic that has both cosmic relevance and cosmic resonance. In spite of its universal appeal, for most people total control of mind remains an elusive goal and daunting task. From time immemorial, there have been many attempts throughout the world to unlock the mysteries of the mind and to achieve total control over it through a variety of techniques. One of the most powerful of these techniques is meditation. In his book, Meditation, Mind and Patanjali¡¯s Yoga, Swami Bhaskarananda provides a clear and concise exposition of the theory and practice of meditation to a global audience. The book is based primarily on the methods of mind control developed by the ancient Hindu sage Patanjali who had mastered the secrets of the human mind. Swami Bhaskarananda adds much more to his discussion of meditation beyond Patanjali¡¯s famous aphorisms by drawing from the experiences of many spiritual leaders, sages, saints, and holy people such as Buddha, Sri Ramakrishna, Sri Sarada Devi, and Swami Vivekananda. The author liberally uses anecdotes and familiar examples from contemporary life to illustrate and illuminate abstruse or esoteric points.

The book consists of a brief introduction and twenty short chapters. Chapter I sets forth the rationale for meditation. The focus of the next chapter is the teacher-student relationship in the practice of meditation. Chapter III outlines Patanjali¡¯s eight-step discipline to yoga and Chapters IV-X elaborate on these steps. Obstacles to and hazards in meditation are discussed in Chapters XI and XII, respectively. The well-known, but widely misunderstood, concept of kundalini power is the subject of Chapter XIII. The Sankhya theory of creation is briefly examined in the next chapter. A lucid discussion of Samadhi in its multiple forms constitutes Chapter XV. The post-Samadhi state is explained in the next chapter. The three chapters that follow discuss Japa, spiritual progress, and stress relief, in that order. Concluding remarks are offered in Chapter XX.

This is not a book for those who are looking for miracle mind control or ¡°power¡± yoga. Rather, it is intended for the true aspirants who are willing to diligently and earnestly practice the tried, tested, and time-honored techniques of meditation. The value of this highly instructive book is further enhanced by its many user-friendly features. These include the illustrations and photographs of sages and saints who have achieved Samadhi through meditation, a comprehensive glossary, and a detailed index. A list of recommended books for further reading is another appealing feature of this volume. In summary, the clear, concise, and non-technical discussion of the art and science of meditation, including many practical suggestions, makes this volume a must-have for any serious student and practitioner of meditation.

Meditation, Mind & Patanjali's Yoga; A Practical Guide to Spiritual Growth for Everyone is a clearly written guide to the subject of meditation. The book is comprehensive and well organized and covers all facets of the subject matter.
I found the book to be an easy and pleasant read that was interesting from the first page all the way to the last. Swami Bhaskarananda writes in a style that is clear and easy to understand. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the subject of Meditation.

I have read several commentaries on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, and I find this book to be one of the best. It is a wonderful introduction to Meditation and Yoga, especially for westerners. Many people want to know more about meditation, and it is good to have such a clear and consise source of information. Meditation and Hinduism are vast subjects, and the reader is often duanted by the scope of available material on them. Swami Bhaskarananda helps the reader to sift through the vast jungle of Indian Philosophy and gets to the core of meditation practice. His analogies and anecdotes make it a pleasant read as well as being informative.

Swami Bhaskarananda covers a wide range of topics, from stress relief to samadhi. Any reader can extract practical guidance from this book due to the frank discussion of human psychology. Charming analogies occur frequently, such as this one:

"The average person's mind is like the rug in a living room. Over the years a lot of dust accumulates under the rug, but the dirt remains completely hidden. ... To improve the quality of the mind, ... elimination of these [hidden] defects is absolutely necessary." (pp 205-6)

The text is supplemented by photographs and useful line drawings such as "Correct posture for meditation."

In Meditation, Mind and Patanjali's Yoga Swami Bhaskarananda was able to draw out the essence of Patanjali's teachings and present them with clarity and wisdom. I recommend this book to any Yoga teacher, student, or meditater looking for a deeper understanding of Yoga. The chapters on meditation are exquisite. Swami Bhaskarananda gives clear instructions on the basics of meditation, while guiding the reader through the possible pitfalls and benefits of the practice. Swami Bhaskarananda teaches with humor and wisdom, making these ancient practices accessible to all who pick up the book. Buy two, they make great gifts!

This book is immensely practical. Spiritual aspirants, longing for guidance, shall find this book "Meditation, Mind and Patanjali's Yoga" a masterpiece as it illustrates the steps to follow for spiritual growth. Each chapter is very well explained. The book contains examples which are understood intellectually and can be practiced.

Rev. Swami Bhaskarananda, like any great teacher, has offered his recommendations for aspirants by placing himself in their shoes and answered questions which can occur to their minds. A must-read for any spiritual aspirant.

This is a most concise and comprehensive treatise on meditation in the Indian tradition, written with lucidity by a Hindu Monk from India who teaches meditation in United States. The sections on the obstacles to meditation are a must - read for all who practise meditation, and the author's advice on how to find a good teacher should be immensely helpful to those spiritual aspirants who are seeking spiritual guidance.

What makes this book stand out from other books on the fundamentals of Hinduism is its lucidity - even readers who have little background knowledge of Hinduism would not have problem understanding it.
The Author, a Hindu Monk from India who teaches in the United States, has taken care to make sure that no basic concept is left unexplained, and this he does with admirable conciseness.

This is the best introduction to Vedantic Meditation I have read. It is both comprehensive and concise. Highly recommended

A must read for any individual to catalyze the best out of life while practicing yoga in any form.

This book does not describe ANY detailed steps for any yoga asana.

A must for every one irrespective any religion leanings and whether s/he intends to set on a yogic path or not.

All these years I was advised by my peers and elders not to read Patanjali as it is only for serious practitioners. I say I was misled all these years - understanding the basic grounds before practicing yoga will definitely make life more meaningful while enjoying the practice of yoga.

Besides identifying the need for meditation in life and the yogic asanas required to accomplish samadhi, the teachings in this book instil a sense of general dharmic philosophies of life.

As for coverage of yogic asanas - there are no references to any specific yog'asana, but the narrative references all holistic aspects of yama, niyama, panayama, pratyahara, dhyana (meditation) etc.

Reading the book will immensely help in understanding and respecting the tradition of yoga as a prelude (Prequel) to meditation.

The language used is very lucid, concise and to the point with valid references that drive home the points as needed.

I am gifting this book to my son(16) who is showing keen interest in eastern philosophies and traditions. This will be his second book after 'Autobiography of a Yogi - Swamy Yogananda Paramahamsa'.