Yoga and Psychotherapy: The Evolution of Consciousness [Paperback]

Swami Rama (Author), Swami Ajaya (Author), Rudolpy Ballentine (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 8, 1976

Provides and in-depth analysis of Western and Eastern models of the mind and their differing perspectives.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A very fortunate marriage of yoga, medicine and psychology." -- Stanislav Grof, M.D.

"The presentation is clear, free of spiritual and psychological jargon and obviously informed by extensive clinical practice." -- Brain Mind Bulletin

"This superb work is probably the best book presently available on what might be called Yoga Clinical Psychology ... marvelously clear and concise ... The book is outstanding (and non-doctrinaire), from its fine introduction to its solid bibliography. In summary, this is a must read." -- Journal of Transpersonal Psychology

Product Details

• Paperback: 332 pages
• Publisher: Himalayan Institute Press; 1st edition (February 8, 1976)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0893890367
• ISBN-13: 978-0893890360
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #45,264 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Enlightening Concepts, February 25, 2006

By 

P. Lubrecht (Cleveland, OH) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Yoga and Psychotherapy: The Evolution of Consciousness (Paperback)

If you have ever tried to conceptualize the difference between the brain and the mind this book will be of great interest. I was also fascinated with the author(s) description of the psychotic, the nuerotic, and the mystic. I believe this book will be appreciated by anyone who has enjoyed studying psychology and wants to continue the study as it progresses after the achievement of a healthy ego.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An extraordinary synthesis of Eastern and Western thinking, July 26, 2008

By 

Daniel R. Wilson "Just Another Reader" (Tucson) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Yoga and Psychotherapy: The Evolution of Consciousness (Paperback)

It's easy to get overwhelmed in the study of the structure of consciousness. We can start with the symbolic and highly poetic images from the Bhagavad Gita and Rumi. We can plunge into the esoteric, nearly impenetrable treatises on the arcane aspects of yoga and meditation with all the chakras and sheaths and such. We can lose ourselves in the wealth of western psychological advice about self-actualization, avoiding neurotic behavior, and disciplining our self-talk. We can vicariously sit in on those immensely profound conversations with Krishnamurti, trying to learn from his cool, intellectual analysis of the real and the unreal.

But the question remains. How can these wildly divergent sources of help be woven together into a comprehensible whole?

One way is to get two swamis and a western-trained medical doctor together to create a blended presentation of all these traditions. That is exactly what this book provides.

The authors describe how they worked through their own confusion, often staying up all night in the process. The result is "a comprehensive theory of personal evolution which incorporates the best of both systems [east and west]."

I thank them for overcoming their confusion because the book helps me overcome mine. This book is dense and challenging, but it rewards the hard work of anyone who studies it diligently. I recommend it highly.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A revolution in psychology., October 14, 2008

By 

Rafal Gadomski (Warsaw, POLAND) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Yoga and Psychotherapy: The Evolution of Consciousness (Paperback)

Really an amazing book, which opens your mind to completely new dimensions. By simply reading it you can get cured of various misunderstandings about the nature of your mind and incorrect reasoning. Through binding the ancient Indian way of understanding mind processes with the modern psychology of Western kind it widens the horizons of modern psychology and psychotherapy - which since is no more binded and kept away from the spiritual sheath.