Going Back To The Absolute – Swami Vivekananda
The theory of eternal progression is untenable, for destruction is the goal of everything earthly. All our struggles and hopes and fears and joys, what will they lead to? We shall all end in death. Nothing is so certain as this. Where, then, is this motion in a straight line — this infinite progression? It…
Why Should You Never Hate & the Importance of Love – SwamiVivekananda
Swami Vivekananda in his book Raja Yoga discusses the nature of creation and beautifully describes the positive effects of love and the problem with hate. This is an excerpt from one of the chapters. It seems the consensus of opinion of the great minds of the world, and it has been nearly demonstrated by researches…
Raja Yoga in Brief by Swami Vivekananda
The following is a summary of Raja-Yoga freely translated from the Kurma-Purana by Swami Vivekananda in his book Raja Yoga. The fire of Yoga burns the cage of sin that is around a man. Knowledge becomes purified and Nirvana is directly obtained. From Yoga comes knowledge; knowledge again helps the Yogi. He who combines in…
Dhyana and Samadhi by Swami Vivekananda
In order to reach the superconscious state in a scientific manner it is necessary to pass through the various steps of Raja-Yoga. After Pratyahara and Dharana, we come to Dhyana, meditation. When the mind has been trained to remain fixed on a certain internal or external location, there comes to it the power of flowing…
Superconsciousness Explained by Swami Vivekananda
Superconsciousness and a means to achieve it have been beautifully explained by Swami Vivekananda in his book Raja Yoga. We see, as human beings, that all our knowledge which is called rational is referred to consciousness. My consciousness of this table, and of your presence, makes me know that the table and you are here.…
Dharana Basics by Swami Vivekananda
After you have practised Pratyahara for a time, take the next step, the Dharana, holding the mind to certain points. What is meant by holding the mind to certain points? Forcing the mind to feel certain parts of the body to the exclusion of others. For instance, try to feel only the hand, to the…
Pratyahara Basics – Withdrawal of Senses by Swami Vivekananda
You know how perceptions come. First of all there are the external instruments, then the internal organs acting in the body through the brain centres, and there is the mind. When these come together and attach themselves to some external object, then we perceive it. At the same time it is a very difficult thing…
The Monkey Mind – Swami Vivekananda
Swami Vivekananda in his classic Raja Yoga compares the mind to a mad monkey. There was a monkey, restless by his own nature, as all monkeys are. As if that were not enough some one made him drink freely of wine, so that he became still more restless. Then a scorpion stung him. When a…
Pranayama Exercises and Rising of Kundalini – Swami Vivekananda
The exercises in Pranayama have been detailed out in the chapter titled The Control Of The Psychic Prana in the book Raja Yoga by Swami Vivekananda. We have seen that the first step, according to the Yogis, is to control the motion of the lungs. What we want to do is to feel the finer…
Kundalini Basics – Swami Vivekananda
Kundalini is a coiled up energy at the base of the spine. According to the Yogis, there are two nerve currents in the spinal column, called Pingala and Ida, and a hollow canal called Sushumna running through the spinal cord. At the lower end of the hollow canal is what the Yogis call the “Lotus…
Prana – Raja Yoga by Swami Vivekananda
Pranayama is not, as many think, something about breath; breath indeed has very little to do with it, if anything. Breathing is only one of the many exercises through which we get to the real Pranayama. Pranayama means the control of Prana. Akasha According to the philosophers of India, the whole universe is composed of…
Raja Yoga First Steps by Swami Vivekananda
Raja-Yoga is divided into eight steps. The first is Yama — non – killing, truthfulness, non – stealing, continence, and non – receiving of any gifts. Next is Niyama — cleanliness, contentment, austerity, study, and self – surrender to God. Then comes Asana, or posture; Pranayama, or control of Prana; Pratyahara, or restraint of the…