It iswell written and the basic philosophy behind Kundalini is well explained in simple language (specially for the people who are not exposed to spiritual literature much).

This small book is an authentic commentry on shaktipat written by the greatest master of this century. You feel the energy while reading & it motivates you to learn more on this mystical subject. Written in simple language by the great great master.

His Holiness Srimat Swami Shivom Tirthji Maharaj answers popular questions asked by aspirants regarding the path of Kundalini Maha Yoga. The book is an indispensable aid to understanding the process of shaktipat diksha. It sheds light on the prerequisites; describes the different levels of diksha; explains the relationship of maha yoga to other yogic paths, scriptures,etc. An ideal introduction to the yoga of total surrender to the Divine Power. A Guide to Shaktipat is truly a blessing for sincere seekers. Also see Devatma Shakti by His Holiness Srimat Swami Vishnu Tirthji Maharaj.

The author is currently disciple of AMMACHI. The book is an autobiographical descritption of his spiritual journey. It is written in a simple, readable form. His journey starts with his father's death, when he did not feel grief like his relatives. Later he read about Ramana ( who also led to enquiry about death after his father's death). He writes candidly about the period when he was experimenting with meditation and having a live-in relationship. This discussion is crucial. Later he moves to India. He lives with Ratnaji of Ramana ashram. He learns all about Hindusim from Ratnaji. A interesting episode is how he goes back to America just to repair a tape recorder so that his guru can record Bhagavatam classes. He returns at once. His pligrimage in North gives a good understanding about human nature. He discusses about puja to Guru and it effects. The book's end discusses how he came to AMMA and took her as guru. Now he is back in AMERICA as AMMA's disciple. Now he visits India every year. ( I think he has written a sequel to this book). The book is easy to read; The author has neither ego nor special urge to be a writer.

After encountering a copy of the Bhagavad Gita, the author set out for the spiritual journey, which he persued with utmost sincerity and effort. He met good teachers which demanded a lot from him. He followed all advices of them, even if it cost all he could give in terms of mental adjustment or power. For a possible reader of the book is should be said at least, that the author was a longterm pupil of a pupil of Ramana Maharshi and finally became a pupil of Ammachi. But all the salutary and entertaining details, have to be read on ones own. The author talks also about his doubts on the way, which makes the book much more aceptable.

The book is a very candid narration of the spiritual journey of a western seeker. Any spiritually inclined person would benefit from the experiences of the author with the indian saints like Ratnamji, Nisargadatt Maharaj and Mata Amritanandamayi. His tough self disciplining, austere life, self correction and improvement with the help of the saints whom he met explains the nature of spiritual life.

The book ends with his meeting with Mata Amritanandamayi and Her changing the course of his life. His experiences with Mata Amritanandamayi, especially Her compassion towards him and all fellow beings and his accepting Her as his master(Guru) is very touching.

It is a very easy to read book.

People can I please advise you to make sure you are first very well established in the first 2 levels of Yoga before you embark on any Pranayama (breath-control). First be steeped in Yama(abstinences - alcohol, drugs, sex, meat, etc) and Niyama(observances - love, kindness, non-harm, patience, etc) before moving on to asans(postures) and especially pranayama. Every swami will tell you that if you are not living a committed Spiritual life in every respect, then practicing the 4th level of Yoga - breathing exercises, especially the advanced ones, can potentially be harmful. You should really only practice techniques like this within the framework of a spiritual society and Guru-disciple relationship. Breathing techniques force prana up the subtle spine, thus awakening higher and higher chakra's. This process should occur naturally and gradually as part of a disciplined spiritual life - it should not be forced.

This is a truly unbelievable book on advanced yoga. The greatest section of the book is the description of advanced (very advanced !) pranayama. Swami Rama first gives a lengthy explanation of the preparation for pranayama & nadi shodhanam. Then, he instructs you on how to achieve amazing spiritual transformation through extreme breath-holding. In what is surely the most fascinating section, Swami Rama describes, in detail, what happens to the body & energy of a yogi as he holds his breath for 5, 10, 13 or more minutes. Using Swami Rama's wisdom I have already achieved kumbhaka's (breath-holds) of over 7 minutes! What an amazing feeling to feel your heart rate drop to 20 beats per minute after 5 minutes! And the state of consciousness that ensues is of course indescribable. I have one suggestion: Get this book! (Swami Rama's 'Science of Breath' is a great companion book).

Absolutely a book of deepest wisdom and breath of knowledge. This treasure of a book combines yoga philosophy with very specific hatha yoga techniques. To those who wish to discover what a deeper practice of hatha can lead to, and for those who want specific guidelines into the process of deepening their practice, this book will deeply and eloquently, aid, transform, and inspire you.

This is a good book, but it is not exactly an easy book to use. The various sections are not clearly separated from one another, and the book really almost reads as one continuous piece from beginning to end at first glance.

The method of Kali worship outlined here is very traditional and very particular. There are many Hindu terms used, even in the English translation, where no explanation is given, and this is not particularly helpful either.

In short, this is really a book that is designed for the person who wishes to worship Kali in the way that the authors do, and the book probably goes well with their teachings. It will not be useful to someone who is not already familiar with Kali worship and Hinduism, and may in fact confuse them terribly.

The problem with the book and the teachings within is that they are not practical for the person who has to deal with everyday life. Very few people have the time, or can make the time, to do these worship exercises in the way this book recommends. The poetry that appears throughout the book is beautiful, but it is difficult to read, given the line by line translation of the text, which is given first in Sanskrit, then in phonetic Sanskrit, then in English.

Overall, I must admit, I found this book to be a disappointment, and I certainly would not recommend it for someone who is just being introduced to the Dark Goddess. This is a book that is very definitely oriented toward a particular type of Kali worship, and very specifically Kali worship as it is practiced and taught by Shree Ma and Swami Satyananda. If you are not a follower of those people or that particular path, this book may not be what you are looking for.

If you are a follower of Shree Ma and Swami Satyananda, this book of course will go well with your studies - and you will also have the benefit, I suppose, of other material provided by them that will explain some of the terms not translated in the book, as well as the reasoning behind why the rituals are conducted in this way.

However, without this knowledge, this beautiful book is quite difficult, and I suspect even if one was a student of the teachers named above, the lack of any sort of layout, section, or chapter separation would be daunting. Perhaps it would have been better to release the book simply with the English translation by itself, and provide a separate section with the Sanskrit and the phonetically translated Sanskrit text.

For someone discovering Kali I would probably recommend Lex Hixon's "Mother of the Universe" before this. This book is primarily useful for disciples of Shree Ma and Swami Satyananda; others will find it difficult.

KALI PUJA
by Swami Satyanananda Saraswati and Shree Maa

For those of you who want to worship the Holy Mother as Kali this is a great book to get. It offers a traditional way of worshipping Kali. You will learn the mantras, the mudras, traditional worship and tantric offerings to Kali. It is written in Sanskrit, Roman phonetic translation, and in english. I do wish the Roman phonetic translation was more understandable. Also I wish that they listed all the things that are required for the diffrent sections of this book as well, otherwise its a wonderful book on the Worship of Kali. You can do this book all the way through which will take hours or do a chapter or two at a time. The chapters are: Kali Puja, Sankalpa, Ganesha Puja, Kali Dhyanam, Adya Stotram, Puja Naivdeya- Offerings of worship, Adya Kalikadevyah Shatanama Stotram, Kali Kavacam, Sri Kalisahasranama Stotram, Consecration of Tantric Offerings, Gharbha Dhana Viddhi, Mudras for Worship. The Mudras are hand signals that are used to call the diety into yourself are call forth the ancestors. The Ganesha Puju is a small chapter in calling Ganesha and worshipping him the son of the Divine to remove all obstacles and to announce your desire to worship Kali. Sometimes when i can not pronounce the mantras in the sanskrit I use the english translations mixed with the Sanskrit or should i say the Roman phonetic translations.
From the back of the book
Kali is the Goddess who takes away darkness. She cuts down all impurities, consumes all iniquities (evil) purifies Her devotess with the sincerity of Her Love. Now we can worship Her according to the ancient tradition. Kali puja is a treasure house of Her Wisdom. It contains abundance Kali's living tools for living: Her sattvic worship, Her Hundred Names, Her Thousand Names, Her Armor, the mantras for offering bhanga, alcohol, animal sacrifice and how to give birth to spiritual children. These offerings have great spirtual significance when preformed with the mantras which explain the meanings and appropiate circumstances for such worship. Shree Maa, the Respected Holy Mother from Kamakhya in Assam, has devoted her entire life to the worship of the Divine Mother. Swami Satyananda Saraswati has translated numerous volumes of Samskrita Scriptures published in India and abroad, and both are teachers respected around the world. Kali Puja is presented in the original Samskrita, a Romanized phonetic transliteration, and a complete English Translation. This is without doubt the first time that many of these mantras have been translated from their original language. At last the rest of the world is invited more deeply into the mystery of the Divine Mother.
This is a great book as now the secrets have been revealed! Finaly we the rest of this world can worship Ma Kali traditionally. There is no other book that I know of today that gives details into the worship of the Mother like this, at least not one that is published in English.
Despite my two gievences with this book it deserves 5 stars

An excerpt: "She who is pleased as the autumn moon, She whose purity shines in her lotus eyes. She who has great laugh in extreme pleasure, she who speaks words of remembrance, She who has excellent expression, she whose lotus lips smile" ~~ This book contains many such mantras and prayers....you could open to any page and find something peaceful, insightful..and motivating. This book will not tell you about the history of Kali, this book is more of experiencing Kali through meditative mantras /prayers....
I open this book at random , usually before bed...for something to ease any stress or thoughts of the day...I highly recommend this book to devotees of Kali, but make sure to also get a historical book as well!

As an avid Tantra reader and follower of Eastern philosophies I was delightfully surprised by the quality of the illustrations, pictures and approach to Tantra in this book. It is a must have for anyone remotely interested in this fantastic Art.

Excellent book, it's very clear and helpful. It's not only a book about sex, it's about life and its connection with the universe. If you like Tantra you should buy this book, you'll like it.

This book has much hidden depth and we found profound meditations.

We are a couple who married for the "wrong" reasons after knowing each other 3 weeks and now 4 years later have a son and a respectful and loving relationship. Tantra and recently this book have allowed love and a deep connection between us to flourish.

We are proof that soul mates can come about by concious exercises such as the ones in this wonderful book and not through the flimsy and romantic belief that there is "one" special person out there...

This is an edition of the Gita unlike any I've seen. At first the poetic approach caught me off guard, but when I read a bit I found it very entertaining. The discipline of the meter and rhyme brings the verses into a 'sutra' (nutshell) form, and considering the involved subject matter, the writer does it very well.

The interpretation strongly favors the personal God, clearly the proper and most illuminating view of the Bhagavad-gita.

For me this compact, enjoyable, and uplifting book is a perfect companion on long trips.

I am 17 and didn't exaclty find poetry of much interest to me till I read Bhagavad Gita THE SONG DIVINE. I recommend this book for anyone who likes to read, it is a pleasent addition to ones library or backpack (if you are a student like me).

sincerly,
Harry Jaganath.

This book is a real treasure! Its rhyming verses make the Gita fun to read, especially out loud with friends or family. I've found my kids are very attracted to it, whereas the more philosophical versions seem boring to them. (Mitchell's version was a complete dud!) The verses tell the complete story of this important and instructive meeting between Krishna and Arjuna, condensing it without leaving out anything essential. The profound spiritual messages of the Gita come through loud and clear, yet Woodham's brilliant couplets make it palatable even to those whose interest in spirituality isn't very strong. This is just the kind of book I'll love to give as a gift to young people, old friends, relatives of all ages---even myself! The price is right, and it's very attractively put together. That combined with its entertainment factor makes this a highly recommended choice.

I read many of Muktananda's books and this is an excellent introduction to anyone who craves the experience of "knowing" God. Although Muktananda has passed on, his personal account of the process of having a Guru as his guide was enlightening. It lead me to read "The One Minute Guide to Prosperity and Enlightenment" by Sri Siva, a modern day Siddha Guru who now travels around the world with a similar message for the sincere spiritual aspirant. Both authors emphasize the importance of having a Guru to safely guide the person through the process of "knowing" God. In the world today, there are many teachers, though few who have first-hand experience of "knowing" God in their lives. Both authors lead us to that "knowing" God state and the world around us is forever changed!

It is difficult to put into words what is contaned within this book, many who have read it, myself included, find it more of an experince, than just a read. A subject that can often be laborious to comprehend, Muktananda weaves into a colorful, amazing, stimulating and often unbelievably true tale. I found myself mesmerized and willing to set the book down only when I was so saturated with his energy that I would pass out. A deffinate recommend and a great gift to anyone who is on a spiritual path..

So many of us yearn to know God, to know the Truth, to know our own Self. Yet, the way is often concealed or murky. What would we give to actually experience it? What would we give to know what to expect on the journey to the Self? Play of Consciousness is an extraordinary book. Each time I read this book, I am drawn into a deep state of meditation and experience my own inner perfection. Again and again, Play of Consciousness gives me courage to move forward in my own spiritual journey. Such is the greatness of Swami Muktananda. Not only did he live established in his own perfection, but through every word, every action, every thought, he imparted his attainment to all and encouraged us to keep progressing. Those receptive to the grace and love contained in this masterpiece, will surely experience their own true greatness and perfect love. What a blessing to humanity it is to have a detailed account of the spiritual journey and divine attainment of this extraordinary Siddha, or perfected being.

I want to tell prospective readers about the character of this book, because I should never have bought it if I had been able to pick it off a shelf and look inside. The back cover describes it as 'a modern day application of these classical teachings', but apart from that we would not know how debased the style is. Many people will want their introduction to the Puranas to be on some level of grace and dignity. Some quotations follow.

Sure, Mohini. That's a wonderful idea. Here's the nectar.... We were tricked, ripped off!... Hey Daksa, do you know who you're talking to? This is not just an ordinary hippie to whom you speak...I will show that Siva, I will fix him!... Uh, uh, He is at Kailasa. He just sent me down to say 'Hello'.... Boooo! what kind of father are you?... Okay, King, be free from pain.... Indra said, 'It will come in handy.'

This is the way these ancient and eternal stories are rendered, apparently to attract children raised on Disney and McDonald's. But even here the author is going to fail, because each page is bristling with diacritical marks which only a Sanskrit scholar can interpret. A lot of gross mispronunciation is going to result from the author's hardline Sanskrit notation. Chandra will be pronounced Kandra; Shiva will be pronounced Siva; Satchitananda will be pronounced Satsitananda. It's a odd vision the author has of his ideal readership: a mother versed in Sanskrit, reading aloud to her culturally-challenged child.

This fun and inspirational collection of mythology takes the reader on a transformational journey as the characters battle the forces of duality, take refuge in the divine and fulfill their dharma, the ideal of perfection we all seek to follow. A great introduction to the wisdom of the Vedas and Upanishads, from the marriage of Shiva and Parvati to the birth of Krisna and much more. Swami Satyananda Saraswati does a beautiful job conveying the knowledge and bliss of these ancient Indian myths. It's a blessing to find such wisdom available in our modern western society. I would recommend sharing these short stories with the entire family. It was a great joy reading Swami Purana and I plan to read it again and again.

The Swami Purana, written and translated with unparalleled erudition and devotion by Swami Satyananda Saraswati, is a brilliant anthology of some of the tales that illustrates the wisdom and classical teachings of the "Sanatana Dharma." This particular collection of folklore is an excellent resource for people from all walks of life, from those who are scholars in the field to those who are looking for an introduction to Hinduism. Swamiji provides us with a handy and clear explanation of Sanskrit pronunciation in all his books, including this one. The stories themselves exist on several layers of meaning. One could read them as mythology or allegory, depending on the context. However one chooses to read the Swami Purana, all will derive great enjoyment and pleasure and will learn much about the vast and rich heritage of Hinduism.

good introduction for student inquiry on eastern thought. Written in a way of the reader journeying with the author into this dimension. Gave me much too think about and consider.

I read this book first in about 1976 and have not found a similar book as complete in it's descriptions and fascinating in it exlpanation of the phenomena beyond our five ordinary senses. Hopefully more recent editions contain some information about Swami Panchadasi. My copy printed in India does not even have a publication date! So glad to see this rare book available again!

I want to say it again, this book is tiny (just incase you haven't read the dimensions yet), but a fascinating read. This book is written a little cryptically as it seems was the fasion back in the twentys, and for the obvious time differance it is also written the formal english of the time. So because of my other research on the subject some of the first few chapters seemed to be miss leading to some degree on how it talks in definites, though if you read this small book in its entirety (which is quite easy to do, and to enjoy it while you do so) you will walk away understanding the Astral with a good amount of detail. There is hordes and hordes of information that this book doesn't cover... this book covers very well just what actually makes up the "dimensions" of the Astral that is a small overview of only the astral realm (first realm is "physical", second the realm of force, the third realm is astral, forth mental... and it doesn't really even talk much of the other three realms of light or higher realms, except that it covers the fact they they exist) This book doesn't go into detail of what type of beings are on the differant realms except in so much as what stage of being that a human would be at and what the human would likely experience to some degree when his nature time comes to experience a certain area of the Astral.
The book was excellent for what it was and I bought it used, I would recommend it for those who are serious in study and want another way to look at the universe, I wouldn't buy it if you are just looking to astral travel and want a road map and instructions.

I'm in my 20's but I love children's books. This one is very touching and written from a different slant. I think parents would enjoy it too.

Max in India has fantastic illustration art and offbeat textwith lots of play-on-words. Most kids (especially as young as the "4-8" range)will not be able to relate to this tale of a man/dog pondering the meaning of life while expecting his first offspring. It's more like a fun gift book for adults or maybe older kids/teens with an interest in India, art or philosophy. My six-year-old liked the pictures but didn't get anything out of the story.

Max Stravinsky (poet, dreamer, dog) is back in full color in a charming romp through India's exotic locales and treasures. As he anxiously pursues the "meaning of life," Max encounters Kalman's usual eccentrically lovable characters and valid lessons. This book can be read BY youngsters or read TO them, but it is the inner child in the adult who benefits the most. Throw away those dime-store psychological self-help tomes...and let Kalman's magic combination of drawings and delicious vocabulary make you a Swami for life!