Brief description

Widely acknowledged as a masterpiece of prose, philosophy and translation, Aesthetic Vedanta beautifully illuminates the timeless Sanskrit poem Rasa-lila, the sacred love affair of Radha and Krishna. Since its release in 1998, Aesthetic Vedanta has continually been one of the best-selling and most respected books on classic Hindu spiritual eroticism . Interspersed with original poetry and renderings of medieval verse of several Hindu mystics, this book reveals the means to access the spiritual reality of Rasa-lila.

Aesthetic Vedanta speaks to us of a tradition that is practical and profoundly beautiful, replete with visualization, ritual, song, and dance, both affirming and spiritualizing the erotic principle that lies within our souls.

"I'm so glad to have Aesthetic Vedanta to spell out the theology of rasa-lila. We've waited a long time for someone this accomplished in Sanskrit -this schooled in yoga - to set forth its tender philosophy."

- Andrew Schelling. Naropa Institute, Author of For Love of the Dark One: Songs of Miraba

"Aesthetic Vedanta recounts India's most important treatise on romantic love. More practical and interesting than the Kama Sutra, it involves the classic adventure of the fabulous Krishna. Swami Tripurari's treatment is a masterpiece."

- Louis Meldman, Ph.D., Author of Mystical Sex: Love, Ecstasy, and the Mystical Experience

"This book truly deserves, and undoubtedly will receive, a place among serious and scholarly works of global spirituality."

- George Fowler, Author of Learning to Dance Inside: Getting to the Heart of Meditation

This book is guaranteed to deeply affect all who read it. It is a book about the greatest love story ever told. Over the centuries poets have written about it, story tellers have captivated untold numbers with it, painters have filled their canvasses with beautiful images of it, and now we all have access to it through this wonderful book written by Tripurari Swami who brings this story to life like no other can, having immersed himself in the life of love that the book is all about. The book is divided into three distint sections. The first section sets the stage and gives the reader the necessary philosophical background in order to fully appreciate the story. The second section is dedicated to the Rasa-lila itself, the dance of love depicted in the Bhagavata Purana. It is so wonderfully written that you will find yourself literally becoming part of the story as you read it. The final section of the book explains how the Rasa-lila story relates to a life of devotion and spiritual practice that culminates in the development of divine love within the sincere praticioner.

I have spent four years studying Vedanta from a number of tradtitions, including Buddhism (which although technically not Vedic contains within it Vedic principles such as reincarnation) Advaita Vedanta, and a few standard Gaudiya Vaishnava texts.This book is not only the most comprehensive presentation of the highest conclusions of Vedanta but is also offered with the sincere sensitivity necessarry to truly understand such a simultaneously simple and complex theology.

Excellent book which explains to some degree the "inner posture" with each asana discussed. Unlike most books, you can actually perform the asana from the instructions in this book alone.
Stops short of explaining the effect of the various asanas on the Doshas (in Ayurveda) but does list the benefits of the poses.
A must have book for any student of hatha yoga

Asana Pranayama Mudra Bandha
Swami Satyananda Saraswati, line drawings and diagrams, pp543.
Suitable for all teachers and practitioners.

Asana Pranayama Mudra Bandha is recognized internationally as one of the most systematic yoga manuals available today. This enlarged and revised edition provides clear illustrations and step by step directions which smoothly guide the practitioner through the simplest to the most advanced practices. In addition, it includes the benefits and contra-indications of each technique along with focal points and breath awareness, to deepen the benefits and experience of the practices. A therapeutic index has been included for use by doctors and yoga therapists which incorporates the findings of yoga research.

A book to read and re-read for many, many years... an amazingly concise and complete resourse for the yoga practitioner - this is an excellent textbook featuring over 400 practices.

The description of each practice are presented in a methodical and specific manner - each technique comes with set-by-step directions on the practice; breathing awareness during the practice; benefits; contra-indications; variations and so on.

The illustrations are line drawn rather than photographs: This is an advantage, as it stops the reader from over-identifying with the photo; & becoming too dispirited by comparisons to glossy photos.

If there is a drawback to the book, it's that it can be a little overwhelming - there's a lot of information here! Fortunately it's well ordered, and well presented.

Another point is that it doesn't try to replace role of a competent teacher : it's a textbook of practices rather than a specific course of instruction.

But this doesn't detract from the book at all - merely indicates the level that the book is aimed at.

If you're looking for a distillation of authentic yoga knowledge, this really is a book to have by your side.

This book elucidates the greatest and most inspiring teachings of Hinduism, and yet does so in a way which is full of humor and wit and shows the universality of the teachings and their immediate relevance for daily life. Special technical terms and other boring academic BS are virtually nonexistent, and the book's filled with lots of clever little stories and fables to illustrate the teachings. Swami Satchidananda is a true master of the pun; he alerts us to the dangers of egoism, for example, by reminding us how the word 'mine' -- meaning 'belonging to me' -- can also mean something treacherous that's just waiting to explode on us when we step on it!

Fun and light-hearted, yet also enlightening, heartening, uplifting and utterly profound. Can't recommend it too highly.

As dramatic as that claim sounds, this book entered my life when I desperately needed help. It became a "bible" for me that got me though some very troubled waters...the simplicity of the language and the depth of Swami Satchidananda's sincerity has had a profound effect on me. I read it at least once a year...and I give it as a gift to very special friends who are ready for the message, which changes with each new reading! All that, plus Peter Max's artwork! A great library addition.

I bought this little book as a Peter Max fan and was delightfully surprised by the simply written, pointed pearls of the Swami's wisdom. It is the kind of book that you can just randomly read when you want to be uplifted, or a lovely gift appropriate for art lovers as well as anyone at the beginning...or in the middle of...life's journey.

I have read, studied, and chanted from many versions of the Bhagavad Gita, and found some favorites in the past. However, this version by Swami Satyananda Saraswati is so very readable--in type, text, format, as well as translation--not only for those familiar with Sanskrit and Bhagavad Gita, but also for those new to the text and to Sanskrit.
For those readers from a Western tradition and culture, such as myself, this work provides an English translation that brings heart and soul to any in-depth study of the Bhagavad Gita. For the first time, for example, I can study the translated names of all those characters in the scripture and story, and find new meaning and food for thought, bringing greater scope and depth to the story itself. But even more than the characters themselves is the knowledgeable and thoughtful rendering of each verse itself. Again and again, I will return to the translation to savor each verse, and to meditate upon his particular translation.
Further, as a novice and beginning student of Sanskrit, I strongly appreciate the pairing of Sanskrit type, easy-to-read transliteration, and beautiful translation, where I can move my eye and attention as I chant, enriching the experience for me. In addition, this book is clearly written by a scholar, not only of Sanskrit, but most definitely of Vedic scriptures--a trustworthy combination for one like myself who is exploring Vedic practice and scriptures in greater depth.
Thank you, Swami Satyananda, for this beautiful book!

At first I wondered why anyone would want to do another translation of the Bhavagad Gita. There are already so many beautiful translations of this work in English. However, when I read Swami Satyananda Saraswati's translation, I was truly amazed. I felt as though I was reading the Bhavagad Gita for the first time! I became Arjuna and Lord Krishna was right in front of me teaching me and revealing Himself to me. There are no words adequate to this experience. I thank Swami Satyananda Saraswati and I bow down to him and Shree Maa for opening the doorway to this profound work, for bringing me into the presence of Lord Krishna.

There are many very good Bhagavad Gita's available in the english lanugage. It has undoubtably been the most populary translated Hindu scripture. What sets this translation of the Gita apart has much to do with the translator himself. Swami Satyandna is not a dry academic who has not experienced the truth of the Bhagavad Gita directly. Nor is he an Indian pundit trying to bridge the communication gap between the east and the west.

Before Swami Satyanada became a swami, he lived in California for the first twenty years of his life. After completing his studies to became a lawyer, he set off for a trip around the world. When he reached India he was so attracted to the depth of India's wisdom that he couldn't leave. He ended up living in India, as a sadhu and swami, for the next twenty years. In India, he studied with many enlightened masters who taught him the esoteric meaning of all the Hindu scriptures. Then he spent many years studying and relating each scripture to his own life experience.

In 1985, Swami Satyananda returned to India with his guru, Shree Maa. Since then he has been teaching westerners how to apply these scriptures to their hectic, daily lives. It is this experience that makes his translation of the Bhagavad Gita particularly important and relevant for westerners. As the Swami says in his introduction, "every sadhu in every generation should rewrite the Gita, retranslate it into contemporary language and symbols, which are meaningful to the present time, place and circumstances."

I found Swami Satyananda's Gita lucid, impactful and filled with spiritual emotion. He did an excellent job of making this ancient text relevant and meaningful to my daily life. This remarkable translation of the Bhagavad Gita is a treasure.

This is the book that Shaktiananda Yoga Centers uses and recommends for any serious Raja Yoga student. The translation is excellent and the commentary is authentic. Highly recommend!

This is an especially good translation for those with some knowledge of yoga or Hinduism or Vedanta. Rather than employ artificialities like "discipline" or "duty" or "the Supreme God," Nikhilananda retains in his translation many Sanskrit words like yoga, dharma, Brahman, etc. that have no real one-to-one English equivalent. One of the virtues of not attempting to translate every term is a more natural expression that preserves some of the immediacy of the original. This is a boon for those who have some experience with the terms, and a detriment to those who do not. In doing so of course he violates one of the prime dicta of translation, namely that a translation should stand on its own without recourse to augmentation by other works.

Nonetheless the book itself does stand on its own because Nikhilananda has provided along with the text a commentary taken primarily from Sankaracharya's famous and instructive gloss from the ninth century. (In some cases, it is true, the reader might wish that a commentary on Sankara's commentary be included!)

A point well made in the Foreword by William Ernest Hocking is that too many of the newer translations (and this applies today as it did in 1944) tend to avoid "a happy expression...to seek the different solely for the sake of differing." Nikhilananda is not afraid to use the tried and true and readily employs the "happy expression" that has worked so well in previous translations. His is a modest translation. One can see that his purpose is not so much to be the poet himself as it is to make the work accessible to English speakers. In his introduction, Nikhilananda interprets the Gita from the standpoint of Vedanta philosophy, which is to be distinguished from yogic philosophy and to some extent from the Hare Krishna movement. The Gita, as Nikhilananda expresses it in his Introduction, along with the earlier Upanishads and the Brahma sutras, "form the bed-rock of Vedanta philosophy." He follows his Introduction with a chapter entitled, "The Story of the Mahabharata," the grand Indian epic in which the Gita is nestled. Then there is Sankara's brief Introduction followed by a traditional "Meditation." After the text there is a Glossary of Sanskrit words and an Index.

This book, originally published by the Ramakrishna-Vivekananda Center in New York in 1944, is in keeping with the high quality of Swami Nikhilananda's engaging translation of The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna and the books on yoga by Swami Vivekananda also published by the Center. I would recommend that the serious English-speaking student of the Gita have this book, now in its Sixth Printing, alongside a more recent translation of the Gita--perhaps Stephen Mitchell's poetic Gita of 2000 or Kees Boole's Gita of 1979, which includes on left-facing pages a verse by verse transliteration of the Sanskrit--as an aid to study.

I have only one small complaint with Nikhilananda's book: the chapter and verse numbers should be placed at the top of each page for easy reference by the reader!

The introduction alone is worth the price of the book - a must have for any student of truth.

The Biographies of Rasik Saints is an inspiration for a Krishn devotee. It leaves an everlasting impression of dedication, surrender and renunciation of the saints of Vrindaban. It gives hope and confidence to a devotee to find Radha-Krishn in this very lifetime.

There are many books available today on the so-called heroes of the world. People we have put on pedastals as the great visionaries, whose words we remember and try to emumlate into our own lives. They are usually the politcal leaders, scientists, writers, artists, even business men. If we are lucky we find some book on some spiritual leader we are attracted to. Beyond that however, it is extremely rare to encounter a book about the absolute greatest personalities that have ever walked on the planet. This book would be about a saint, a personality that is Divine, and it would be written truthfully and which can inspire one to yearn to meet a Divine Personality someday in his life. This book would be absolutely great. And to find such treasure written in english? And would be about, not one, but several Divine Personalities, and even beyond that, not just about ordinary saints, but about the greatest of all, Rasik Saints! Compare this with nothing less than that of finding a touch stone, which changes iron into gold.

I just re-read this book for the fifth or sixth time. It is a true treasure. A book about the Divine Wisdom of India as portrayed in the lives of several historical Rasik saints, it was written by a living Rasik saint, His Divinity Swami Prakashanand Saraswati. Inspiring and challenging, uplifting and comforting, the stories and philosophy revealed in this book are invaluable. Often when I read it, I find I devotionally experience what is being described in the stories. For example, in the chapter on Dhruvdas, his meeting with Radha (the sweetest and highest form of Divine love) is described. It says: "He opened his eyes and saw Radharani standing before him. The sound which he heard was the sound of Radha's anklet, and the touch he felt, was Radha's hand on his head. He did not say anything, but Radha said, "I will never depart from you. I will always remain with you." As I read those words, my devotional imagination opened and I felt like I heard Radha's anklet and felt her hand upon my head and heard her say, "I will always remain with you." The words and stories in this book are doorways to devotional experiences of God's blissful love and intimacy balanced by explanations of the true path to God.

This is one of the best books I've read so far on this topic. It is short but very insightful, profound and informative. It provides not only the how, but also the why of vegetarianism, including several tasty recipes as an introduction to delicious Indian cuisine. Your life should be changed for the better after reading this book -- and implementing the recommended changes in your diet and lifestyle.

Everyone should read this book and learn why a sincere spiritual seeker has to become vegetarian no matter which paths he/she belongs to.

It is book from ISKCON. First chapter point out the dangers to health from meat eating. Second chapter deals with the economics and ecological implications of meat eating. Third chapter approaches this question from spiritual point of view. Fourth chapter discusses law of karma and points out that meat eating as leading sinful reactions. Fifth chapter introduces the concept of love of God and how it is practically expressed by cooking for Krishna, offering it to Krishna and eating only food offered to Krishna. Seventh chapter provides a collection of observations by Prabupada in this context. The rest of book gives recipes for various regions (Indian, Italian, Chinese, Mexican, French, Middle East). Appendix introduces to Hare Krsna Food for life program, list of ISCKON restaurants in Australasia and ISKCON Centers around the world. Narada got Krsna mercy by eating Krsna Prasad. That should explain the importance of the theme of book.

While most of the knowledge is gleemed from Hindu Scriptures, it is universally applicable. It is a handbook of how to understand yourself. It presents an introduction to introspection and meditation. This book can change your life..

If you ask me 'What's in this book for you?', I can simply say that this book is for a proper understanding of the real heart of Hinduism(Vedanta). I can also summarise this book as a complete manual to unfold yourselves and to get introduced to the fundamentals of Vedanta.

When I first read this book some ten years ago, I was tremendously inspired and got self-initiated to acquire the esoteric wisdom from the 'assumedly' complex literature of Hinduism. Reflecting on the book's subject matter has led me to read many of Swami Chinmayananda's other books, be it the commentary on the Bhavagad Gita or the Upanishads. Swami Chinmayananda's explanation, as in many of his other 'path'-books of self-development, appeals to any rational mind regardless of any nationality, creed or race.

The explanation is lucid in understandable English, which can be read & reflected individually, and also as a textbook, which can be studied systematically in a group.

This book is a fantastic rendering of the fundamental concepts of real Hinduism(Vedanta). After having read exhaustively other books on Hinduism & Vedanta by other authors, I always like to go back to this book and often say to myself' Yes ..I understand it better now'.

This book is a MUST HAVE for any real spiritual-book lover and a MUST READ for anybody who wants to be better prepared to face life's challenges.
Thanks

Swami Chinmayanda has this great gift of explaining complex concepts using simple analogies. His clarity of thought was amazing. I read this book every week in order to "burn" the concepts into my brain. It has given me amazing peace of mind. This book has been the most influential book in my life and I would urge everyone to give it a shot.

This book gives further insight into Yogananda's life and teachings. It is written by one of his main students, who spent much personal time with him, and assisted Yogananda in putting his writings into finished form. Kriyananda (the author's spiritual name) tells how he, as a westerner, finds his spiritual path, and what he goes through as he follows it It is well written and enjoyable.

This is one of the best books I've ever read. Donald Walters {Swami Kriyananda} makes God not only more understandable, but treats Him in a manner we don't always see; as a friend and mentor, a constant loving companion who is enjoying His grand drama of life and death, pleasure and pain, good and bad, through each one of us. {Actually I should have said enjoying Herself, As Walters often speaks of God as the Divine Mother, the feminine aspect of Divinity}.

If you have read "The Autobiography of a Yogi" by Paramhansa Yogananda, "The Path"is the perfect companion piece, for it pictures Yogananda as Yogananda himself could not, as a being of pure Light and Divinity, a Yogi-Christ walking amongst us. If you have yet to read Yogananda's autobiography, it will be next on your list.
Believe me, the God spoken of in the "The Path" is a God we can all relate to. A warm, personal God, full of love and compassion for each one of us. A God of Ecstatic Bliss of whom we are all part; our seeming separation only a minor, and very temporary circumstance. A God who is gently bringing each of us, step-by-step, back to our true home in the ever new joy of pure Spirit. [The new edition of this book is entitled "The Path: One Man's Quest on the Only Path There Is."]

I have always wanted to know more about Yogananda, and this book certainly provides it, in detail. Whereas Yogananda talked about the miracles involved with eastern mysticism in his "Autobiography of a Yogi", Kriyananda shows the western world how one can bring the higher principles of yoga into practical manifestation. This book gives a first-hand account of what it was like to live with one of the great masters of yoga (Yogananda)and all its challenging implications. Anyone who is interested in yoga or the spiritual path will find this book inspiring. What is even more fascinating is how Kriyananda went on to selflessly serve his guru through the creation of the Ananda World Brotherhood Colony. It is obvious that Yogananda and Kriyananda are very close and that Yogananda has been able to "continue" many of his visions for society through the willing instrument of Kriyananda. This in itself lends inspiration and encouragement for one's own spiritual path.

Prabhavananda used to be an indian monk of the Ramakrishna order directing the hollywood branch of that organisation in the first half of the last century. Isherwood was a famous writer who worked together with Prabhavananda. They translated indian scriptures and wrote several books, either together or independently. This particular book is a translation of the Vivekachudamani, a compact presentation of advaita vedanta, attributed to Shankara. It's pleasant to read and contains deep wisdom. The Ramakrishna Vivekananda Organisation has also another version of the Vivekachudamani on sale, which contains the Sanskrit text as well.

Shankara was a 7th century hindu mystic/saint. he founded a number of monastic orders in his short life,[32 yrs], and showed remarkable spiritual talents and insights from a very early age. this book is a true classic in the field of the jnani yoga tradition. his directives are clear, succint, and leave no doubt in the readers mind he knew where of he spoke. i wouldn't say this should be your entry level book into the advaita philosophy but if the idea of your oneness with brahman, the impersonal ground of being, appeals to you and you're ready for the genuine article, then this little book is for you and will reward your careful study. i'll be quiet now and let the master have the last word with a few quotes from the book: "when the vision of Reality comes, the veil of ignorance is completely removed. when our false perception is corrected, misery ends." and "the self controlled man is illumined when he enjoys eternal bliss. he is entirely merged in Brahman. he knows himself to be the unchangeable reality". and, "teachers and scriptures can stimulate spiritual awareness. but the wise disciple overcomes ignorance by direct illumination, through the grace of God". and, "the treasure i have found cannot be described in words, i am one with Brahman".

Traditional Hindu philsophy asserts that the true nature of ourselves, other people, and everything around us is Brahman. But that truth is often covered in superficial illusion, or maya (in pop culture terms, 'the Matrix'). Shankara expounds upon the traditional Hindu philosophy and posits that the key to enlightenment is the ability to discriminate between what is True (i.e. Brahman) and what is merely illusion (maya), to look past the appearance of things and seek the Truth that lies beneath the surface. We do not have to go far to apply this centuries old insight to our own lives. With the light of Shankara's simple philosophy to cut through the swirling mists of illusion that surround us, it is soon apparent that very few of the things we have taken seriously matter at all. They are mostly superficial maya and we must not allow ourselves to lose sight of the core Truths that they would obscure. It may sound abstract, but once you start recognizing that very few of the things people say, do, or believe have any foundation in Truth (in the Brahman sense), you will adjust your perspective accordingly and will be surprised to find how unperturbed you are by the concerns that stir others into an emotional frenzy. If you understand what does and doesn't matter, you can devote your energies to the former and shield yourself from concern for the latter.

For an explanation of these principles in prose by my favorite author, I strongly recommend "Maya", a short story that appears in the back of Hermann Hesse's Nobel prize winning novel, "The Glass Bead Game."