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Karma Yoga (the yoga of action) is a book of lectures by Swami Vivekananda, as transcribed by Joseph Josiah Goodwin. It was published in February 1896 in New York City. Swami Vivekananda delivered a number of lectures in his rented rooms at 228 W 39th Street in New York City from December 1895 to January 1896. In 1895, friends and supporters of Swami Vivekananda hired Goodwin, a professional stenographer, who transcribed some of the lectures which were later published as this book. Goodwin later became a follower of Vivekananda.

In this concise series of lectures, famed Hindu monk Swami Vivekananda answers the important question: How can Vedanta be made practical in our daily lives? Though intended for Western audiences, Vivekananda's idea of sacralizing every moment has transformed the lives of generations of spiritual seekers.

Patanjali Yoga Sutras is an age-old treatise written on the four-fold path of yoga. It delves into the workings of our mind, body and spirit. Originally written in Sanskrit, this book is by Swami Vivekananda, detailing each sutra, simultaneously guiding us on ways to reach our goals. Starting from the very basics like concentration and meditation, to higher goals like attaining liberation and self-realization, these sutras are meant to teach us ways that help elevate lives and spirits.

This universe of ours, the universe of the senses, the rational, the intellectual, is bounded on both sides by the illimitable, the unknowable, the ever unknown. Herein is the search, herein are the inquiries, here are the facts; from this comes the light which is known to the world as religion. Essentially, however, religion belongs to the supersensuous and not to the sense plane. It is beyond all reasoning and is not on the plane of intellect. It is a vision, an inspiration, a plunge into the unknown and unknowable, making the unknowable more than known,for it can never be known.

Raja Yoga contains transcripts of lectures by Vivekananda on "Raja Yoga", his interpretation of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, and a "rather free translation" of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras plus Vivekananda's commentaries, which also was a series of talks. It presents Vivekananda's understanding and interpretation of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, "and a selection of hathayoga teachings on the basis of the beliefs that he shared with his students." These included elements from traditional Hinduism, but also ideas from Western science.

Here we stand, and our eyes look forward sometimes miles ahead. Man has been doing that since he began to think. He is always looking forward, looking ahead. He wants to know where he goes, even after the dissolution of his body. Various theories have been propounded, system after system has been brought forward to suggest explanations. Some have been rejected, while others have been accepted, and thus, it will go on, so long as man is here, so long as man thinks. There is some truth in each of these systems.

"All knowledge that the world has ever received comes from the mind...” in the quest for understanding one’s own mind, body, and soul, and to attain liberation, each man seeks spirituality as per his own means and understanding. Yoga, with its origin dating back to ancient India, has always been considered a pathway of achieving moksha. This edition combines the four paths of yoga as expounded by Swami Vivekananda in the nineteenth century.

What Hinduism needed, amidst the general disintegration of the modern era, was a rock where she could lie at anchor, an authoritative utterance in which she might recognize her self. And this was given to her, in these words and writings of the Swami Vivekananda. What Hinduism had needed, was the organizing and consolidating of its own idea. What the world had needed was a faith that had no fear of truth. Both these are found here.

This universe of ours, the universe of the senses, the rational, the intellectual, is bounded on both sides by the illimitable, the unknowable, the ever unknown. Herein is the search, herein are the inquiries, here are the facts; from this comes the light which is known to the world as religion. Essentially, however, religion belongs to the super-sensuous and not to the sense plane. It is beyond all reasoning, and is not on the plane of intellect.

What Hinduism needed, amidst the general disintegration of the modern era, was a rock where she could lie at anchor, an authoritative utterance in which she might recognize her self. And this was given to her in the words and writings of the Swami Vivekananda.

Bhakti yoga is a real, genuine search after the Lord, a search beginning, continuing, and ending in love. One single moment of the madness of extreme love to God brings us eternal freedom. “Bhakti is greater than karma, greater than yoga, because these are intended for an object in view, while Bhakti is its own fruition, its own means, and its own end.”

The first part of this audiobook comprises several lectures to classes delivered by the present author in New York. The second part is a rather free translation of the aphorisms (sutras) of Patanjali, with a running commentary. Effort has been made to avoid technicalities as far as possible and to keep to the free and easy style of conversation.

The writings and lectures of Swami Vivekananda on meditation, its advantages, and its practices are collected in this book. It is a book that offers lessons drawn from Swami Vivekananda's life to help audiences navigate their own personal turbulence. According to Swami Ji, meditation should be unfavorable. Consider everything. By using your will alone, analyze anything that comes to mind. Next, declare ourselves and what we truly are: beings of existence, wisdom, and happiness. His entire philosophy on meditation and its practices is covered in this book.

Explore the foundational text of yoga philosophy with Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras as interpreted by Swami Vivekananda. This insightful commentary on the ancient sutras reveals the essence of yoga practice, encompassing the physical, mental and spiritual dimensions. Swami Vivekananda's clear and profound explanations make these teachings accessible to modern audiences, offering a comprehensive guide to achieving mental clarity, inner peace and ultimate self-realization.

Immerse yourself in the profound wisdom of Swami Vivekananda with Motivating Thoughts of Swami Vivekananda. This collection of inspirational quotes and teachings reflects the timeless principles of self-discipline, inner strength and spiritual growth. Each moment offers powerful insights to help you overcome challenges, stay motivated and live a purposeful life. Let the words of Swami Vivekananda guide you on a journey of personal and spiritual transformation.

The goal of mankind is knowledge. That is the one ideal placed before us by Eastern philosophy. Pleasure is not the goal of man, but knowledge. Pleasure and happiness come to an end. It is a mistake to suppose that pleasure is the goal. The cause of all the miseries we have in the world is that men foolishly think pleasure to be the ideal for which to strive. After a time, man finds it is not happiness, but knowledge, toward which he is going, that both pleasure and pain are great teachers, and that he learns as much from evil as from good.

This volume is one of the first that presented the words of wisdom spoken by the influential Indian Hindu monk Swami Vivekananda within the intimacy of his inner circle. He was already revered as a lecturer, but his flashes of pure brilliance were more often only heard in familiar conversation.

The complete eleven (11) classes that Swami Vivekananda gave on Bhakti Yoga in New York City, 1895-96. Narrated by Varun Narayan. Recorded with permission from Advaita Ashrama, publisher. For more information about Swami Vivekananda: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swami_Vivekananda To order books by or about Swami Vivekananda: https://www.vedanta.com If you would like to make donation to help fund the recording and production of this and the next three series of yoga classes, please email info@vedantaworks.com for more information.

This is the message of Shri Ramakrishna to the modern world: “Do not care for doctrines, do not care for dogmas, or sects, or churches, or temples; they count for little compared with the essence of existence in each man which is spirituality; and the more this is developed in a man, the more powerful is he for good. Earn that first, acquire that, and criticize no one, for all doctrines and creeds have some good in them. Show by your lives that religion does not mean words, or names, or sects, but that it means spiritual realization."

The Swami Vivekananda was sent by his friends and co-religionists to present their belief at the Congress of Religions that was held in connection with the World’s Fair in Chicago. This he did in a way to win general interest and admiration.