Meditation & Its Practices: A Definitive Guide to Techniques and Traditions of Meditation in Yoga and Vedanta

by Swami Adiswarananda

Overview

The complete sourcebook for exploring Hinduism's two most time-honored traditions of meditation.

Meditation is a subject of universal interest, practiced by seekers of all traditions on the quest for serenity, peace, and blessedness. Among the many traditions of meditation in Hinduism, Yoga and Vedanta have passed the test of time, proving as vital today as they were throughout the ages in helping seekers overcome the maladies of life and attain the greatest spiritual fulfillment. In one comprehensive volume, Meditation & Its Practices illuminates the principles of the Yoga and Vedanta meditation traditions, the meaning of meditation, its goal of Self-Knowledge, the methods by which concentration is developed and the ways of achieving self-control. Defining key concepts in clear terms, this complete guidebook covers every aspect of this ancient spiritual practice, including:

• Goals and Benefits of Meditation
• Objects of Meditation
• Methods of Concentration
• Posture, Physical Condition, Eating Habits and Spiritual Exercises
• Mystical Experiences and Realizations
• Obstacles in Meditation and Ways of Overcoming Them

Drawing on both classic and contemporary sources, this comprehensive sourcebook outlines the scientific, psychological, and spiritual elements of Yoga and Vedanta meditation, the results of which lead not to the seeker's dreams and visions but to the transformation of his or her character.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781683361909
Publisher:	TURNER PUB CO
Publication date:	07/01/2003
Pages:	504
Product dimensions:	6.30(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.50(d)

About the Author

Swami Adiswarananda (1925–2007), former senior monk of the Ramakrishna Order of India, was Minister and Spiritual Leader of the Ramakrishna-Vivekananda Center of New York.

Table of Contents

Preface
Introduction

Part One The Process of Meditation
1. The Meaning of Meditation
2. The Meditative State
3. The Goal of Meditation
4. The Benefits of Meditation
5. Meditation in the System of Yoga
6. Meditation in Vedanta
7. The Sacred Texts on Meditation
8. The Three Key Factors in All Meditation

Part Two Objects of Meditation
9. Objects of Meditation in Yoga and Vedanta
10. Meditation on a Divine Form
11. Meditation on a Divine Incarnation
12. Meditation on the Lord as Inmost Self and Supreme Teacher
13. Meditation on Virata Purusha, the Cosmic Person
14. Meditation on the Sacred Word Om
15. Meditation on the Gayatri Mantra
16. Meditation on the Great Vedic Sayings
17. Meditation on a Sacred Text, Word, or Mystic Syllable

Part Three Centers of Consciousness
18. The Centers for Meditation
19. Dualism, Nondualism, and the Centers

Part Four Methods of Concentration
20. Withdrawal and Concentration of Mind
21. Posture
22. Time and Place, Spiritual Vibrations, and Geographical Directions
23. Physical Condition, Eating Habits, and Exercise
24. Self-Analysis
25. Mystic Worship
26. Japa, or Repetition of a Sacred Word
27. Pranayama, or Control of Breath

Part Five Progress in Meditation
28. Milestones of Progress
29. Mystical Experiences and Realizations
30. The Transformation of Character
31. The Sacred Texts on Progress in Meditation

Part Six Obstacles in Meditation
32. Obstacles in Meditation and Ways of Overcoming Them

Notes
Glossary
Bibliography
Index

Editorial Reviews

Asserting that meditation leads to direct perception of ultimate reality and samadhi, a "state of blissful superconsciousness," Adiswarananda (Senior Minister of Ramakrishna-Vivekananda Center of New York City) surveys the vast topic of meditation in the Yoga and Vedanta traditions within Hinduism. He begins by discussing meditation's characteristics, goals and benefits, then explores various objects of meditation, including a particularly informative chapter on the "most sacred of all sacred words," Om. Next, he examines the mechanics of meditation, such as chakras, posture, eating habits and japa, the practice of repeating a sacred word or phrase. He then turns to the tricky subject of charting one's spiritual progress, discussing mystical benefits of meditation, such as visions and psychic powers. (He does caution readers about the subjective nature of such phenomena, insisting instead on the centrality of reason, orthodox Hindu scriptures and especially the real-world transformation of one's character as gauges of effective meditation practice.) Finally, he rounds out the tome with a discussion of obstacles in meditation and methods of overcoming them. The sheer scope of the book allows Adiswarananda to strike a graceful balance between liberal inclusiveness and conservative exclusiveness: one may choose the meditation method that seems most suitable, but straying from that chosen path undermines one's efforts and is "fraught with danger." Yet his microscopic attention to so many intricacies makes distinguishing between Yoga and Vedanta difficult and prevents the book from being a practical, how-to guide to meditation, limiting its appeal to very serious students. (Aug.) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Publishers Weekly

Yoga and Vedanta, two of the six orthodox systems of Indian philosophy, offer seekers freedom from the vicissitudes of life if they correctly and persistently follow the path of meditation to achieve contact with the Ultimate Reality. Here, Adiswarananda, senior minister at the Ramakrishna-Vivekananda Center of New York City, sets forth the process and objects of meditation, the three centers of consciousness, the methods of concentration, and the marks of progress in and obstacles to meditation while comparing and contrasting each within the religious contexts of Yoga and Vedanta. His presentation, accessible to the general reader though somewhat redundant, brings together widely scattered teachings and draws heavily on quotes from Hinduism's standard works (e.g., The Upanishads, Pantanjali's Yoga-sutra). An optional purchase for most collections where works such as Georg Feuerstein's The Shambhala Guide to Yoga satisfy the needs of most.-James R. Kuhlman, Univ. of North Carolina Lib., Asheville Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Library Journal

"Fills a long-standing gap in the contemporary literature on meditation. It is a most helpful exposition of the Vedantic perspective on the inward-turning consciousness, which covers all the important and theoretical aspects of the meditative path."
—Georg Feuerstein, PhD, president, Yoga Research and Education Center

"This book is one of the finest works on meditation I've ever encountered. Deeply embedded in the Hindu tradition, it is thorough, eminently practical, inspiring and effective. I highly recommend it."
—Brother Wayne Teasdale, author, Bede Griffiths: An Introduction to His Interspiritual Thought and A Monk in the World

“Presents meditation as a universal form of worship—the key to our true well-being and our highest fulfillment. Swami Adiswarananda's personal qualities of vigor, authority and conviction will inspire readers to pursue the spiritual adventure of meditation with determination and joy.”
—Kendra Crossen Burroughs, annotator, Bhagavad Gita: Annotated & Explained and Selections from the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna: Annotated & Explained

From the Publisher