Author: Swami Satprakashanda
Publisher: Sri Ramakrishna Math
Year: 1999
Language: English
Pages: 264
ISBN/UPC (if available): 8171201474
Description
Enunciates many ways one can prepare oneself for meditation - from work and prayer to the yogas of Karma, Bhakti, Raja and Jnana.
The practice of meditation is one of the most essential, and yet one of the most difficult, of all the processes the human mind can be engaged in. More than just having quite place to sit and a little concentration, mediation in spiritual life means consistently being able to turn one's mind towards the Supreme Being.
Contents
Abbreviations
Preface
PART ONE : PRELIMINARIES
HYMNS AND PRAYERS
A Vedic Prayer
Hymn to Brahman
Eight Stanzas on Shukadeva
Hymn to the Divine Mother
Hymn to the Divine Mother Durga
Evening Hymn to Sri Ramakrishna
transliteration
Vedic Peace Chants
CONDUCTED MEDITATIONS
The Light of Lights
Him we worship
Peace that Passeth Understanding
The Source of all Delight
Right Understanding
Not by Thy law but by thy grace
He is the goal, he is the way
He makes all things Dear
Thou Art my Sole Guide
Thou Art Seated on the Lotus of my Heart
By losing yourself you find yourself
The Body is like a Garment
Blessings of the Saints
He Dwells in the Depth of the Heart
The One Source of All
The Divine Chile (A Christmas Meditation)
To be Spiritually minded is life (Good Friday)
Think of yourself as an Effulgent being
PART TWO : METHODS OF MEDIATATION
CHAPTER I
Introductory : Four States of Human Experience ù Waking, Dream, Dreamless Sleep, and Samadhi
CHAPTER II
Work and Mediation
CHAPTER III
Search for God
CHAPTER IV
Worshipping God Through Symbols as Preparatory to Meditation
CHAPTER V
Prayer and Meditation
CHAPTER VI
Karma-Yoga as Preparatory to the Practice of Meditation
CHAPTER VII
Preparation for Meditation in Bhakti-Yoga
CHAPTER VIII
God-Realization through Bhakti-Yoga
CHAPTER IX
The Process of Meditation According to Patanjali's Raja-Yoga
Distinctiveness of the Vedantic Method
CHAPTER X
Preparation for Meditation in Jnana-Yoga
CHAPTER XI
Realization of Nondual Brahman, the Culmination of Jnana-Yoga
PART THREE : APPENDICES
Appendix I : From Mortality to Immortality
Appendix II : The Location of the Soul in the Body
Appendix III The Sum and Substance of Advaita Vedanta
Index