Books

There are four categories of Core Texts that we often talk about in our satsangs, and which are also recommended reading. These texts encompass the orientation of our tradition, including Yoga, Vedanta, and Tantra.

Core Texts (4 categories; 12 books):

#1) Yoga Sutras (the systematic process of Yoga meditation; sometimes called Raja Yoga or Sankhya Yoga). Yoga Sutras specifically points out two major aspects of Yoga practice, Bahir (outer) and Antar (inner). The outer (Bahir) is preparation for the inner (Antar), which leads to direct experience of the eternal center of consciousness, referred to as Purusha in the Yoga Sutras.

• Samadhi by Swami Rama

• Sadhana by Swami Rama

• Lectures on Yoga by Swami Rama

• Living the Yoga Sutras (book only through Lulu.com, PDF) by Swami Jnaneshvara; (website). Sutras only with no discussion (PDF)

#2) Bhagavad Gita: This rendition by Swami Rama emphasizes the self-awareness practices of traditional Yoga, including integration of what is sometimes considered to be Jnana Yoga or Vedanta, Raja Yoga, Karma Yoga, and Bhakti Yoga, all of which are sequential aspects of the same one Yoga taught by Krishna to Arjuna in this symbolic story.

• Perennial Psychology of the Bhagavad Gita

#3) Upanishads All below are by Swami Rama. These all describe contemplative meditation of Yoga, with particular focus on the levels of consciousness and self-awareness mapped out in the Om mantra, as most clearly outlined in the Mandukya Upanishad. Sometimes Upanishads are thought to be Jnana Yoga or Vedanta.

• Book of Wisdom (Ishopanishad)

• Life Here and Hereafter (Katha Upanishad)

• Sacred Journey (Katha Upanishad)

• Enlightenment without God (original publication) (Mandukya Upanishad)

• Om, the Eternal Witness (Mandukya Upanishad)

• Wisdom of the Ancient Sages (Mundaka Upanishad)

#4) Tantra Emphasizing the subtlest tantra, the totally internal Samaya Tantra of Tripura, the one consciousness dwelling in the three cities of waking, dreaming, and deep sleep; tri=three and pura=city. Tantra is also sometimes referred to as Tantra Yoga.

• Tripura Rahasya (Shakti Sadhana translation by Pandit Tigunait)

Complementary to the 12 suggestions above:

Swami Jnaneshvara Books

Swami Jnaneshvara Books (print-on-demand through Lulu.com These links are for printed books:

• Living the Yoga Sutras (270 pages, includes commentary)

• Yoga Sutras Translation (83 pages, without commentary)

• Witness Everything: My Life with Swami Rama (54 pages)

• The Path of Yoga Meditation of the Himalayan Masters (50 pages)

• Summary of Practices of the Tradition of the Himalayan Masters (87 pages)

• Reducing Karma and the Sources of Negative Actions, Speech and Thoughts (32 pages)

• The Process of Kundalini Awakening (40 pages)

• Bindu: Pinnacle of the Three Streams of Yoga, Vedanta and Tantra (42 pages)

• Om Mantra and the Seven Levels of Consciousness (32 pages)

• Yoga Nidra: Conscious Deep Sleep Meditation (25 pages)

Swami Rama Books

The links below go to Amazon:

• Living with the Himalayan Masters original version (republished version rebublished version 2)

• The Art of Joyful Living original version (posthumous revision)

• A Call to Humanity

• Freedom from the Bondage of Karma

• Conscious Living

• Inspired Thoughts of Swami Rama (republished version)

• Essence of Spiritual Life

• Joints and Glands Exercises original version (republished version / republished version #2)

• Meditation and Its Practice original version (posthumous revision)

• Choosing a Path

• Love Whispers

• Creative Use of Emotion (republished version)

• Path of Fire and Light, volume 2

• A Practical Guide to Holistic Health

• Love and Family Life

Reference Texts

You may find these four resources useful on your inner journey of Yoga:

• Yoga Sutras Volume 1 and Volume 2 by Swami Veda (Both of these are very scholarly and are many pages.)

• The Yoga Tradition: Its History, Literature, Philosophy and Practice by Georg Feuerstein

• Tantric Yoga and the Wisdom Goddesses by David Frawley

• Hatha Yoga Pradipika translation by Swami Muktibodhananda

• Vivekachudamani by Adi Shankara