Meditation and Spiritual Life

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The wavy waters in the picture are symbolic of karma, the lotus of bhakti, and the rising-sun of jnana. The encircling serpent is indicative of yoga and awakened Kundalini sakti, while the swan in the picture stands for the Paramatman. Therefore, the idea of the picture is that by the union of karma, jnana, bhakti and yoga, the vision of the Paramatman is obtained.

Swami Vivekananda

From the Back of the Book

This book, a compilation of class-talks given by the author to groups of earnest spiritual aspirants in Europe, the USA and India, is a practical manual of spiritual life with special emphasis on meditation. Though designed for the use of religious people in general, it is specially intended for those who sincerely practice prayer, japa and meditation, and are eager to attain some spiritual fulfillment. The true seeker of Truth will find in it simple but valuable guidance regarding preliminary preparations, the different techniques of meditation, the various obstacles that are to be overcome, the nature of genuine spiritual experiences, and other important details of meditative life which can otherwise be gained only through intimate contact with an illumined guru.

About the Author

Swami Yatiswarananda (1889-1966), a senior monk and former Vice-President of the Ramakrishna Order and Mission, was a well known spiritual figure in the Neo-Vedanta movement. Besides seven years of pioneering work in spreading Vedanta in Europe and ten years of teaching Vedanta in the USA, he served fin succession as the President of Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama in Bombay, Madras and Bangalore. Known in his premonastic life as Suresh Chandra Battacharya, the Swami was an intiated disciple of Swami Brahmananada, and was widely respected for his high spiritual attainments, Yogic insight and mature wisdom,. He advocated and lived a well-harmonized spiritual life with meditation as the keynote. He was a source of inspiration not only to his monastic and lay disciples, but also to a large number of other people in India and abroad to whom he endeared himself by his selfless love and gracious manners.