Practical Yoga Psychology - Tapa blanda

Over a couple of days and nights I had absorbed and soaked the principles laid in this treatise from cover to cover. In short, the book felt "un-put-downable". What makes the read luminous, is the clarity with which Vivekananda describes ancient terms from Yoga, Samkhya and Tantra, that are being regurgitated constantly and (mis)appropriated incessantly by the new age gurus, rushing out their latest offering that hams together many of these ideas to suit the palate of the recently minted fans of "everything to do with yoga". He doesn't take much of our time, with short practical statements he makes subtle distinctions, to help the reader recognize the complex variations that birth the chakra-guna-kosha-antahkarana complex of each individual self. And then, he proceeds to elaborate on the possibility of maturing our particular state of self to the next "better" possibility...again using non-mystical vocabulary, very precisely as though laying out the most easy to access set of things the 21rst C. self can do"! A pure and wondrous book that would luminate the library of those who already have a remarkable collections of the texts from the Satyananda Yoga School. In short I would recommend it as a must read for the serious practitioner of classical Yoga, interesting in getting to the essence of Yoga's promise for divinizing our human potential. --By yogamm_indy on February 22, 2006

I have read only the first seven chapters as of yet and I recommend this book wholeheartedly to every human being. This is the most true of psychology books on the entire being of we humans. I have taken psychology and sociology and philosophy in college but those classes and all of those psychology books, etc., pale in comparison with this more complete text on the human self. Not only does this book derive from a spiritual source but a scientific one. A more pure science than that of any western doctors or philosphers. Vivekananda writes about the Human from all aspects, The Good, The Bad and The Inbetween, noting that although humans do bad things or are of a lower vibrational standing, this does not make them inhuman or lost. We are creatures of adaptation and evolution. We can take steps via this wonderful and life giving world of yoga, but first we must look at ourselves, write down the wrong and move toward the light (not meaning what I think, you think this means) We can reach Yoga while still here and enjoy it. To get to the point, the book is superb. With this book, one can more fully understand the whole self ie. physical, emotional, mental, spiritual, etc., whether it is one self or the community at large. This is one of Bihar Scool of Yoga's pwerhouse books necessary for every ones library. Without the knowledge of change, how can we? At the rate we are going without it, world suffering can only be prolonged.... The book is well written and although it may be tough in a few spots since we must adapt out brains to this language, if you take your time, like I, you will get a grasp on it. Enjoy... --By Nik on April 6, 2010

This is by far the best introduction to yogic thought I have read. For anyone that is looking for a readable, contemporary, and ceaselessly down-to-earth analysis of what yoga is about on a level deeper than the stretches you do at the gym, this is the book to get. Note well, it belongs to a particular 'school' of yogic thought. However, this book can serve as the perfect introduction that will allow you to diverge or extrapolate with a legitimate and insightful frame of reference. Highly recommended for the especially-interested yoga-junkie. --By ArmchairPuddy on December 26, 2011

The great mysteries in our lives are the understanding of our personality,how we relate with other people and the world around us,and our place,if any,in the vast scheme of things.The other question we face is how we can improve our personal experience and our interactions with society,so that we live a happy harmonious and helpful life.For thousands of years yoga has been addressing these questions and supplying the answers to them. Practical Yoga Psychology is an attempt to simply blend the teachings of yoga with those of pschology,psychiatry and other branches of western science to give us an overview of the human personality,an idea of where we are going and guidelines to proceed on our journey. A worthy companion to the many other classics brought out by Bihar School of Yoga and Yoga Publications trust,Bihar.