Complete Book of Yoga: Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Raja Yoga, Jnana Yoga, The

I had purchased a complete works by Swami Vivekananda in Kindle version, but enjoyed it so much that I needed it in paperback. However, there were so many variances offered! I went ahead and did my research. I read many reviews. I, like many reviewers, love when the font is nice and big and comfortable to read. When the actual, physical book is well put together. When it feels like a quality copy. I was also afraid that the book would be too small, as I think one reviewer said about one version. Well, thankfully, I MADE the RIGHT choice with this one! The book is beautiful! Definitely High Quality. The font is the perfect size and the book itself is normal size. I even LOVE the way the pages smell! Like when you first walk into a Barnes & Noble book store. As a book lover, I have always LOVED that scent. This book has Swami’s explanation of the four Yogas: Karma, Bhakti, Raja, and Jnana. I love Vivekananda’s clear and simple explanations. This is a book to be savored. It is certainly one of my favorites in my vast library. I definitely made the right choice with this one and want you to rest assured that if the little things that matter to me, matter to you, that you too, will absolutely LOVE this book! Here is just a little taste from the first section on Karma Yoga: “This world is like a dog’s curly tail, and people have been striving to straighten it out for hundreds of years; but when they let it go, it has curled up again. How could it be otherwise? One must first know how to work without attachment, then one will not be a fanatic. When we know that this world is like a dog’s curly tail and will never get straightened, we shall not become fanatics.” Bhakti “He (the Bhakta), soon, through the mercy of the Lord, reaches a plane where pedantic and powerless reason is left far behind, and the mere intellectual groping through the dark gives place to the daylight of direct perception. He no more reasons and believes, he almost perceives. He no more argues, he senses. And is not this seeing God, and feeling God, and enjoying God higher than everything else?” Raja [speaking of the control of Prana, Page 171] “This opens to us the door to almost unlimited power. Suppose, for instance, a man understood Prana perfectly, and could control it, what power on earth would not be his? He would be able to move the sun and stars out of their places, to control everything in the Universe, from the atoms to the biggest suns, because he would control the prana.” Jnana Page 277. “Time, the avenger of everything, comes, and nothing is left. He swallows up the saint and the sinner, the king and the peasant, the beautiful and the ugly; he leaves nothing. Everything is rushing towards that one goal destruction. Our knowledge, our arts, our sciences, everything is rushing towards it. None can stem the tide, none can hold it back for a minute. We may try to forget it, in the same way that persons in a plague-stricken city try to create oblivion by drinking, dancing, and other vain attempts, and so become paralyzed. So, we are trying to forget, trying to create oblivion by all sorts of sense-pleasures. And this is Maya.” Of course, these small samplers will be out of context, without reading the book. And although the last excerpt may taste of gloom and doom, the entire book points to the way out. To the realization that this is all a vast and amazing Dream.

Small Compact Size great to take along in purse or bag. Vivid Red and Gold as pictured and beautiful design. The built in bookmark is a nice feature and the content is insightful and eye opening. Not a book you have to read in order thanks to the authors chapter outline, can be subjectively useful to the journey of learning the origins of Yoga you hardly ever hear about in your average Yoga classes. If you’re one of those people that likes to understand a thing they are learning more in-depth and from the inside out, then this book is for you . Happy Purchase made Indeed.

Brilliant book.

Very good content (to me anyway), clearly written stuff. Maybe a bit stiff for those unfamiliar w/ these branches of yoga, or Indian philosophy, but accessible w/ some effort nonetheless. Handy carry-sized, I carry it many days a month, read a few pages when able. However...yup. These are transcripts of lectures. I note multiple spelling errors. Where these originated, I don't know. Nothing insurmountable though. I do like this book very much, & don't hesitate to say, if the subject is of interest to you, BUY IT! You're likely to run into Vivikananda sooner or letter. Why not right now! BM. Berwick, Maine

Great content but a tiny book.

A must read for anyone who's interested in spirituality. Very well written and very well narrated. It just flows. Thank you for this gem

Wonderful book of spiritual instruction for all religions.

It is an excellent description by a kegendary yoga master

It's a very good book full of interesting philosophy and wisdom. It's not so much a practical yoga technique as such . It doesn't teach meditation techniques it's more theoretical.

Excellent Book. Avid Readers must purchase.

Incredible wisdom of the ages distilled into four sections covering the main branches of yoga in the Hindu tradition. Beautifully presented, recommended.

Lovely to have at your bed or side table & chair as even a thought a day to reminisce upon.

Book is in good quality. But the delivery is quite confusing/stressful as the delivery person did not deliver to my house claiming nobody at home even though I was at home the whole day. Second delivery attempt to my letter box, again not informing me. Finally found it there. Price reasonable. Delivery was fast if not for those hassles considering from India to Singapore. Seller was prompt in responding.