Concentration and Meditation/14th Edition

This book immediately spoke to me, a passage detailed events in my past that have troubled me since childhood. Then, twice, I opened this to a random page and a particular passage seemed to be highlighted and again, addressed a current mental/psychological vexation.After this I happened to look at the publication date and was surprised to see "1945"!Now, there are portions and phrases that date it, such as using "he" when referring to an typical practitioner and addressing the reader as if expecting nearly all would be male. I study the works of one of his students who is the late Swami Sivananda Radha, an extraordinary woman who became his student in 1955.Despite this, the section on 'resistance' is of great assistance, he identifies more than I would have considered resistance of the ego to spiritual growth. Also, many chapters, despite having a couple words here and there that date it, could have been written yesterday; this contains what I thought were current 'catch phrases' popular in spirituality and psychology today. Surprise! This is thousands of years old but, translates ancient knowledge from Sanskrit and Hindi to English.Separating concentration from meditation is of great assistance, as it is a process one must experience and practice to grow. This text offers encouragement and assistance to those on the path as well as anyone trying to address and correct their scattered thinking due to the impact to using mobile devices, etc.Finally, he states that to ultimately succeed on the path, one must have devotion and dedication and be prepared to "stare down the barrel of a gun" and remain steadfast in their resolve. He was a Natropathic Physician running a clinic in Malaysia during WWII. This was then part of the United Kingdom and was occupied by Japanese forces. So, he doesn't make these statements lightly, he stared down the barrels of guns in order to protect his patients, staff and self.Also, this demonstrates that he wasn't a monk who spent their life in an Ashram. He was battling disease and protecting civilians during the time of war. His life experiences are beyond what most people encounter and know what it takes to overcome obstacles and succeed in life and on the spiritual path.This will serve all practitioner's in many aspects of life--it's an invaluable resource, just be prepared to forgive minor transgressions of today's ultra-sensitive PC standards!I wish you well on your journey.

My favorite thing about Swami Sivananda is that he gets to the point. He gives clear and helpful advice on anyone looking to better understand the topics of dharana, and higher meditative states. He is authoritative, yet kind, firm in getting you to actually practice, yet lenient on the types and methods of practice and advice he offers. He wants to experience these states and see for yourself. And there is no question of his own mastery or if he has been there himself - that shines through clearly.

This book is supremely important to have among your collections. Nothing that’s of spiritual importance in light of mind development and concentration, that is not already in this one of a kind, groundbreaking work.

A must for all serious students in meditationConcentration & MeditationBySwami SivanandaOn reading this book I was impressed by the thorough and serious way the author approached the subject. There is no omission anywhere, starting from the first steps one should take in order to learn how to concentrate until the disciples passes from this stage to meditation and later, depending on how serious he is, to Samadhi.All the problems and hindrances likely to be met on the way are also thoroughly dealt with leaving, so to speak, no stone unturned.Having myself practiced meditation for the last thirty years, the detailed explanations and repetitions, both pleased me but at times tired me, although I cannot but admit that in every case the serious student will find it both useful and necessary a guidance for all steps of the way.Gabriella KasoulidouAuthor of Angels' Gardens[...]

My passion for yoga has developed strongly over the last couple of years. I went through a teacher training and received certification. I hunger for authentic information on yoga. I feel bombarded by feel-good, hippy-dippy, yoga-lite stuff. These older books are the real deal. They are written with quite a few Sanskrit terms which may be off putting to some people (not me) there is a glossary in the back, it doesn't list every word. I say keep reading anyhow - the more you immerse yourself in the culture the more you understand. Namaste!

Helpful words of advice from a master of meditation. Wonderful insights, amazing overview and a beautiful perspective. I thank India for producing such truly spiritual, embodied souls who are beacon lights on the path back to the all Light.

this guy is all wise good if you don't like the facts of real yoga and self discipline don't read him i all wise have a lot of books on this swami in short this is real stuff control your mind emotions and sexual energy and in all reality only then our you doing yoga that's the truth there wise your new age dreaming

This book really motivated me to start concentrating more. I like the concentrating before going into meditation. This is a good book for learning how to meditate.

On of the best books about meditation indeed and not too hard for a beginner. Has a lot of info on obstracles, progress (visions such as light etc), what to eat, times to meditate etc. I think this is the best meditation book together with "Meditation & Its Practices: A Definitive Guide to Techniques and Traditions of Meditation in Yoga and Vedanta" (ISBN 978-1594731051). You will not regret that you bought this book and it is by a master on meditation full of love and insight :-) A ++++++++

This book mostly deals with concentration meditation (Focused Attention Meditation), but within this area, it deals with most of the commonly encountered types of such meditations in the Hindu fold. It especially deals with saguNa and nirguNa meditations, which is very useful indeed.Swami Sivananda's enthusiasm for meditation is very infectious! He not only gives you instructions on how to meditate, at what times, how often, etc., but he also *makes* you want to meditate. Swami Sivananda spares no effort in making you understand the importance of meditation in one's spiritual sAdhana. I almost could see Swami Sivananda sitting in front of me imploring me to just put down the book and start meditating right away. He also has a useful and extensive list of obstacles (at the physical, mental, and advanced levels) you might encounter during your meditative career. These are all very useful things to know and keep in mind.One thing that slightly put me off about this book was that Swami Sivananda is all too willing to give credence to stories of siddhis that might arise from meditation. Maybe it's just me, but this dampens my enthusiasm for the material a bit, and also, I am afraid, dents his credibility just a little. I wish he had highlighted the psychological and spiritual advantages of meditation, which are immediate and easy to verify. These are good enough reasons to want to meditate.But that slight irritant notwithstanding, I wholly encourage you to buy this book. As Swami Sivananda might say, Nil desperandum! Never despair! Mediate, meditate, mediate!

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This is a great book for the one who wants and Indian style of meditation. Meditation which we can confirm working in us. Many a times I found that swami sivananda is saying something which is not practical for us. For ex. He ask to meditate in Himalayas or places on the banks of river ganga. Another ex. Would be, He ask us to follow brahmacharya..etc. But the reader should keep in mind that this book was written during the 1st half of 20th CE and would be exceptable during that time. Well it's a short book and one can follow his path to learn meditation and is a great book overall. I would recommend this book to someone who wants an Indian style of meditation.

Very instructive.