Bhakti Yoga

'When you step beyond thought and intellect and all reasoning, then you have made the first step towards God; and that is the beginning of life.' -Swami Vivekananda Through utter concentration of the mind and relaxation of the body, one can attain an Ultimate form of peace-the superconscious state. This embodiment of the spiritual quest that many, like Vivekananda, aim to walk towards, has been found in the ancient texts of India that explore the art of Yoga. This book encapsulates the four paths of yoga through the eyes of Swami Vivekananda in the nineteenth century. These include the three Yogas from the Bhagvad Gita, namely Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga and Jnana Yoga, as well as Raja Yoga, inspired by the Yoga Sutras woven by the Father of Modern Yoga, Maharshi Patanjali. The book aims to go beyond the physical postulations (asanas) of Yoga and touches upon its effects on the mind as well as the body; it takes up a holistic and philosophical approach leading to the attainment of moksha.

Bhakti-Yoga is a real, honest search for the Lord that begins, continues, and ends with love. We are free forever because of one crazy moment of crazy love for God. This love can't be reduced to anything on earth, because this love won't come as long as people want things on earth. Bhakti is better than both karma and yoga because karma and yoga are supposed to get you somewhere, but Bhakti is its own goal, its own means, and its own end. Swami Vivekananda talked about Bhakti-Yoga like a spiritual poet, describing it as a symphony of the soul and a dance of devotion in which the seeker gives in to their overwhelming love for the Divine. He stressed that this path was not limited to any one religion. Instead, it was a universal language of the heart that gave people a direct link to the divine part of themselves and the world around them.

From the author of what has become the standard edition of The Yoga Sutras of Patañjali, an exploration of probably the most significant tradition in Hinduism, along with a rendering of key texts and parables from that tradition Bhakti Yoga explores one of the eight “limbs” of yoga. In the simplest terms, bhakti yoga is the practice of devotion, which is the essential heart of yoga and of Hinduism in general. In recent times, the term has come to be used in a rather simplistic way to refer to the increasingly popular practice of kirtan, or chanting in a group or at large gatherings. But bhakti yoga is far more complex and ancient than today’s growing kirtan audiences are aware, and embraces many strands and practices. Edwin F. Bryant focuses on one famous and important school of bhakti and explores it in depth to show what bhakti is and how it is expressed. And he supplies his own renderings of central texts from that tradition in the form of “tales and teachings” from an important work called the Bhagavata Purana, or “The Beautiful Legend of God.” This clarifying work establishes a baseline for understanding, and will be welcomed by all serious students of the spiritual heritage of India.

Bhakti-Yoga is a real, genuine search after the Lord, a search beginning, continuing, and ending in love. One single moment of the madness of extreme love to God brings us eternal freedom. This love cannot be reduced to any earthly benefit, because so long as worldly desires last, that kind of love does not come. Bhakti is greater than karma, greater than Yoga, because these are intended for an object in view, while Bhakti is its own fruition, its own means and its own end. This edition includes the Swami's ten lectures on Bhakti Yoga, plus ten more on the Supreme Devotion called Para-Bhakti.

Swami Vivekananda was a great social reformer and a very inspiring personality of India. Vivekananda was called by the name Narendranath Datta.. He was born in Kolkata on 12 January 1863 to Vishwanath Datta and Bhuvaneshwari Devi. His father was a successful attorney. He used to practice meditation even from his boyhood, and was associated with Brahmo Movement for some time. At the threshold of youth Narendra had to pass through a period of spiritual crisis when he was assailed by doubts about the existence of God. In November 1881, Narendra went to meet Sri Ramakrishna who was staying at the Kali Temple in Dakshineshwar. Narendra became a frequent visitor to Dakshineshwar and under the guidance of the Sri Ramakrishna, he made rapid strides on the spiritual path.

Bhakti Yoga, the Yoga of Devotion, comprises the second of three major sections of the Bhagavad Gita. It emphasizes faith and worship as a means to live a peaceful life, and also, to connect with the divine. The Bhagavad Gita contains the essence and analysis of the Vedas and the Upanishads - ancient Indian spiritual texts that are at the heart of Indian spiritual tradition. It presents us with a solution for completely eradicating sorrow from our lives. About The Author GK Marballi works in the technology industry and is presently based in New York City. He received his bachelors degree in commerce from the University of Mumbai, and his MBA from Harvard Business School.

What we call love in the material world is all too temporary, but in the kingdom of God the profound loving exchanges Lord Krishna enjoys with His dearest devotees are eternal. Bhakti-yoga teaches us how to enter into that realm of eternal love.

A guide to Bhakti Flow Yoga, a style of yoga that emphasizes a seamless connection between the breath and the movements of the body--by a popular San Francisco-based yogi. This is a comprehensive guide to the history and practice of Bhakti Flow Yoga, a synthesis of Bhakti yoga (the yoga of devotion) and Vinyasa Flow. This book describes • the foundations of Bhakti Flow Yoga, with an historical overview and an explanation of the basics of practice • the energetic side of this practice, including subtle body, meditation, sound (Nada Yoga), prana, pranayama, koshas (sheaths of the subtle body), chakras, nadis (energy pathways), and bandhas (energy locks), and more • the Bhakti Flow Yoga lifestyle: An overview of Ayurveda, including the doshas (constitution), nutrition, taste, and digestion, along with recommended Ayurvedic diet guidelines for general health. The section on vegetarianism offers practical advice on making the diet work for you. • the practice of Bhakti Flow Yoga: The section is divided into pose families, which include Basics, Standing Poses, Standing Balance Poses, Core, Arm Balances and Inversions, Backbends, Seated Poses and Twists, and Restorative Poses. The author unpacks each of the yoga poses, with details on both physical and spiritual considerations of each pose. There are also discussions on drishti (point of focus), how to start a home practice, and practical tips for pregnant students or those with high blood pressure. Rusty Wells includes two sample sequences, along with recommendations on sequencing in general. The Beginner's Sequence is gentle, complete, and accessible for all body types. The Surya Flow 1 Sequence is an example of a strong one-hour vinyasa practice that can easily be a launching pad for more creativity. Wells also provides valuable insights on teaching yoga.