Ramakrishna-Vivekananda Center of New York

From the Introduction:

The spiritual quest begins with an awakening to the fact that the sense-perceived world of fleeting enjoyments is the abode of sorrow-where everything is uncertain and where a person finds nobody to call his or her own. The seeker feels intensely restless for the vision of Reality and struggles hard to reach that Reality.

The spiritual quest, from the point of view of yoga, is an inward journey-a journey through the layers of our mind, through the wilderness of temptations, desires, and delusions. The journey has its peaks and valleys, hopes and despairs. The journey is a solitary one, and the seeker's only companion is his or her own mind, known for its proverbial instability and restlessness. The seeker is required to train and educate the mind, distinguish between the facts and myths of life, and prepare for facing temporary setbacks common on the path. The yoga scriptures give us signposts on the path, by which we can judge our progress toward the goal. The Bhagavad Gita tells us that yoga puts an end to all sorrows of life when it is rightly practiced, and practice becomes right when it is steadfast, unbroken, and sincere. Yoga is both light and fire. Before it brings enlightenment, it burns everything false and imaginary. All our desires, enchantments, delusions, and attachments are consumed by that fire. Yoga is raising the blaze of Self-awareness.

About the Author

Swami Adiswarananda, a senior monk of the Ramakrishna Order of India, is the Minister and Spiritual Leader of the Ramakrishna-Vivekananda Center of New York. A noted writer and speaker, he is the author of The Vedanta Way to Peace and Happiness and Meditation and Its Practices: A Definitive Guide to Techniques and Traditions of Meditation in Yoga and Vedanta (both SkyLight Paths). He is also the editor of Sri Ramakrishna, the Face of Silence and Sri Sarada Devi, The Holy Mother: Her Teachings and Conversations (SkyLight Paths).

Endorsements

"Swami Adiswarananda's discussion of the yogic paths, and the goals and milestones on the journey to self-realization, is a must read for any person with a sincere interest in the perennial spiritual wisdom. Both scholarly and accessible, it is truly a guidebook to liberation.— Joan Borysenko, PhD, author of Minding the Body, Mending the Mind and A Woman's Journey to God

"Offers an accessible account of Hindu spirituality, rendered profound by the insights of Swami Adiswarananda. Both instructive and highly readable, I commend it to anyone with an interest in searching for a path toward answers to the timeless questions of human existence."— Shashi Tharoor, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and author of The Great Indian Novel and India: From Midnight to the Millennium

"I recommend this wonderful book to all seekers of spiritual quest. It defines Yoga as a `Light of Fire.' I as a rabbi define Torah the same way. People reading this book will find joy, love, wisdom and many blessings."— Rabbi Joseph H. Gelberman, senior rabbi of the New Synagogue of New York, founder of the All Faiths Seminary International