Demystifying Patanjali: The Yoga Sutras: The Wisdom of Paramhansa Yogananda as Presented by his Direct Disciple, Swami Kriyananda
After reading many translations of the Yoga Sutras over the years, I found Swami Kriyananda's commentaries and writings so lucid and practical in their application to everyday life. It is a blessing to have Patanjali's teaching accessible to everyone seeking the divine within. (Dennis M. Harness, Ph.D., Psychologist and Vedic astrologerJanuary 2013)Swami Kriyananda has provided an immensely readable translation of and commentary on Patanjali's Yoga Sutras. This central text outlines all the basics required for a balanced Yoga practice. It effortlessly describes and explains the various states of meditation. Patanjali outlines the foundational ethics of Yoga, including abstention from impure, distracting, and deflating actions. By rising up into the state of spirituality, one can overcome the myriad troubles of life. Swami Kriyananda adds yet another jewel to the treasure trove of Yoga Sutra interpretations. (Christopher Key ChappleJanuary 2013)The Yoga Sutras has generated almost as many translations and commentaries as there are sutras in Patanjali’s masterpiece. Inevitably, the takeaway for readers is different in each instance because the nuances of interpretation lead the student in radically different directions. Many versions were written by the gurus who brought the ancient tradition to the West, but one important voice, Yogananda’s, was missing. We will never have a Yogananda translation, but now we have the next best thing: a direct disciple’s interpretation of the master’s perspective. Because Yogananda’s role in bringing Yoga to the West is unsurpassed, Demystifying Patanjali is a welcome and illuminating contribution to the ongoing transmission. (Philip Goldberg, author of American Veda: From Emerson and the Beatles to Yoga and Meditation, How Indian Spirituality Changed the WestJanuary 2013)I enjoyed reading Demystifying Patanjali, which is a view of the Yoga Sutras from the perspective of Paramhansa Yogananda. Its personal anecdotes and other stories add to the narrative. (Subhash Kak, Regents Professor and Head, Department of Computer Science, Oklahoma State University, author of The Gods Within: Mind, Consciousness   and the Vedic TraditionJanuary 2013)The words of a great master, whether written by his own hand or recorded by others, are a vehicle primarily for the transference of his consciousness. By studying his thoughts we receive not only his meaning, but also his vibrations. The vibrations of Patanjali, until now, have been largely obscured by clumsy translations, or often even more obscure "interpretations." The power of this volume is not only clear, simple meaning, but also a clarity of vibration. This is a Patanjali we never knew was there: kind, practical, incisive, yes, but also generous and sympathetic to those who seek to embrace the vision of infinity he has attained. (Asha Praver)Demystifying Patanjali is particularly recommended for readers who are already familiar with 1) yogic philosophy, 2) Yogananda’s teaching, or 3) Swami Kriyananda’s numerous published works. (Birgit W. PattyNew York Journal of Books, June 2013)