MIND - ITS MYSTERIES AND CONTROL

by Sivananda Saraswati

To everyone striving for success in life, the invariable stumbling block proves to be the turbulent vagaries of the mind. An undisciplined mind makes a man slave and wrecks his life. Controlling and subduing it is the most vexing of problems to the earnest seeker of happiness. The vital importance of the subject, therefore, prompted H.H. Sri Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj to write this comprehensive work "MIND-ITS MYSTERIES AND CONTROL." It is meant to serve as a valuable guide to all aspirants and it is also of immense help to anyone in any walk of life. Being the outcome of personal experience of the revered author and written with a practical end in view, "MIND-ITS MYSTERIES AND CONTROL" is a treasure worthy to be possessed and studied constantly.

-THE DIVINE LIFE SOCIETY

Genres: Meditation, Spirituality, Psychology, Philosophy, Nonfiction

311 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1946

About the author

Swami Sivananda Saraswati (September 8, 1887—July 14, 1963) was a Hindu spiritual teacher and a well known proponent of Sivananda Yoga and Vedanta. Sivananda was born Kuppuswami in Pattamadai, in the Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu. He studied medicine and served in Malaya as a physician for several years before taking up monasticism. He lived most of the later part of his life near Muni Ki Reti, Rishikesh.

He is the founder of The Divine Life Society (1936), Yoga-Vedanta Forest Academy (1948) and author of over 200 books on yoga, vedanta and a variety of other subjects. He established Sivananda Ashram, the location of the headquarters of The Divine Life Society (DLS), on the bank of the Ganges at Shivanandanagar, at a distance of 3 kilometres from Rishikesh.

Sivananda Yoga, the yoga form propagated by him, are now spread in many parts of the world through Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centres, but these centres are not affiliated with Swami Sivananda's original ashrams which are run by the Divine Life Society.

Reviews

[Vikram CL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before reading this book. You have to set your mind in a way that it has to think beyond the gross level! :D He has taken few years to study the subtle nature of the mind and his explanations are very precise. After I read this book, I somehow felt Dr Joseph Murphy looks like a kid in front of this giant personality, Swami Sivananda! :)

[Marina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Swami Sivananda è nato l'8 settembre 1887, il 14 luglio 1963 la sua grande anima è entrata in mahasamadhi ( la dipartita di un'anima realizzata dalla sua spoglia mortale). Questo è senz'altro il libro più chiaro ed esplicito che ho letto sulla mente e il suo controllo, e che ha come scopo la ricerca spirituale e la Moksha. La mente è la causa della schiavitù e della liberazione del ricercatore spirituale .Per soggiogarla occorre imparare a rivolgersi all'interno di noi stessi con la concentrazione e la meditazione. E qui, le motivazioni per farlo e le tecniche sono spiegate chiaramente. La giusta pratica spirituale (sadhana) porta al samadhi e alla realizzazione, la liberazione dal Samsara ( il ciclo delle rinascite). Consiglio assolutamente questo testo a chiunque voglia attuare una disciplina spirituale che lo porti al Nirvikalpa samadhi (stato di super coscienza privo delle modificazioni della mente in cui l'aspirante realizza la sua totale identità con Brahman o Atman). Personalmente ho apprezzato moltissimo che tutti i termini specifici vengano spiegati subito tra parentesi, e che vi sia alla fine un glossario completo. Sivananda dà consigli pratici sull'alimentazione, sugli orari in cui i praticare, e su come impostare la sadhana (ricerca spirituale) . Con serenità espone le problematiche che il ricercatore spirituale si troverà ad affrontare. Di certo lui è giunto alla fine del percorso.Perciò per noi, che non abbiamo ancora un guru, le sue spiegazioni e i suoi consigli sono fondamentali.

[Gurshinder Narang · Rating 2 out of 5]

I started this book with very high hopes but honestly I couldn’t finish it to the end. I have read books on similar line in the past but this book was completely out of my league. I couldn’t understand much of it and some was almost impossible for a common householder to follow.

[Lia Silva · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Fear not. The mind is no doubt extremely turbulent. Through repeated attempts you can perfectly subdue it.”
“You are the master of the mind.”