What do you think?
Rate this book
Vedantic Meditation: Lighting the Flame of Awareness
As yoga gains popularity across the U.S., many people are becoming interested in its traditional Vedic roots. While Buddhist meditation is well represented on bookshelves, there has been little Vedantic philosophy written in lay terms until now. Author David Frawley guides readers through the challenges of cultivating awareness, calming the mind, and practicing meditation according to Vedanta and Hinduism. He examines how cultural knowledge systems in the West lead individuals to disillusionment, and speaks about how meditation can aid in understanding the true nature of one's thoughts, emotions, and perceptions. Frawley explores meditation support practices such as yoga, mantras, kundalini, and pranayama, as well as the role of gurus, and concludes with a short, more technical essay on self-inquiry.
138 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2000
32 people are currently reading
148 people want to read
About the author
David Frawley
140 books312 followersDavid Frawley (or Vāmadeva Śāstrī वामदेव शास्त्री), b. 1950, is an American Hindu teacher (acharya) and author, who has written more than thirty books on topics such as the Vedas, Hinduism, Yoga, Ayurveda and Vedic astrology, published both in India and in the United States. He is the founder and director of the American Institute of Vedic Studies in Santa Fe, New Mexico, which offers educational information on Yoga philosophy, Ayurveda, and Vedic astrology. He works closely with the magazine Hinduism Today, where he is a frequent contributor.[1] He is associated with a number of Vedic organizations in several countries. He is a Vedic teacher (Vedacharya), Vaidya (Ayurvedic doctor), and a Jyotishi (Vedic astrologer).
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
August 9, 2018
TRANSFORMATIVE BOOK
A succinct book which gives a lucid and coherent exposition of Vedantic thought and outlines what's involved in furthering your own spiritual practice. Although there were or two places where I would have liked more detail, the author answered a couple of questions that have troubled me for a long time, and helped me grasp some things I haven't thought about before. Invaluable - though he even points out that an enlightening book is no substitute for doing your own, authentic practice!
A succinct book which gives a lucid and coherent exposition of Vedantic thought and outlines what's involved in furthering your own spiritual practice. Although there were or two places where I would have liked more detail, the author answered a couple of questions that have troubled me for a long time, and helped me grasp some things I haven't thought about before. Invaluable - though he even points out that an enlightening book is no substitute for doing your own, authentic practice!
November 27, 2025
I hope its true what they say that anything you read gets lodged somewhere in your brain, no matter if you comprehend it at the time or not.
This is a compact, straight to the point guide towards vedantic style meditation, the type towards self realization of the divine. This had several parts that I feel I could comprehend briefly, which are great kernels of wisdom to internalize and hone focus.
Although keep in mind, focus is key. Hence why I feel I missed a bit of this. If you can maintain concentration in a relaxed and focused manner these concepts can flow much easier into your consciousness.
I found the advice simple and thus hard to confuse. Helpful sections on each potential limitation of reality we regularly deal with and a guide on how to approach situations like that is often common sense and quiet reflection. This can be a excellent refresher for anyone to bring back an inner peace.
This is a compact, straight to the point guide towards vedantic style meditation, the type towards self realization of the divine. This had several parts that I feel I could comprehend briefly, which are great kernels of wisdom to internalize and hone focus.
Although keep in mind, focus is key. Hence why I feel I missed a bit of this. If you can maintain concentration in a relaxed and focused manner these concepts can flow much easier into your consciousness.
I found the advice simple and thus hard to confuse. Helpful sections on each potential limitation of reality we regularly deal with and a guide on how to approach situations like that is often common sense and quiet reflection. This can be a excellent refresher for anyone to bring back an inner peace.
May 27, 2019
(4.5 stars) Elegant, simple chapters on Vedantic wisdom (not direct commentary on the Vedanta, but pithy encapsulations). I savored this book and didn't want it to end. Would make a good intro to yogic philosophy, and definitely a good review. I busted this a 1/2-star due to its occasionally scolding tone. Stop yelling at me, David Frawley!
August 11, 2021
Vedanta. Practice or Theology?
I am reasonably certain that mindfulness practises and meditation are extremely beneficial and very important. Important in the sense of, ‘come with me if you want to live’. The book describes some of this. And I think quite well. But the precise words are not particularly important. Use whatever ones work for you. Or use none at all. But above all don’t be mislead by them. Just do the practises and the meditation. Or remain wrapped up in nonsense, fakery and illusion.
In the book there is unfortunately just the hint of factionalism. There are varying traditions and bodies of knowledge along these lines. Each a little different. Consider the sheer odiousness of, ‘my Kung fu is better than your kung fu’. Especially when one of the core meanings of the words ‘Kung Fu’ is excellence. The idea/pretension/presumption of knowing for certain the absolute truth is a dangerous and misleading one. Down those lines lies, ‘There can be only one’. And we have all seen where that kind of thinking leads.
And as for all the theology, flurry of words, fluffy speculative metaphysics, ontological reifications ... Is it really necessary? Does it help at all? Does it even really make any sense? I am God, you are God, the Absolute beyond all thought ... Yeah. Whatever. I find a cool, considered “Don’t know” to be vastly preferable. And to limit my theorising to relatively simple things that demonstrably work like quantum field theory or neuroscience. Maybe some of our distant descendants will understand it all intellectually. Maybe not. Who knows. Maybe when it comes to the World what you see is more or less what you get. Which does not in any way negate the importance of meditation and mindfulness.
The important thing for us is what we CAN do, here and now. Don’t live in fantasy - especially someone else’s. Stop. Listen. Awareness. The right sort of Attention and effort. This is what I get out of these types of books. Nothing more and nothing less.
I am reasonably certain that mindfulness practises and meditation are extremely beneficial and very important. Important in the sense of, ‘come with me if you want to live’. The book describes some of this. And I think quite well. But the precise words are not particularly important. Use whatever ones work for you. Or use none at all. But above all don’t be mislead by them. Just do the practises and the meditation. Or remain wrapped up in nonsense, fakery and illusion.
In the book there is unfortunately just the hint of factionalism. There are varying traditions and bodies of knowledge along these lines. Each a little different. Consider the sheer odiousness of, ‘my Kung fu is better than your kung fu’. Especially when one of the core meanings of the words ‘Kung Fu’ is excellence. The idea/pretension/presumption of knowing for certain the absolute truth is a dangerous and misleading one. Down those lines lies, ‘There can be only one’. And we have all seen where that kind of thinking leads.
And as for all the theology, flurry of words, fluffy speculative metaphysics, ontological reifications ... Is it really necessary? Does it help at all? Does it even really make any sense? I am God, you are God, the Absolute beyond all thought ... Yeah. Whatever. I find a cool, considered “Don’t know” to be vastly preferable. And to limit my theorising to relatively simple things that demonstrably work like quantum field theory or neuroscience. Maybe some of our distant descendants will understand it all intellectually. Maybe not. Who knows. Maybe when it comes to the World what you see is more or less what you get. Which does not in any way negate the importance of meditation and mindfulness.
The important thing for us is what we CAN do, here and now. Don’t live in fantasy - especially someone else’s. Stop. Listen. Awareness. The right sort of Attention and effort. This is what I get out of these types of books. Nothing more and nothing less.
August 7, 2019
Deep and Understandable
Prior to reading this book i had little awareness or familiarity with Vedanta. The author presents the material in a format, manner, and method that makes understanding this deep and wonderful practice accessible to the neophyte as well as the established student.
Prior to reading this book i had little awareness or familiarity with Vedanta. The author presents the material in a format, manner, and method that makes understanding this deep and wonderful practice accessible to the neophyte as well as the established student.
January 24, 2021
Full of beautiful nuggets of wisdom. For such a small book it contains so much.
October 29, 2021
Wow
Do yourself a favor and read this book. If you're interested in gaining a clearer view of the landscape of love, this is for you.
Do yourself a favor and read this book. If you're interested in gaining a clearer view of the landscape of love, this is for you.
September 11, 2022
Clear analysis for this transcendental meditator. A paragraph or two here and there every day worked as an aid to practice (not a beginners handbook or shopping list).
January 22, 2026
Good messages but at times kind of confusing for me. Might be a personal thing
January 23, 2008
Eloquent and concise - this book really calms me down
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews