Religion is a matter of experience. Your religion must become a heartfelt realization that your true nature is spiritual, that you are one with the universal spirit. Vedanta stresses the idea of self-effort. It encourages everyone to realize the God within by certain methods, called yogas, which channel the tendencies we already possess. The ideal is to practice a harmonious balance of the four yogas:
is for the person with an emotional nature, the lover. It teaches a devotional relationship with God, since God is love itself.
is the approach to spiritual enlightenment through discrimination and reason. This makes strong use of the powers of the mind. It is the of the philosopher who wants to go beyond the visible universe.
is for the worker. It teaches us how to work in a spirit that will bring peace of mind, and yet harness the natural desire to be productive.
is sometimes called the yoga of meditation. It is the soul of all the yogas. The emphasis here is on controlling the mind through concentration and meditation. Raja yoga is also called the psychological way to union with God.
None of the yogas asks you to give up your reason and put it in the hands of a spiritual teacher or religious leader.
For further information, please select one of the titles below.
by Swami Vivekananda
by Swami Prabhavananda
Swami Prabhavananda explains what love of God mean and the characteristics of divine love.
by Swami Prabhavananda
a talk by Swami Prabhavananda
Swami Prabhavananda explores the ancient question of whether spiritual aspirants should become monastics or be married.
translated by Swami Prabhavananda and Christopher Isherwood
The Yoga Aphorisms of Patanjali is a major work on the practice of yoga and meditation. Through these aphorism you will learn how to control your mind and achieve inner peace and freedom. Although these methods were taught over 2000 years ago, they are as alive and effective today as they have ever been.
is for the person with an emotional nature, the lover. It teaches a devotional relationship with God, since God is love itself.
is the approach to spiritual enlightenment through discrimination and reason. This makes strong use of the powers of the mind. It is the of the philosopher who wants to go beyond the visible universe.
is for the worker. It teaches us how to work in a spirit that will bring peace of mind, and yet harness the natural desire to be productive.
is sometimes called the yoga of meditation. It is the soul of all the yogas. The emphasis here is on controlling the mind through concentration and meditation. Raja yoga is also called the psychological way to union with God.