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Books for Teens and Adults
Instructional and Inspirational
Titles Beginning with Y and Magazines
Susan Helene Kramer
Susan Helene Kramer
susan@susankramer.com


Book Reviews
1. Aging with Grace by David Snowdon, Ph.D.
1a. A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle
2. Art of Pilgrimage by Phil Cousineau
3. Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda
4. Bhagavad Gita translated by Antonio T. de Nicolás
5. Chakra Mantras by Thomas Ashley-Farrand
6. Collected Works of Ramana Maharshi by Arthur Osborne, Editor
7. Disappearance of the Universe, The by Gary R. Renard
8. Divine Interventions by Dan Millman and Doug Childers
9. Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
10. Faith Club, The by Ranya Idliby, Suzanne Oliver and Priscilla Warner
10a. God Speaks through the Holy Spirit by Susan Helene Kramer
11. How to Know God by Deepak Chopra
12. Integral Yoga Hatha by Sri Swami Satchidananda
13. Karmapa - The Politics of Reincarnation by Lea Terhune
14. Kite Runner, The by Khaled Hosseini
15. Left Behind Series, The by Jerry B. Jenkins and Tim LaHaye
16. Life After Death - The Burden of Proof by Deepak Chopra
17. Life of Pi by Yann Martel
17a. Light Behind the Angels by Lauren D'Silva
18. Love, Medicine and Miracles by Bernie S. Siegel, M.D.
19. Man's Eternal Quest by Paramahansa Yogananda
20. Meditation for Teens and Adults by Susan Kramer
21. Mudras - Yoga in your Hands by Gertrud Hirschi
22. Mystics, Masters, Saints, and Sages by Robert Ullman and Judyth Reichenberg-Ulman
22a. Our Lady of Fatima by William T. Walsh
22b. Power of Now, The by Eckhart Tolle
23. Quiet Mind - One-Minute Retreats from a Busy World by David Kundtz
24. Red Tent, The by Anita Diamant
25. Revelation of Saint John, The by Zachary F. Lansdowne
26. Second Coming of Christ, The by Paramahansa Yogananda
27. Singing Bowl Exercises for Personal Harmony by Anneke Huyser
28. Soul Aflame - A Modern Book of Hours by Phil Cousineau and Eric Lawton
29. Soul Mate Dolls by Noreen Crone-Findlay
30. String and a Prayer - How to Make and Use Prayer Beads by E. Wiley and M. O. Shannon
31. Yoga of Jesus, The by Paramahansa Yogananda
31a. Yoga of the Bhagavad Gita by Paramahansa Yogananda
32. Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, The by Sri Swami Satchidananda

Magazine

33. Integral Yoga Magazine - Quarterly Journal

More Reviews
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Titles Beginning with Y and Magazines

31. Yoga of Jesus, The by Paramahansa Yogananda

Another wonderful book from the insight of Paramahansa Yogananda has fallen into our laps - literally our meditation lap. The Yoga of Jesus, subtitled Understanding the Hidden Teachings of the Gospels is a inspiring, uplifting guide for daily living. As all of Yogananda's books are, it is so clear, that what we think is esoteric is made to be practical; it makes sense.
The Yoga of Jesus by Paramahansa Yogananda
Just looking at the front cover art depicting Jesus in meditation, upper body immersed in white light lifts the reader into a receptive mood for the inspiring message within the covers. And the drawing by Heinrich Hofmann of The Sermon on the Mount is delicate and I think carries a spiritual vibration.

The content of the book is excerpted from the very large mother volume in a set of two books titled The Second Coming of Christ. I'm glad the publisher thought to create this volume that centers on these topics from the Table of Contents: Part I. Jesus the Christ - Avatar and Yogi; Part II. "One Way" or Universality?; Part III. Jesus' Yoga of Divine Love; plus a Glossary of spiritual terms.

I'd like to share a quote that particularly inspired me. "Remember, Christ seeks the temples of true souls. He loves the quiet shrine of devotion in your heart where your abide with him, there in the sanctuary aglow with the vigil light of your love. Those who meditate devoutly will receive Christ on the altar of calmness in their own consciousness." - from page 10.

The section I am happiest to see included is Chapter 3, Inner Teachings of Jesus the Yogi, How Every Soul Can Attain Christ Consciousness which explains about the importance of communing with the Holy Comforter, the Holy Ghost, the Word, Aum, Cosmic Vibration or other names for the same experience.

The chapter goes into great detail on how to capture this comforting spiritual experience for yourself, which by the way, I first experienced about half a year after beginning meditation from a touch on my forehead by Paramahansa Yogananda in a spiritual dream. Just 2 months before the dream I had first read his Autobiography of a Yogi, my all-time favorite book.

I cannot say enough about the Holy Cosmic Vibration as it truly has been my comfort in life's ups and downs for 30 years now.

Read and be inspired by this little volume, a clear and concise collection of nuggets of wisdom from a truly great spiritual master who clarifies some of the teachings of Jesus the Christ!

Details - 160 page paperback; Self Realization Fellowship Pub (August 24, 2007); 8.8 by 5.0 by 0.5 inches; ISBN-10: 0876125569 ISBN-13: 978-0876125564

To buy from Amazon.com -

The Yoga of Jesus by Paramahansa Yogananda


31a. Yoga of the Bhagavad Gita by Paramahansa Yogananda

The Yoga of the Bhagavad Gita by Paramahansa Yogananda joins his other fine books in inspiring the sincere devotee to spend the time necessary to attain self-realization in this very lifetime.
The Yoga of the Bhagavad Gita by Paramahansa Yogananda
The book is divided into 2 sections. The first part is commentary and explanations of the terms and setting in the Bhagavad Gita. The second section is the full ancient text told by Paramahansa Yogananda.

I feel it is very important to the novice reader, especially, to thoroughly read the first section so that the Bhagavad Gita, which is an allegory, can be most intuitively understood.

Quote from Part 1, page 18:
"The devotee is aware that the most important objective in life is to attain the goal of Self-realization: to know through meditation his true soul nature and its oneness with ever blissful Spirit."

This book is part of a larger 2-volume work called God Talks With Arjuna which is the recommended read for those who wish more in-depth study. If a new spiritual seeker picked up the story and read it through, the meaning might portray the good and bad points in the battle between Lord Krishna and Arjuna, only. But after time in deep meditation and analysis using the information that intuitively flows from your own eternal depths, more of the great meaning becomes clear.

Be it yesteryear or today that message is the same. Clinging to and attachment to the ego in the way of sense enjoyments doesn't leave space for enjoying the infinite freedom of self-realization moment to moment. And there is such a world of difference.

When attached to worldly battles, with all the conquests the ego looks for leaves nothing but sadness as each satisfaction disappears when new wants, new battles, present themselves.

Rather by keeping on an even keel, remaining in charge of the reigns of the chariot the path through life's ups and downs is stable, harmonious and secure in letting the driver of the chariot remain in control, above it all.

This is a best choice in classic spiritual literature and if you really want to explore the deeper side of life it is a book worth devoting time to by studying and reflecting on in your meditation.

Recommended for the sincere seeker. Paramahansa Yogananda's commentary throughout is insightful, uplifting.

Details: 192pp.; Published by Self-Realization Fellowship 2007; 9 by 6 inches paperback; ISBN-10: 0876120338 ISBN-13: 978-0876120330

Here is the link at Amazon.com:
The Yoga of the Bhagavad Gita by Paramahansa Yogananda

 
32. Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, The by Sri Swami Satchidananda

The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali - Translation and Commentary by Sri Swami Satchidananda is my all-time favorite book on explaining the relationship of body-mind-spirit.
The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali by Sri Swami Satchidananda
Step by step the reader is led on a journey of insight for gaining mastery of the mind - rather than being led on a wild goose chase by the mind's ever new desires.

The original sutras are in Sanskrit and insightfully explained in English by Sri Swami Satchidananda - a world-renowned spiritual master of the 20th century.

Satchidananda's kind, caring heart shows as a teacher in his thorough explanations of the original sutras. The insights of bygone days are brought to the modern world in words we can understand today.

Swami Satchidananda was a leading world leader in the interfaith ecumenical movement, especially through spearheading the Light of Truth Universal Shrine, LOTUS, in Buckingham, Virginia, 50 miles south of Charlottesville.

I knew him personally for more than 25 years and was always amazed by his keen insight and wisdom, which he could apply to any question posed to him. This ability comes after developing clarity of mind, and he applied it in this interpretation of Patanjali's sutras for today's world.

Now, it is up to each of us to trace the route Patanjali laid out, and apply the insight learned by taking time to reflect and meditate upon each sutra.

Spiritual students can use the book as a self-paced course by taking time to write their developing understandings of the sutras in a journal for periodic review and reflection.

Highest recommendation!

Details - 236 pages from Integral Yoga Publications; ISBN: 0932040381.

Available at this link at Amazon.com

The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali by Sri Swami Satchidananda

33. Integral Yoga Magazine - Quarterly Journal

Sharpen your practices by subscribing to Integral Yoga Magazine, an ecumenical quarterly journal on yoga and meditation applied to daily life, inspired by its founder, Swami Satchidananda.

Each issue contains at least one article from the archives of Swami Satchidananda (1914-2002), and his master, Swami Sivananda of Rishikesh, India, (1887-1963).
Integral Yoga Magazine; this cover art by Peter Max
The bulk of in-depth articles are by knowledgeable professionals in their field. Each issue is about 8.5 by 11 inches and has approximately 48 pages of text; the interior is black and white with clear photos of the article authors, with mini-bio and contact information.

The magazine covers are in color and mostly depict inspiring photos from Swami Satchidananda's life.

Here is a sampling of article titles from a recent issue:

- Sankirtan Yoga by H. H. Sri Swami Sivananda

- Listening to the Sound Within by H. H. Sri Swami Satchidananda

- The Perfect Panacea by Swami Karunananda

- Special Section: The Yoga of Sound - includes interview on Nada Yoga with Yogi Hari; Kirtan and the World's sacred Chant Traditions by Steven J. Rosen; The Vibrational Science of Mantra - an interview with Jonathan Goldman; The Gentle Art of Meditative Toning by David Gordon; Kirtan - Singing to the Inner Vastness of the Heart - an interview with Jai Uttal; Shabad Yoga - The Sounds of Wisdom - an interview with Snatam Kaur.

- Inside the Yoga Sutras - the Mystic OM by Reverend Jaganath Carrera

- Yoga for Your Personal Finances by Jacqueline Richards

Click on the photo above and check out the sample articles.

When my issue of Integral Yoga Magazine arrives each quarter - Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall, I drop what I'm doing and sit down for an hour to breeze through the offerings.

Then, later in the evening I'm sure to be spending time digesting the whole magazine, which to me is a banquet of nourishment and encouragement in my meditation and yoga practices.

Reading about others being successful on the spiritual path is such a positive incentive to me, a boost of energy. I think it will be for you also.

My highest recommendation!

To view sample articles and order go to this link:
Integral Yoga Magazine


Books for teaching toddlers to teens by Susan Kramer

All reviews, summaries and content on this site are copyright Susan Kramer
 and may not be used in any manner without express written permission.
Email: susan@susankramer.com



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