Instruction
Yoga Tantra and Meditation in Daily Life
by Swami Janakananda
Tantra means liberating oneself by expanding inside one's own world. It is the philosophy that instead of changing one's whole life to become "spiritual", one can simply begin to appreciate every part of life as spiritual. This book by Swami Janakananda is a classic text among the first generation yoga practitioners in the West that explains the whole thought behind yoga practice from asanas to meditation to philosophy, all within the framework of a tantric approach to life.
The pictures and style of the book offer a peek into the world of yoga in the 70s when it was just beginning to formulate itself within Western culture. Fortunately, yoga ages like wine. Passed down for generations of teachers to students, older texts can show us clear glimpses of the original intention and timeless wisdom. This one doesn't go back as far as the Bhagavad Gita, but a lot has happened to yoga in the 50 or so years since it was first brought across the ocean. Swami Janakananda was a direct disciple of Swami Satyananda Saraswati, and his thorough knowledge of all aspects of yoga comes through in his practical and open-minded approach to the teachings..
In 1968, Swami Janakananda met Swami Satyananda and followed him to India. After his preliminary intensive training he decided to stay on and travel around India with his teacher. On his return to Denmark in the summer of 1970, Swami Janakananda founded the first yoga school in Copenhagen, the Scandinavian Yoga and Meditation School. Together with the teachers he has educated, he has strongly influenced the practice of yoga and meditation in Northern Europe. He and his colleagues regularly use meditation in daily life, particularly Kriya Yoga, a combination of advanced yoga and meditation practices, as well as taking an active outwardly directed life using Karma Yoga, combined with the tantric tradition.
Swami Janakananda lives in Sweden where, apart from teaching meditation, he collaborates with various scientists, researching the benefits of yoga and meditation.
High Praise for Yoga, Tantra and Meditation in Daily Life
" Swami J. offers his instruction without necessarily advocating a radical change in lifestyle... If I could keep only one yoga book, this would probably be the one. It presents more than enough information and exercises to keep one working for years and years." - John N., North Dakota
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