Meditation and Mantras

Rating:

(Note: I read another edition of this book. Apparently, this one should contain the translation and commentary on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, whereas what I've read did not. Since I haven't seen and read the Sutras, I'll comment only on the content of the copy I have studied - which should be the same less the Sutras.)

This book deepened my understanding regarding spirituality and some aspects of Indian culture and mysticism. However, it is not an easy lecture, although I'm absolutely sure the original ancient Indian works are much more esoteric. Probably in the past the guru would have explained the esoterism, but these days people want it crystal-clear. Anyway, I've read it three times and I now understand it better. Obviously, it is directed towards (almost) total beginners, but as such it isn't very practical, because be talks about a lot of things, but only superficially, and this is the reason I rated it three stars only. The title is a bit misleading, for this is definitely not a meditation manual. He talks about concentration, yet with only one exercise or two and no gradual plan.
So, yoga literally means "union", and it refers to becoming one with the divine in each of us. There are four paths going there:
Raja Yoga - a psychological system based on concentration and meditation. Hatha Yoga - the asanas/postures which are so popular these days - is part of Raja Yoga.
Karma Yoga - serving others for no personal benefit. Asians believe in the "Karmic Law", which means that everything you do (or even think) - good or bad - eventually gets back to you - this life or the next (my note: they believe in reincarnation, which is part of every religious tradition, including Christianism, until it was censored by church leaders 1500 years ago or so - look for "Dead Sea scrolls" to see the original teachings).
Jnana Yoga - an intelectual method, based on negation and refusing to accept parts of "reality": I'm not these emotions, I'm not these feelings, I'm not this body, I'm not this stupid behavior I've just done - you negate everything until what is left is the divine in you.
Bhakti Yoga - the devotion path, which is basically identical to the Christian way: you dedicate your life to serving God, until you become one with Him. It is said to be the fastest way, but it's not for everyone.
Each of us prefer one way to another, but should use methods and techniques from the other three ways to achieve balance, else fanatism is obtained.

The book touches a bit about diet (healthy, vegetarian and not too much quantity), breathing - pranayama (few sentences only), Yama and Niyama (similar to the Judeo/Christian Ten Commandments) and having a positive attitude.

Devananda touches the subject of concentration. The purpose of life is to obtain enlightenment, but to do that you need to meditate daily, which requires you to be able to focus your mind for long periods of time on the same subject. Once you are able to concentrate long enough, you need to focus it on the "inside" - only then you achieve peace, for - he says - the senses are just a distraction which hides the reality of our immortal souls. When you focus on something you should note sense the environment at all - see, hear, smell, etc, train your mind to ignore all inputs and dedicate to the subject of meditation. Mastering your senses and impulses is the purpose of every spiritual master.
There is a chapter dedicated to the five elements which make all the matter (including human bodies), and for me it was interesting to compare it with the Taoist (Chinese) cosmology.

The book follows on with mantras, which are energies contained in sounds which impact your astral and physical bodies. He says that sounds (vibrations) are very powerful - everything is vibration, including air, rocks and - why not - human body. There were Western experiments when playing musical instruments created specific shapes on sand surfaces nearby - each sound created its own shape. He says the mantras must not be translated, for the vibrations would change by changing words and letters to another language. Mantras are in Sanskrit, the "original language", as he says. There are even specific mantras to help curing snake bites. To "use" a mantra you say it - audible or mentally only - latter being the most powerful, but harder for a beginner with untrained mind, repeating it until you achieve enlightenment. There are abstract mantras or directed to something or someone, such as Gods.
What I've learned in that section is that - even if Buddhists have more Gods, actually they believe they are all the same God - The One, the deities they worship representing aspects of the same God. For example, Rama (an incarnation of God Vishnu - the aspect of balance) - is presented in Ramayana, and is the model husband and head of household, so is preferred by those who have or want to have happy families. Those with introspective nature, who want to eliminate negativity will prefer Shiva - the aspect of destruction, purifying, renewing, returning to the original. And the list goes on...

Another important thing I've learned from Devananda's work is the purpose of asanas and stretches: to unblock the nadis, energetic channels, so that the phychic energy flows freely. Since that day I stretch morning and evening :). In Indian/Sanskrit tradition that energy is named Kundalini, and there are enough books dedicated to "Kundaling awakening". (My note: the same energy is named Chi/Qi/Chee by Chinese, Ki by Japanese, (ka)Huna by Hawaiian people, Manitou by Native Americans, bioenergy/orgone in the West, etc.). The book ends with a description of the seven chakras, major energy hubs, including their - guess ! - mantras!

I've noticed that Devananda is occasionaly subjective and tries to "bend" or "direct" the reader towards the way he has learned and now teaches. For example, in one chapter he says pseudo-mantras - sold by some in the West - could only get relaxation, but nothing more, since they are not the original. On the other hand, in other place he says that by concentration on anything - a wall, a shoe, a sound, anything - you will eventually achieve enlightenment because God is everywhere and part of everything. So... I now think any mantra would work, but the originals are most efficient .

In short, even if the name would imply this is a meditation manual - or at least a book on that subject, it is not: lots of things are briefly explained, but not too practical. So, since "Meditation and mantras" is actually a book about "yoga everything" - and not good enough - in my opinion - to motivate a beginner to start doing something, I recommend "The Tao of Health, Sex and Longevity" by Daniel P. Reid instead. True, this book is about Indian tradition and Reid's is Taoist (Chinese), however, that is a brilliant introduction to a much healthier lifestyle than the one you currently live. Almost everything that Devananda touches in a few sentences or paragraphs, Reid explains in detail, many times referring to Western experiments and researches which validate ancient Asian tradition. For example, I believe you will find Reid's nutrition chapter very helpful and perhaps a life changer.
Not least, I believe that many books in Indian tradition are more complicated than they need be, mixing in mysticism and spirituality where that would scare a beginner away. People need it simple, those who have advanced enough to desire spirituality can look for books on that when they are prepared to accept such revelations, but again, it is not appropriate for beginners grown in a different tradition (Christian vs Buddhist). Reid's book is again superior in that respect (Taoism is very simple, maybe the simplest system), plus is maybe 4 times bigger, with explanations and practical exercises (with pictures) that you can start doing immediately. Maybe "Meditation and mantras" will make more sense after you have been "enlightened" through practising from Reid's book(s). This is what happened to me actually, I'm sure that without reading "The Tao" I would have understood much less from Devananda's work.