A compact treatment of Hinduism's complex religious tradition.

A colorful and inspirational portrait of Indian monastic life drawn from the author's personal contact with many senior swamis belonging to the second generation of monks of the Ramakrishna Order.

A practical guide to techniques of controlling the mind with special emphasis on meditation.  The author has mainly relied on Patanjali's monumental word, the Yoga-Sutras.

Chapters in the book are: Why We Should Meditate;  Teacher and Student Relationship;  Steps to Yoga; Yama;  Niyama;  Asana;  Pranayama;  Pratyahara;  Dhahrana;  Dhyana;  Obstacles to Meditation;  Hazards in Meditation;  Kundalini Power and the Six Chakras;  The Sankhya Theory of Creation;  Samadhi;  What Happens After Samadhi;  Japa;  Judging Our Own Spiritual Progress;  and Stress Relief.