Yogi Ramacharaka

First published in 1903, "The Science of Breath" is the first of many titles on yoga and Hinduism by the mysterious Yogi Ramacharaka. There are no official records of this author and many scholars believe that he did not exist and the name is instead a pseudonym for the true writer, William Walker Atkinson, the famed occultist and pioneer of the American New Thought movement. Regardless of the identity of the author, "The Science of Breath" is an in-depth and well-written guide on both the science and philosophy of breathing in yoga and contains numerous lessons and exercises that remain useful over 100 years after its publication. This manual on the science of controlling your breathing includes chapters on both the spiritual aspect to yoga and breathing, as well as on the practical aspect of how to include these concepts into your yoga practice. Chapters contain lessons on such important practices as nostril vs. mouth-breathing, the Yogi complete breath, Yogi rhythmic breathing, and Yogi spiritual breathing. Both experienced and beginner yoga enthusiasts will discover a treasure of useful advice in this thoughtful guide. This edition is printed on premium acid-free paper.

Thousands of years before the development of Western social sciences of psychology, philosophy, religious studies, etc., the yogis of India, especially the branch of Raja Yoga, which dealt with human mental faculty, pondered with the same questions that today modern scientists are involved in. The results of many of these recent scientific developments clearly seem to be validating the premises of the Eastern philosophy, especially the Yoga Philosophy. This volume represents one of the best writings on the essence of Raja Yoga. As such, this book will be of interest to those looking for understanding human psyche, philosophy, spirituality, and an effective self help source in improving and developing the quality of all aspects of their lives. Last but not least, this volume of Raja Yoga will assist those who are ready in experiencing a glimpse of spiritual transcendence.

This book has been considered by academicians and scholars of great significance and value to literature. This forms a part of the knowledge base for future generations. So that the book is never forgotten we have represented this book in a print format as the same form as it was originally first published. Hence any marks or annotations seen are left intentionally to preserve its true nature.

Thousands of years before the development of Western social sciences of psychology, philosophy, religious studies, etc., the yogis of India, especially the branch of Raja Yoga, which dealt with human mental faculty, pondered with the same questions that today modern scientists are involved in. The results of many of these recent scientific developments clearly seem to be validating the premises of the Eastern philosophy, especially the Yoga Philosophy. This volume represents one of the best writings on the essence of Raja Yoga. As such, this book will be of interest to those looking for understanding human psyche, philosophy, spirituality, and an effective self help source in improving and developing the quality of all aspects of their lives. Last but not least, this volume of Raja Yoga will assist those who are ready in experiencing a glimpse of spiritual transcendence.

Thousands of years before the development of Western social sciences of psychology, philosophy, religious studies, etc., the yogis of India, especially the branch of Raja Yoga, which dealt with human mental faculty, pondered with the same questions that today modern scientists are involved in. The results of many of these recent scientific developments clearly seem to be validating the premises of the Eastern philosophy, especially the Yoga Philosophy. This volume represents one of the best writings on the essence of Raja Yoga. As such, this book will be of interest to those looking for understanding human psyche, philosophy, spirituality, and an effective self help source in improving and developing the quality of all aspects of their lives. Last but not least, this volume of Raja Yoga will assist those who are ready in experiencing a glimpse of spiritual transcendence.

Pranayama is a Sanskrit word meaning breath or life force. The Indian tradition of Hatha Yoga makes use of various pranayama techniques. Many of these practices are known for their overall health benefits especially for those practicing various forms of Yoga. Pranayama is often described as expansion of individual energy into cosmic energy. This book offers a complete manual of these breathing techniques with many practical exercises and understanding of philosophical, psychic, and spiritual aspects of pranayama practice. This is a large print edition offering clear easy to read version. This edition offers text printed in fot size 14. Yogi Ramacharaka, born in India ventured out early in life to hunt for the truth. He spent many years trudging back and forth across the East, fasting, meditating, and digging through the libraries of countless lamaseries and monasteries. His complete manual of Pranayama breathing philosophy, Gnani Yoga and Raja Yoga books are among his best known works.

Excerpts from the book: ..". It may be well for us to take a general view of the subject of Yoga. What is the end and aim of the teachings and the practices? What does it all mean? What is Man seeking for in all these endeavors? What does life, and growth, and development, and evolution mean? These are questions that thinking people are constantly asking, and which but few are able to answer even partially. The Yogi Philosophy teaches that the end of all human endeavor and life is to allow the soul to unfold until it reach with Spirit. And as Spirit is the divine part of man- the bit of God-material in him - this union eventually will result in what is known as Union with God - that is the bringing of the individual soul into conscious touch and union with the centre of all life."

Yoga is divided into several branches, ranging from that which teaches the control of the body, to that which teaches the attainment of the highest spiritual development. In the work we will not go into the higher phases of the subject, except when the "Science of Breath" touches upon the same. The "Science of Breath" touches Yoga at many points, and although chiefly concerned with the development and control of the physical, has also its psychic side, and even enters the field of spiritual development. In India there are great schools of Yoga, comprising thousands of the leading minds of that great country. The Yoga philosophy is the rule of life for many people. The pure Yogi teachings, however, are given only to the few, the masses being satisfied with the crumbs which fall from the tables of the educated classes, the Oriental custom in this respect being opposed to that of the Western world. But Western ideas are beginning to have their effect even in the Orient, and teachings which were once given only to the few are now freely offered to any who are ready to receive them. The East and the West are growing closer together, and both profiting by the close contact, each influencing the other. The Hindu Yogis have always paid great attention to the Science of Breath, for reasons which will be apparent to the student who reads this book. Many Western writers have touched upon this phase of the Yogi teachings, but we believe that it has been reserved for the writer of this work to give the Western student, in concise form and simple language, the underlying principles of the Yogi Science of Breath, together with many of the favorite Yogi breathing exercises and methods. We have given the Western idea as well as the Oriental, showing how one dovetails into the other. We have used the ordinary English terms, almost entirely, avoiding the Sanskrit terms, so confusing to the average Western reader. The first part of the book is devoted to the physical phase of the Science of Breath; then the psychic and mental sides are considered, and finally the spiritual side is touched upon. We may be pardoned if we express ourselves as pleased with our success in condensing so much Yogi lore into so few pages, and by the use of words and terms which may be understood by anyone. Our only fear is that its very simplicity may cause some to pass it by as unworthy of attention, while they pass on their way searching for something "deep," mysterious and non-understandable. However, the Western mind is eminently practical, and we know that it is only a question of a short time before it will recognize the practicability of this work. We greet our students, with our most profound saalam, and bid them be seated for their first lesson in the Yogi Science of Breath.