Jnâna Yoga, Part II: Seven Lectures

“One of the great thought challengers of the day is this work by the Swâmi Vivekânanda. The book goes deep and treats of startling things, but when analyzed and viewed from the author’s standpoint, they are found to be links in the great chain of truth. He alone will deny who is out of sympathy or limited in vision.”—Transcript, Boston, Sept. 24, 1902.

“Students of religion will find much of interest in it; those who care for India in any way will be glad to receive an indication of high Hindu thought in one of the most striking religious movements of the day; while the orthodox Christian will derive some information from the work regarding the attitude of cultured Hindus toward Christianity and its Founder. After reading the book one is inexcusable if his ideas concerning Vedânta are hazy.”—New York Saturday Review of Books, July 12, 1902.

“The altruism with which his preaching is permeated attracts and inspires. The love of humanity which he inculcates harmonizes with the spirit of the age, His English is good, his style easy to read, his sincerity unquestionable. Merely as an intelligent presentation of what is best in the ancient Hindu Scriptures, the Swâmi Vivekânanda’s book is deserving of attention at the hands of religious students.”—Record-Herald, Chicago, Aug. 19, 1902.

“The lectures are all extremely interesting, the style brilliant, the reasoning often subtle. Whether the philosophy advanced is satisfactory or not to those whose theories are the outgrowth of a different system of thought, his method of presenting it affords an intellectual pleasure.”—Journal, Indianapolis, Oct. 13, 1902.

“The whole spirit of the book is candid in the extreme. It appeals to what is best and noblest in man. It makes no foolish mysteries and demands no blind belief. It puts forth its system in a plain and simple manner. It is able to present its own method without in any way attacking the method of others. It manifests a charity that it is usual to call Christian but which Vivekânanda proves is equally the property of the Hindu. If this little book had nothing to teach but the beautiful toleration it advocates, it would be well worth reading; but many will find in it valuable suggestions to aid in reaching the higher life.”—Arena, Mar., 1897.

“A valuable portion of the volume to students is the glossary of Sanskrit technical terms. This includes not only such terms as are employed in the book, but also those frequently employed in works on the Vedânta philosophy in general.”—New York Times, July 22d, 1899.

“The methods of practical realization of the divine within the human are applicable to all religions, and all peoples, and only vary in their details to suit the idiosyncrasy of race and individuals.”—Post, Washington, D. C., June 12th, 1899.

Râmakrishna was a great Hindu saint of the nineteenth century who has already had an influence on the religious thought of America and England through the teachings of his disciples, Swâmi Vivekânanda, Swâmi Abhedânanda, and others. His Sayings are full of broad practical, non-sectarian instructions concerning the spiritual life which cannot but give help and inspiration to the followers of all creeds. The present volume contains a larger number of Sayings than has yet appeared in any one English collection. For the first time also they have been classified into chapters and arranged in logical sequence under marginal headings, such as “All creeds paths to God,” “Power of Mind and Thought,” “Meditation,” “Perseverance.” As an exposition of the universal truths of Religion and their application to the daily life this book takes its place among the great scriptures of the world.

“This little book gives an account of the character and career of the remarkable man known in India as Paramahamsa Srimat Râmakrishna, who is regarded by a great number of his countrymen as a divine incarnation. It is not more remarkable for the story it tells of a holy man than for the clear English in which it is told, and the expressions of elevated thought in its pages.”—Journal, Indianapolis, May 13th, 1901.

“The book, besides telling the life of Sri Râmakrishna, gives an insight into some of the religious ideas of the Hindus and sets forth the more important ideals that vitally influence India’s teeming millions. If we are willing to sympathetically study the religious views of our Aryan brethren of the Orient, we shall find them governed by spiritual concepts in no way inferior to the highest known to ourselves, concepts which were thought out and practically applied by these ancient philosophers in ages so remote as to antedate history.”—Post, Washington, May 13th, 1901.