Veggie Blog

This book presents a series of lectures about the higher stages of man’s spiritual development. The lectures describe the methodologies of the main philosophico-religious traditions that existed in the past or exist now on the Earth. This material illustrates the fact that the methodology of spiritual development is one for all people and that in this way God leads all people to Perfection. The book is addressed to everyone aspiring to find and to realize the meaning of our lives on the Earth, to cognize our common Creator, to achieve spiritual Perfection.

What does Forest Lectures on the Highest Yoga cover?

The book description says the book presents a series of lectures about the higher stages of a person’s spiritual development, and describes the methods of the main philosophical and religious traditions of the past and present.

What is the author’s main argument?

The description presents the author’s view that the method of spiritual development is the same for all people and that in this way God leads all people to Perfection. This is the author’s belief as the description states it.

Who wrote it?

Vladimir Antonov is named as the author in the title.

Who is the intended reader?

The book description says the book is addressed to everyone who wants to find the meaning of life on Earth, to know our common Creator and to achieve spiritual Perfection.

Everything above comes from the book description on its Amazon page.

What are mind and body practices?

Spiritual-development lectures sit in the large category the NCCIH mind and body practices overview calls mind and body practices, which includes yoga, meditation and relaxation techniques. These practices combine focused attention with movement, breath or contemplation, and they are studied for stress, pain and general wellness.

A talk about higher stages of development is a statement of belief, not a medical claim, so read it as such. If you try a practice described in a lecture, apply the usual checks: Who teaches it? What is the risk? What happens if you stop? The NCCIH overview of meditation and mindfulness says meditation usually carries few risks, though few studies have examined possible harms.

Ask a doctor first if you have a mental health condition. A qualified teacher is better than a transcript for hands-on methods.

More on this blog: Hatha Yoga Beyond the Workout: What “Hatha” Means, Its Traditional Aim and How to Practice Safely and Where Did Yoga Come From? Its Meaning, Early Texts and What Scholars Can Say

Book: Forest Lectures on the Highest Yoga by Vladimir Antonov
View this book on Amazon (affiliate link: we may earn a commission at no cost to you)

Ashram is the general term for a study center, retreat house, or monastic community in Hinduism, the millennia-old religious tradition of India. Ashrams of various kinds are now found throughout North America, and are popular venues for spiritual retreats, workshops, and classes.
Lighting the Lamp of Wisdom takes you into a typical week of retreat inside an ashram to demystify the ashram experience and show you what to expect from your own visit. You will experience all the elements of a typical day and week, including:

The colorful puja, or worship services
Meditation practices and yoga classes
Classes on Hindu scriptures
Chanting and music
Satsang: an informal talk with the ashram’s guru
Work practice
…and much more.

You’ll also meet some of the people who visit ashrams to hear their reasons for going there, as well as the spiritual benefits they derive from the experience. Also included are a helpful glossary, a list of books for further reading, and a directory to ashrams in
North America that will enable you to locate one near you and set up your own visit.

View this book on Amazon (affiliate link: we may earn a commission at no cost to you)

In today’s modern times, when man has lost touch with his innate wisdom, mental peace and equilibrium, this book is a gift to mankind from the very personification of compassion itself, Her Holiness Anandmurti Gurumaa. Apart from elucidating some of the common afflictions of modern times – stress, heart disease and hypertension, their background, prevention and remedies, this book specifically elaborates on the various yoga asanas, pranayamas, shatkarmas and the immeasurable benefits of yoga nidra. In a nutshell, this book is a boon for all those who are in search of all encompassing health, wellbeing and conscious living.

What will I learn from it?

The practices named are yoga asanas, pranayamas, shatkarmas and yoga nidra.

What does the description promise?

It describes the book as “a boon for all those who are in search of all encompassing health, wellbeing and conscious living” and speaks of the “immeasurable benefits” of yoga nidra. These are the description’s own words, and the book is not a replacement for medical care.

Who wrote it?

Anandmurti Gurumaa is named as the author in the title.

What kind of book is Health & Healing Through Yoga?

The description presents the book as the work of Anandmurti Gurumaa, whom it calls the very personification of compassion. It says the book addresses common afflictions of modern times, including stress, heart disease and hypertension, covering their background, prevention and remedies.

This is a summary of the book description, not medical advice.

What can yoga contribute to health, and what can it not?

Yoga is widely used as a complementary approach, which means alongside, not in place of, medical care. The NCCIH guidance on yoga says research suggests it may help people manage symptoms of some chronic conditions and improve quality of life, and it tells readers not to use yoga to postpone seeing a health care provider about a medical problem.

Words such as “healing” can mean different things: comfort, relaxation, a sense of well-being or a physical change. Studies tend to measure specific outcomes, such as pain scores, stress ratings or balance, and results vary by style and by condition. A good book on yoga and health will not promise to replace any treatment.

Tell your doctor about any yoga practice, especially if you are managing an illness or taking medicine, and ask which postures or breathing practices to avoid.

Related on this blog: Yoga for Stress: How It Works and Why So Many People Try It and Yoga and Type 2 Diabetes: What the Research Shows and How to Practice Safely

Book: Health & Healing Through Yoga by Anandmurti Gurumaa
View this book on Amazon (affiliate link: we may earn a commission at no cost to you)

These lectures [Delivered at the 32nd Anniversary of the Theosophical Society held at Benares, on Dec. 27th, 28th, 29th, and 30th, 1907.] are intended to give an outline of Yoga, in order to prepare the student to take up, for practical purposes, the Yoga sutras of Patanjali, the chief treatise on Yoga. I have on hand, with my friend Bhagavan Das as collaborateur, a translation of these Sutras, with Vyasa’s commentary, and a further commentary and elucidation written in the light of Theosophy. [These have never been finished or printed.] To prepare the student for the mastering of that more difficult task, these lectures were designed; hence the many references to Patanjali. They may, however, also serve to give to the ordinary lay reader some idea of the Science of sciences, and perhaps to allure a few towards its study.

Who is the intended reader?

The Amazon description says the lectures may also give the ordinary lay reader some idea of the “Science of sciences”.

What is the lecture series meant to prepare you for?

It says the lectures give an outline of yoga to prepare the student for the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, which it calls the chief treatise on yoga. That is why they refer to Patanjali often.

What is this book about?

According to the description, the book collects lectures delivered at the 32nd Anniversary of the Theosophical Society, held at Benares on 27 to 30 December 1907.

This summary is based on the book description on the Amazon page.

What was the Theosophical Society, and why does context matter?

The lectures in this volume date from 1907 and were given at a Theosophical Society meeting. According to the description, they were delivered at the Society’s anniversary meeting in Benares and meant to prepare students for the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, so they reflect that setting. They are historical documents, valuable for seeing how yoga was explained to a Western-influenced audience more than a century ago.

The NCCIH page on yoga describes yoga as an ancient practice rooted in Indian philosophy that began as a spiritual practice. A modern reader can use that as a baseline: early twentieth-century lectures sit between the original traditions and today’s fitness classes, and each layer adds its own interpretation.

Treat any exercise or breathing instruction in an old text with care, and learn physical practices from a qualified teacher. Anyone with health conditions should speak with a doctor first.

Related on this blog: Where Did Yoga Come From? Its Meaning, Early Texts and What Scholars Can Say and Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras: The Eight Limbs of Yoga Explained

View this book on Amazon (affiliate link: we may earn a commission at no cost to you)

Joanne Baker is a Qualified Kundalini Yoga and Meditation Teacher and wiith many years experience in this field has found it to be the number one key technology for weight loss and maintaining consistant weight management.

The kundalini breathwork, kriyas and meditations contained in this book are designed to effect the glandular system and the mind which increase the effectivesness of metabolism, mood and any addictive behaviour towards food. When the glandular system, mind and emotions are all working in harmony, and the person is following a healthy organic diet; it is impossible not to lose weight and keep it off!

Carefully laid out in in her book
“Weight Loss – I’ll Show You How” ; Joanne gives practical dietary advice and shares the secrets of her “Top Ten List of Weight Gainers” and “Top Ten Secrets of Weight Loss”.

What is Weight Loss – I’ll Show You How about?

According to the description, Joanne Baker is a qualified Kundalini yoga and meditation teacher who believes kundalini yoga is a key technology for weight loss and weight management. The book is called “Weight Loss – I’ll Show You How”.

What does the description claim about results?

The description claims the practices act on the glandular system and the mind, and says that with a healthy organic diet it is “impossible not to lose weight”. These are the description’s promises and are not confirmed here.

What will I learn from it?

The book contains kundalini breathwork, kriyas and meditations, plus practical dietary advice. The description also mentions a “Top Ten List of Weight Gainers” and “Top Ten Secrets of Weight Loss”.

This is a summary of the book description, not medical advice.

What should I know about weight management before reading?

A weight-management plan is more than a single technique. The NIDDK choosing a weight-loss program guide encourages you to put questions to any program before you sign up, and to raise the subject of your weight with your own clinician. Meditation and gentle movement can be useful supports because they affect sleep, stress and habits, which in turn influence eating.

The NIH yoga summary from NCCIH reports that weight loss is one outcome researchers have looked at in yoga for people carrying extra weight, and warns that the many yoga styles make results hard to compare. A promised “number one” method is advertising, not evidence.

Weight change that is fast, extreme or unexplained deserves a doctor’s attention. If you take medicines or have diabetes, thyroid or heart disease, discuss new diet or exercise changes with your health care team first.

Related on this blog: Losing Weight the Healthy Way: Eight Habits That Work and What Is Yoga?

View this book on Amazon (affiliate link: we may earn a commission at no cost to you)