Raja-Yoga: Prana and Meditation

About the book

A work to return to, not to consume.

In 1896 Swami Vivekananda published Raja-Yoga, the book with which he introduced the yoga of the mind to Western readers. This edition gathers five of its central chapters. It begins with prana, which he understands as the energy behind all movement, and presents pranayama as the control of that force rather than of the air alone. He then describes the centers and the kundalini in the language of his time, discusses rhythm, posture and caution, and moves into the inner path: drawing the mind back from the senses (pratyahara), fixing it on one point (dharana), meditating (dhyana) and reaching absorption (samadhi) without giving up reason. His tone is that of a lecturer trying to win over a skeptical audience. Some ideas reflect the science and esotericism of the late 19th century and are best read as history.

**Safety notice.** The text discusses pranayama, breath retention and kundalini awakening in the language of 1896. These are traditional practices, read here as content, not instructions: do not practice retentions or energy techniques without a qualified in-person teacher, and with pregnancy, high blood pressure, or heart, respiratory or psychiatric conditions, consult a health professional.