Within the pages of "Jnana-Yoga," the profound collection of ideas penned by Swami Vivekananda, lies a transformative journey into the realm of self-realization and transcendental wisdom. Drawing from ancient Indian philosophy and his own profound experiences, Vivekananda unveils the path of Jnana-Yoga, the pursuit of knowledge and the realization of one's true nature. In this timeless treatise, Vivekananda dismantles the barriers of ignorance that shroud our understanding, inviting readers to embark on an inner quest for self-discovery. Through his teachings, Vivekananda illuminates the profound truths that lie at the core of human existence. He explores the intricate tapestry of the mind and its role in perceiving the world, emphasizing the power of introspection and self-analysis as tools for unraveling the mysteries of the self. Jnana-Yoga is an invitation to embark on an inward pilgrimage, to delve into the depths of our being and discover the timeless truths that lead to liberation. It is a guiding light that empowers seekers to awaken their inner divinity and merge with the eternal source of knowledge.

Jnana is Sanskrit for "knowledge or wisdom" and Jnana Yoga is the path of attaining knowledge of the true nature of reality through the practice of meditation, self-inquiry, and contemplation. Jnana Yoga can be defined as the "awareness of absolute consciousness," and is a comprehensive practice of self-study (Svadhyaya).In Jnana yoga, the mind is used to inquire into its own nature and to transcend the mind's identification with its thoughts and ego. The fundamental goal of Jnana yoga is to become liberated from the illusionary world of maya (self-limiting thoughts and perceptions) and to achieve the union of the inner Self (Atman) with the oneness of all life (Brahman). This is achieved by steadfastly practicing the mental techniques of self-questioning, reflection and conscious illumination that are defined in the Four Pillars of Knowledge. Jnana Yoga utilizes a one-pointed meditation on a single question of self-inquiry to remove the veils of illusion created by your concepts, world views, and perceptions. This practice allows you to realize the temporary and illusionary nature of maya and to see the oneness of all things.

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The four types of yoga are covered in length in the current book, along with its philosophy, psychology, and practise techniques. It provides a comparison of the four yogas, outlining their similarities and distinctions. By destroying the ego, karma yoga, also known as the yoga of selfless action, aims to address the issue of ignorance. We are tethered to this world by attachment because of the ego, which was born out of ignorance. The practise of bhakti yoga involves inward purification. Bhakti-central yoga's thesis is that love is the most fundamental human emotion. Love is cosmocentric and divinely inspired in its most pure form. Raja-yoga ignites the flame of awareness of the self within in order to reach the Divine.

Indian philosophy reflects some of the earliest thought-traditions in human history. The Indian thinkers of old aimed their pragmatic philosophies at not just the satisfaction of intellectual curiosity or pursuit of theoretical truths but actually the assimilation of intellectually discerned and established truths into one's own personality for a life of freedom and enlightenment. This is true of modern Indian philosophers, like Sri Aurobindo and Dr. Radhakrishnan, as well. Fundamentals of Indian Philosophy reflects the vastness and richness of this philosophic tradition in a comprehensive yet compact presentation that lays bare the essentials of Indian philosophy. Professor Puligandla takes special care to emphasize the methods, temper and goals of Indian philosophy even while delving into the specificities. All the major schools of the philosophic tradition are objectively and thoroughly analyzed.

At the 1893 Parliament of Religions in Chicago, Swami Vivekananda transformed Western thinking. He showed that, far from being an exotic novelty, Hinduism is an important, legitimate spiritual tradition with valuable lessons for the West. Pathways to Joy is a selection of 108 of his sacred teachings on Vedanta philosophy. In accessible and powerful prose, Vivekananda illuminates the four classical yoga paths — karma, bhakti, raja, and jnana — for the different natures of humankind. The messages focus on the oneness of existence; the divinity of the soul; the truth in all religions; and unifying with the Divine within. Invaluable and inspiring, the selections also explore karma, maya, rebirth, and other great revelations of Hinduism.

The goal of life is really knowledge, of the reality of things. We are apt to think that it is pleasure, and seeking pleasure in sense-gratification, we meet with so many disappointments and sorrows that we sometimes almost despair and are led to believe that all life is a vain dream with no sure foundation anywhere. It is an endless chain of cause and effect in which we are involved, and from which only knowledge of how to act without producing reaction can ever free us. Karma Yoga is meant to teach us exactly this, to make clear to us first the causes of our bondage, and secondly the method of getting rid of the causes and to avoid the effects.

“The Powers Of The Mind” is a speech delivered at Los Angeles, California, on January 8, 1900 by Swami Vivekananda explained his thoughts on the Powers of the Mind. This book brings together that speech for followers everywhere in his exact words.