Rupa Publications India MANTRA YOGA: HOW TO INCREASE YOUR INNER POWER AND POTENTIAL

Jairam Seshadri, who practices Mantra Yoga for more than three decades proves through his book ‘Mantra Yoga – How to Increase Your Inner Power and Potential’ that there is a rational basis for chanting mantras and that the path outlined in Mantra Yoga helps one to attain their higher states. Mantra Yoga means the union of our present state of mind with our higher states. It helps us to spend quality time with ourselves in peace. In today’s busy world this is of utmost importance. I read this wonderful book which is full of wisdom and thought I share those bits of wisdom that I could gather with prospective readers .The author explains the subject in a simple language. There are four main paths to mantra yoga to attain enlightenment or Shanti viz., Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Raja Yoga and Jnana Yoga, all distinct, yet inextricably intertwined. Every religion has mantras, which are sacred and chanted with devotion. Though pleasure and pain are two sides of the coin, human beings are not born to be slaves to our own desires, but to master our internal and external worlds. He reiterates that every attribute exists only because its opposite exists. We can’t have one without the other, or to be precise avoid pain and seek pleasure forever. One more thing relevant here is that these states of minds are required to be relative to the state of others. Jairam states with reasons that Mantra Yoga deals exclusively with states that we can experience in the here and now.I appreciate the author Mr. Jairam Seshadri for his sensible efforts to popularize Mantra Yoga, which is an excellent tool to bring enlightenment and shanti, especially in these turbulent times and would recommend this book to the readers.

I got this book as soon as the link was shared with me. Two reasons. One is JS of course, but the more compelling one was the title.I remembered the times I was handed a book of shlokas/mantras with a firm hand and a stern eye. "Chant this". Or that. "Good for the family". Like the onus of the 'good-being' of my family was on me only and depended on my chanting. How? Why me? Questioning such traditions was met with alarm. And at that time, I was not motivated enough to pursue my doubts."Doubts are angels", says the writer quite early in the book. And I warmed to it."...bless those doubts that come!Welcome them and transcend them!""A lack of faith, then, is merely a sign that it is time for us to grow..."I was hooked.The book begins with a poem by the writer. It was a delight to see Jairam in the poem and read him in my head, in his voice, if you know what I mean. The poem sets the stage for what is to unfold—the quest, the path, the goal and their oneness with the seeker.I have not attempted a review of this book, simply because I am not qualified for that. As a reader with no knowledge or experience in the practice of Mantra Yoga, I found myself being handheld through an engaging tour of what Mantra Yoga is, why it is practised and how one could benefit by it. The language and style are invitingly simple. Analogies and references to previous scientific research on the subject are not intimidating. The writer systematically breaks down profundities to straightforward truths without being preachy. This reflects his grip on the practice. His dissection of its technique into "nuts and bolts" would keep novices like me with its pages. I will be putting away the book for now but I am sure I will go back to it one day to unpack its depths and delve into its wisdom.For those of you hesitating on the brink of the mundane, this book will nudge you just enough to take your self and your little world into your own hands. And as for wanderers like me out there, why the leap may be just around that corner! With, Mantra Yoga handy, you will know exactly what to do. And why to do it. And of course, how to do it.- Anju Kishore

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A difficult topic explained in a simple style.