About The Book
SILENCE THE ILLUMINATED MIND Silence is such a profound and deep experience of human existence that only when we have understood silence can we understand the inspiration that has ever flowed to humanity from the minds and mouths of the great rishis, sages and prophets. The word mantra is connected with "man" through the verb root man, which means to think, to mentate, to contemplate, to meditate. So that "man" means the meditating species and the word mantra means that which becomes the core of his meditation. The Sanskrit word for silence is mauna. It is the act, the habit, the nature and disposition of a muni: a silent, meditating, contemplative one. And these words, mauna for silence and muni, the monk, the one whose disposition it is to be silent, are also derived from the same verb, man, to meditate. So the highest man is muni, the silent man.
About The Author
Mahamandaleshwar Sri Swami Veda Bharati (1933- July 14, 2015), was a rare Sanskrit scholar of our time, unsurpassed in his profound depth of knowledge, philosophy and practice of Meditation. He was born in a Sanskrit-speaking family and raised in the centuries old Vedic tradition. He taught the Patanjali's Yoga-sutras for the first time at the early age of nine and the Vedas from age 11. Having never attended any school, he received his M.A. from the University of London and a D.Litt. from the University of Utrecht in the Netherlands. From 1952-1967, he spread the Yogic and Vedic teachings in many parts of the world, including Africa and the West Indies. In 1969, he received the highest initiations into the mysteries of Meditation from his Guru Swami Rama of the Himalayas who linked him to the sacred lineage of the Himalayan Yogis. Thereafter he established and guided Meditation groups and centres in all parts of the world. He had access to 17 languages and taught Meditation in all of the major languages of the world and to followers of all religions. In continuation with the oral tradition of the living lineage of the Himalayan Sages, Swami Veda taught: "योगः समाधिः | yogaḥ samādhih | Yoga = samadhi | Yoga [is] samadhi. He proposed that the entire yoga science must be studied and practiced on the basis of this definition of yoga. All other definitions are subservient to it. He revealed the authentic teachings of Classical Yoga through his 1500 page commentaries on the (first two chapters) Yoga-Sutras. This commentary has been hailed among scholars and practitioners both as the most authentic and authoritative. He has recorded more than 3,500 hours of courses on all aspects of meditation, its texts, and philosophical systems apart from teaching the ancient texts like the Vedas, Upanishads, and the Bhagavad Gita in an experiential context for meditation. Following in the footsteps of his Guru, he maintained a keen interest in the scientific studies of yoga mediation and subjected himself to a number of researches in the field of Neurophysiology of the Meditative states. Swami Veda Bharati emphasized the universality of yoga as a science, which transcends chronological time, geographical boundaries, religious discrimination, and manmade sectarianism. Although he always liked to keep a low profile, he was well known for his teaching in different communities and cultures all over the world and for his expertise in instructing students in accordance with their own religion-philosophical background. During his lifetime, he participated in numerous interfaith dialogues, activities, and conferences with an aim of improving understanding among various religions. He found the experience of meditation to be the common ground among all religions. Prepared on the occasion of the United Nations 2000 World Peace Summit of Leaders in Religion and Spirituality, his short work, "Unifying Streams in Religions, provides a fresh perspective for bringing the different faiths closer together. In 2002, he founded Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama in Rishikesh, which houses the headquarters of the Association of Himalayan Yoga Meditation Societies International (AHYMSIN) and serves as the centre for his global network among nearly 100 groups in 26 different countries, spreading the teachings of the Himalayan Tradition. We can best repay his extra-ordinary efforts by availing ourselves of the fruits of his experiential teachings to further our own yogic practice for our own enlightenment and the welfare of all.
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