Rating: 
Summary: Wisdom of the Ages
Review: At first reading this short book may seem too deep to cognize. But after study and reflection the Truths encased in this obscure treatise begin to roll around in your mind like a sacred vibration awakening the consciouness long after the words have been read.
For example, one point in the introduction regarding the yuga cycle has led me to a complete new understanding of history: it is a cycle not a linear progression, see www.TheGreatYear.com and another comment on the length and cause of precession (opposed to the lunisolar precession theory) has opened my eyes to the correct celestial mechanics of our local system, see www.BinaryResearchInstitute.org. I just can't say enough about this book and the profound wisdom of its author.
Commissioned by Babaji at one of the most sacred spots on the planet, The Holy Science is a book ahead of its time. It is not for all, however, if you already meditate and you are seeking a deeper understanding of world ages, knowledge of cosmic order and the keys to a mystic life, get this book. The kinetic wisdom of its pages will kindle the love of Christ within you - into a bonfire of joy!
WC
Rating: 
Summary: ok book, just not to digestable to modern readers
Review: I've read AutoBiography of a Yogi and from there found a Kriya Yoga group in my area and was initiated into this practice. I must say that it is rewarding as is any meditation practice. I personally can't say that it knocked me off my feet, but I like it, its good enough for me.
After reading several Kriya books and being to many satsangs, etc.... i have come to the conclusion that for most of us, these teachings have only a certain amount of appeal....the messages hold a certain relevance to modern life up to a point, after that it becomes quite dated.
Although I continue to gobbled up yoga and kriya related books as i can, i found most of them inspiring yet a little outdated. There are very few writers from this spiritual background who have been able to write books that continually speak to my modern experience. This one is no different yet I have much respect for it and its author.
Rating:
Summary: Immense, condense & serene wisdom from a great master
Review: If you want a unique insight into the shared and underlying truths behind Hinduism and Christianity, especially the Vedas and Revelation of John, then this exquisite, concise exposition could be ideal.
Like most SRUTI - revealed truth, this book needs reading, considering and reading again and again.
The explanation of the Yugas and the precession of the Equinoxes/Great Year ties up a lot of loose ends. Like the rest of the book, you have to work out the consequences of what is written here. (More on this in Celestial Fire by Robert Cox.)
Just buy it!
Rating:
Summary: A great scripture, but not for everyone
Review: In The Holy Science, Sri Yukteswar provides a concise summary of the spiritual path. However, this summary is difficult to comprehend in parts. Only advanced spiritual seekers, perhaps only those who are very close to Self-Realization, will fully comprehend this work, because many parts of it can only be understood with a highly developed intuition. Hence, this book has received mixed reviews from beginners on the spiritual path.
I am a disciple of Paramahansa Yogananda, who is the chief disciple of Sri Yukteswar, so my opinion is, of course, biased in favor of the book. I love this book because of its conciseness and the conviction and authority expressed in its words (as befits an "Incarnation of Wisdom"), but I am only a beginner on the spiritual path, so I don't understand all of it. Sri Yogananda's writings are much more accessible, but they are long, so I always find myself returning to this work.
Another reason to read this work, as a disciple of Sri Yogananda, is to be able to "tune in" to the wisdom of his Guru. I have found Sri Yukteswar challenging to relate to; he may appear to be too much of a strict disciplinarian for some, or cold and unfathomable. However, the essence of Yoga is love, and Sri Yukteswar expresses that in this book. The essence of Sri Yukteswar is wisdom, but that wisdom is rooted in love. Sri Yukteswar also has a keen sense of humour, as those who have read Autobiography of a Yogi (by Sri Yogananda) well know (see the chapter, "The Cauliflower Robbery").
I do not use the book as a means of understanding "the essential unity of the great religious teachings of East and West." Sri Yogananda's writings are far more effective for that purpose.
The source of Sri Yuteswar's Sanskrit verses remains somewhat of a mystery to me, but there is no doubt in my mind that they come from an authentic source. My present feeling is that the Sanskrit verses are actually Sri Yukteswar's own words that have been intuitively revealed to him by God. This make sense, especially if (as I believe) Sri Yukteswar is indeed revealing universal eternal truths of the Sanatan Dharma ("Eternal Religion", the path ultimately followed to the end by all spiritual seekers, although the specific means to that end may vary somewhat). This will perplex some people who don't understand Sri Yukteswar or saints in general, but as a loyal disciple of Sri Yogananda, I do believe that Sri Yukteswar is united with God, and so this book stands by itself as a unique and inspiring scripture which will be treasured in the ages to come by seekers on the Kriya Yoga path.
Rating:
Summary: Holy science vs hare krsna:Osho
Review: Someone said that the dates are wrong in this book concerning astrological points. It is not a question of right or wrong. It is a question of what are you. The knowledge in this book is at first not apreciatated. Osho said said behind wanting to follow a God there is fear. He said where their is true love their is no need to be in duality and that wanting duality and God was wrong. The creation of the superego in the Hare Krshna movement needs the silence of Osho and the uncovering of Sri Yukteswha knowledge. The silence and self study by buddhist or osho techniques will take you thru this book. You will need to know the atma-mind to be past it. To be past it and over Bhagavad gita 6(5-7)you will find this book completed.
Rating:
Summary: The Eternal Religion -- pervading ALL religions . . .
Review: Swami Sri Yukteswar (1855-1936), whose westernly-known disciple was Paramahansa Yogananda, was a quiet, demanding Bengali teacher of Kriya Yoga, the advanced form of raja (meditative) yoga that Yogananda has made so popular in the west. Sri Yukteswarji, however, did not have the effusive, entertaining style of his popular disciple, nor did he write in as easily accessible manner. This slender volume is nevertheless to be highly recommended to the serious student of yoga philosophy or raja practice, and especially to students of Kriya Yoga, for whom Sri Yukteswar's penetrating insights will fit together important puzzle-pieces of the yoga spiritual path. (Beginners to yoga philosophy and practice would be well advised first to read Yogananda's "Autobiography of a Yogi" -- perhaps a few times and taking in even the technical footnotes -- before tackling "The Holy Science." )The swami defines his volume's purpose to be: showing the essential unity of *all* religions. It is, but the emphasis definitely centers on parallels between John's gospel and Revelation and the yoga principles of India's Sankhya philosophy "Sanatan Dharma." Some of the most arresting parallels presented concern the way both teachings present concepts of "The Word", "Holy Baptism", and "Messiah/Satguru". Sri Yukteswarji does not expend extra words attempting to make unity persuasive to those who have a dogmatic conviction that their religion (Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, or whatever) has the "true" hold on "truth," so those who are so persuaded can safely skip this work. If, however, you have always had a nagging intuitive sense that there ought to be One Truth behind all versions of religious truth, time spent to assimilate the swami's realizations will be well repaid. As a bonus there is a fascinating introductory chapter which explains India's macro-astrology and the astronomical progression of the equinoxes ( the phenomenon which leads western astrologers to speak of the coming "age of Aquarius"). This introduction to the Indian astrological system reveals it to be remarkably sophisticated -- offering reason to pause and reflect on the implications of a possible cyclical nature of *spiritual* ages ("yugas" to India) -- and new hope that humanity's spirituality will start to catch up with its technology... providing we attend to our dharmas! Not an *easy* read -- but if you think you're ready for it, it can be an extremely rewarding one. PS: Although as of this writing the Amazon photo of the jacket makes this appear to be the Spanish translation of the work, this ISBN ( 0876120516 ) is actually correct for the English language edition.
Rating:
Summary: SPIRITUAL GIANT SINGS OUT ACROSS TIME
Review: Swami Sri Yukteswar's only book stands alone in that it was commissioned by the great Babaji for a specific purpose.(see Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda). It is difficult to grasp in many places but his wisdom and clarity are unmatched. His message rings out across the ages. It needs to be read in the context of Yoganada's Autobiography because it then becomes evident what a great being he was in that incarnation.
Rating:
Summary: Swami Sri Yukteshwar
Review: The Jnana Avatar (Incarnation of Knolege) Swami Yukteshwar has a very insightfull way of looking into the Vedas as well as the Bible. I had learned of him from Paramahansa Yogananda's book "Autobiography of a Yogi".
Sri Yukteshwar in my opinion has been severly under-praised. He is a brilliant soul, who never sought out any type of publicity. This book explains the Yugas (eras) in a very different way than commonly understood, and I have to agree with this author.
This book isn't very long, but it is packed with allot of usefull information. The author died somewhere between 1920-1940, and its hard to beleive it was so long ago, his vibrations come alive while reading the book. Sincerely, Eric Lloyd
Rating:
Summary: Swami Sri Yukteshwar
Review: The Jnana Avatar (Incarnation of Knolege) Swami Yukteshwar has a very insightfull way of looking into the Vedas as well as the Bible. I had learned of him from Paramahansa Yogananda's book "Autobiography of a Yogi".
Sri Yukteshwar in my opinion has been severly under-praised. He is a brilliant soul, who never sought out any type of publicity. This book explains the Yugas (eras) in a very different way than commonly understood, and I have to agree with this author.
This book isn't very long, but it is packed with allot of usefull information. The author died somewhere between 1920-1940, and its hard to beleive it was so long ago, his vibrations come alive while reading the book. Sincerely, Eric Lloyd
Rating:
Summary: Holy
Review: This book is quality, not quantity. Reveals the underlying unity of Hinduism and Christianity; the 'solution manual' to the scriptures of East&West. How truthful the fact that so few recognize its value and actually follow the procedure recommended therein; considering we only recently entered Dwapara Yuga (atomic age), predominated by indifference to the mysteries of life.
|
