It is being increasingly realized and recognized by modern psychologists that meditation should form part and parcel of the daily routine of everyone, in order to provide a counter-balance to the intensely active life that everyone is involved in the present-day world. Meditation calms the mind, brings self-composure, and enables one to concentrate one's mental powers. This is a great blessing on humanity that such a life is possible.

Swami Vivekananda has been acclaimed as a dhyana-siddha, one perfected in meditation, by Sri Ramakrishna himself, who had personally tried out with incredible rigorousness the diverse modes of meditation laid down in different paths and faiths. The Swami's Raja-Yoga is an authentic and a popular treatise on this subject. In his Complete Works (in 8 volumes), this subject is touched upon on several occasions.

Swami Chetanananda, Swami-in-Charge of the Vedanta Society, St. Louis (Missouri), U.S.A., and formerly intimately associated with the publication work of our Ashrama, has carefully and painstakingly compiled Swami Vivekananda's thoughts on meditation al arranged them under suitable topical heads.

This book was first published in 1976 by the Vedanta Society of Southern California Hollywood, U.S.A. The first Indian edition of it is now being published by us, for which the permission has been accorded by the Vedanta Society of Southern California. We are grateful to them.

In his Foreword to the book, Christopher Isherwood writes: 'What Swami Chetanananda has done here is to bring Vivekananda in person, as it were, to teach us how to meditate.' Further, he adds: 'Reading his (Swami Vivekananda's) printed words, we can catch something of the tone of his voice and even feel some sense of contact with his power.'

It is our privilege to provide this 'tone of his voice' and this 'contact with his power' to the readers by bringing out this Indian edition of the book.

Of Related Interest:

Complete Collection of Books on Meditation

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