Yoga and Psychotherapy: The Evolution of Consciousness

273 Pages·2007·3.8 MB·English

by  Swami Rama

Yoga & Psychotherapy
The Evolution of Consciousness
ALSO BY SWAMI RAMA
BOOKS
Living with the Himalayan Masters The Art of Joyful Living Meditation and Its
Practice The Royal Path: Practical Lessons on Yoga Path of Fire and Light
Exercises for Joints and Glands Fearless Living: Yoga and Faith Happiness Is
Your Creation Perennial Psychology of the Bhagavad Gita A Practical Guide to
Holistic Health Spirituality: Transformation Within & Without Choosing a Path
Love and Family Life
Love Whispers
The Valmiki Ramayana Retold in Verse, Vols. I and II
Book of Wisdom: Ishopanishad
Wisdom of the Ancient Sages: Mundaka Upanishad Freedom from the Bondage
of Karma Creative Use of Emotions Celestial Song/Gobind Geet Japji:
Meditation in Sikhism Nitnem: Spiritual Practices of Sikhism CO-AUTHORED
BY SWAMI RAMA Meditation and Christianity Science of Breath
Yoga and Psychotherapy
AUDIO & VIDEO
Guided Meditation for Beginners A Guide to Intermediate Meditation A First
Step Toward Advanced Meditation Guided Meditation for Initiates Inner Peace
in a Troubled World Stressless Living
Spiritual Origins of Health Finding Meaning in Life How to Tread the Path of
Superconscious Meditation
Yoga & Psychotherapy
The Evolution of Consciousness
SWAMI RAMA
RUDOLPH BALLENTINE, MD
SWAMI AJAYA, PHD
HONESDALE, PENNSYLVANIA USA
Himalayan Institute
952 Bethany Turnpike
Honesdale, PA 18431
HimalayanInstitute.org
©1976 by Himalayan International Institute of Yoga Science and Philosophy of
the U.S.A.®
All rights reserved.
No part of this book in any manner, in whole or in part, in English or in any
other language, may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means,
electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any
information storage or retrieval system without prior written permission of the
copyright owner.
Printed in the United States of America 23 22 21 20 19 18 15 16 17 18
19
ISBN-13: 978-0-89389-036-0 (paper) Library of Congress Catalog Card Number
76-356228
This paper meets the requirements of ANSI/NISO Z39-48-1992
(Permanence of Paper).
Acknowledgments
We would like to thank the many colleagues, friends, and students who have
aided in various aspects of this book’s preparation. Several psychologists and
psychiatrists have contributed their comments and pointed out sections where we
were initially unclear in our presentation. We cannot express enough
appreciation to each of the many kind and generous beings who have facilitated
this publication.
CONTENTS
Preface
Introduction
Overview
Chapter One
THE BEAUTIFUL BODY
The Interaction between Body and Mind
Ecology of Body Versus Invasion by Germs
Biofeedback and Self-Control
Biofeedback and Yogic Feats
Chapter Two
BREATH AND ENERGY
Right and Left: A Universal Polarity
Swar Swarodayam: The Study of Energy
Pranayama: Discipline of Energy Control
Chapter Three
THE MIND: ANCIENT AND MODERN CONCEPTS
The Mind and Instincts
The Mind: The Internal Instrument
The Sensory-Motor Mind (Manas)
The Memory Bank (Chitta)
The Sense of “I” (Ahankara)
Buddhi
The Higher Sheaths or “Bodies”
Chapter Four
BUDDHI: GUIDE THROUGH THE UNKNOWN
What Is Consciousness?
Consciousness as a Filter
Memory and Repression
The Unknown Mind
Models of the Unconscious
Chapter Five
THE SECRETS OF SLEEP
Passive Volition
Attachment and Anxiety
Research on the Reduction of Anxiety through Meditation
Scientific Evaluation of Higher Meditative States
Sleep and Higher Consciousness
Chapter Six
PSYCHOSIS TO MYSTICISM: JOURNEY TO THE SELF
The Prototype of Attachment
Pain and the Process of Change
Psychosis Versus Mysticism
The Evolution of Consciousness: Separation of Purusha from Prakriti
Chapter Seven
THE SEVEN CENTERS OF CONSCIOUSNESS
The Chakras: The Inner Playroom
The Root Chakra: Fear and Paranoia
The Genital Chakra: Sensuality and Sexuality
The Solar Plexus Chakra: Domination and Submission
The Heart Chakra: From Emotion to Empathy