Kirpal Singh
The Crown of Life
Dedication
The Author and His Theme
Preface
Part I – The Yogic Patterns
Chapter I – Yoga: An Introduction
I. Vritis: What they are
II. Soul and Oversoul
III. Prakriti or Matter
IV. Relationship between the three Bodies and the five Koshas
V. Division of Creation according to the Koshas
Chapter II – Yog Vidya and Yog Sadhna – The Path of Yoga in Theory and Practice
I. The Basis of Ancient Yoga
(i) Origin and Technique of the Yoga System
(ii) Fundamental Concepts
II. The Path and the Branches of Ashtang Yoga
(i)–(ii) Yamas and Niyamas
(iii) Asanas
a) Asana as a Form of Yoga
b) Advantages of Asanas
c) Perfection in Asanas – Asana Siddhi
d) Food
(iv) Pranayam or Yogic Breathing
a) Plexuses or Chakras
b) Pranayam: Elementary Exercises
c) Sukh Purvak Pranayam – Easy and comfortable Form of Pranayam
d) Pranayam as a Form of Yoga – The Prana Yoga
e) Pranic Discipline
f) Advantages of Prana Yoga
(v) Pratyahara or Sense Control – Withdrawal and Abstraction
(vi) Dharna or Samyam – Absorption or Concentration
a) Dharna as a Form of Yoga – Mansik Yoga
b) Chart of the Chakras or Plexuses
(vii) Dhyan – Contemplation or Meditation
a) Dhyan as a System of Yoga – The Yoga of Contemplation
b) Advantages of Dhyan Yoga
(viii) Samadhi
a) Samadhi Yoga
III. Ashtang Yoga and Modern Man
Chapter III – The Forms of Yoga
I. Mantra Yoga – or the Yoga of Utterance
(i) Technique in Mantra Yoga
II. Hatha Yoga
III. Laya Yoga
IV. Raja Yoga
V. Jnana Yoga or the Yoga of Knowledge – Right Discrimination
VI. Bhakti Yoga or the Yoga of Loving Devotion
VII. Karma Yoga or the Yoga of Action
VIII. Yoga of Meditation
IX. Yoga of Spiritual Experience
X. Yoga of Mysticism
XI. Yoga in the Zoroastrian Scriptures
XII. Yoga and the outer Sciences
Chapter IV – Advaitism
I. Self – The Basis of conscious Life
II. Nature of Creation
III. The Self or Atman
IV. The Nature of Self
V. Individual Knowledge and Consciousness
VI. Knowledge and its Sources
VII. The Nature of Brahman
Part II – The Study of Surat Shabd Yoga
Chapter I – Surat Shabd Yoga – The Yoga of the Celestial Sound Current
I. The Sound Current
II. The Cornerstones
(i) Satguru
(ii) Sadachar
(iii) Sadhna
III. A Perfect Science
IV. The Master
Chapter II – The Essence of Religion
I. Ancient Religious Thought: Indian, Chinese and Iranian
(i) Hinduism
(ii) Buddhism
(iii) Taoism
(iv) Zoroastrianism
II. Christianity
III. Islam
IV. Sikhism
Chapter III – Some Modern Movements
I. Rosicrucianism, Theosophy and ‘I am’ Activity
II. Christian Science and Subud
III. Spiritism and Spiritualism
IV. Hypnosis and Mesmerism
Chapter IV – Conclusion
Editorial Appendix
Note
