Sign-In
Cart
Raj Yoga: The Royal Path to Self-Mastery
Paperback
Please select the version of book you would like to purchase.
ISBN13: 9798184253657
Publisher: Independently Published
Published: Jun 25 2026
Pages: 202
Weight: 0.61
Height: 0.43 Width: 6.00 Depth: 9.00
Language: English
Publisher: Independently Published
Published: Jun 25 2026
Pages: 202
Weight: 0.61
Height: 0.43 Width: 6.00 Depth: 9.00
Language: English
RAJ YOGA
THE ROYAL PATH TO SELF-MASTERY
MASTERING THE SELF
Every tradition of self-mastery has its own name for the summit, but few carry the quiet authority of Raja Yoga - the royal path. Codified by the sage Patanjali in the Yoga Sutras, this system addresses something far more fundamental than physical posture: the direct training and stilling of the mind itself. Raja Yoga: The Royal Path to Self-Mastery offers a complete, accessible guide to this ancient psychological technology, written for readers who may have only ever encountered yoga through the postural fitness culture that now dominates its popular image.
THE ROYAL PATH TO SELF-MASTERY
MASTERING THE SELF
Every tradition of self-mastery has its own name for the summit, but few carry the quiet authority of Raja Yoga - the royal path. Codified by the sage Patanjali in the Yoga Sutras, this system addresses something far more fundamental than physical posture: the direct training and stilling of the mind itself. Raja Yoga: The Royal Path to Self-Mastery offers a complete, accessible guide to this ancient psychological technology, written for readers who may have only ever encountered yoga through the postural fitness culture that now dominates its popular image.
The book opens by correcting this widespread misconception, distinguishing Raja Yoga clearly from Hatha Yoga and situating it among the four classical paths - Karma, Bhakti, Jnana, and Raja - each suited to a different temperament, with Raja Yoga working most directly on the instrument of experience itself: the mind. From there, the book builds a careful map of mental architecture - chitta, manas, buddhi, and ahamkara - before arriving at Patanjali's central claim: that yoga is nothing other than the cessation of the mind's ceaseless fluctuations, the vrittis that keep ordinary awareness in constant, churning motion.
The heart of the book is a sustained, chapter-by-chapter exploration of the eight limbs (ashtanga) - the systematic path from ethical restraint through ultimate absorption. Beginning with yama and niyama, the ethical and personal foundations without which deeper practice cannot stabilise, the book moves through asana (the original, modest meaning of a stable meditative seat, not athletic postures), pranayama (breath as the bridge between body and mind), and pratyahara (the deliberate withdrawal of the senses). It then traces the progressive deepening of attention through dharana (concentration), dhyana (meditation), and finally samadhi - the dissolution of the boundary between observer and observed.
No honest account of this path ignores its difficulties. A dedicated section addresses these directly: the five kleshas, the root afflictions of ignorance, egoism, attachment, aversion, and the fear of death that generate the chain of ordinary suffering; the nine antarayas, the practical obstacles - doubt, laziness, illness, and instability - that interrupt sustained practice; and the deeper mechanics of karma and samskara, the accumulated mental impressions that shape habitual tendency and the patient methods by which sustained practice gradually loosens their grip.
The book's final section turns from theory to integration. It examines the philosophical foundation of Sankhya - the distinction between purusha (witnessing consciousness) and prakriti (active, changing nature) - that underlies the entire system, addresses the siddhis (extraordinary powers) and Patanjali's own firm warning against pursuing them, and offers concrete guidance for living this path through ordinary work, relationships, and decision-making, without requiring monastic withdrawal. A dedicated chapter places the tradition in conversation with modern cognitive science and therapeutic mindfulness, honestly identifying both genuine convergence and meaningful philosophical divergence. The book closes with kaivalya, the path's ultimate fruit: freedom understood not as something constructed through effort but as the recognition of a sovereignty that was, quietly, never actually absent.
Complete with a guided practice combining all eight limbs, a glossary of Sanskrit terms, and a tiered daily practice schedule for beginning, intermediate, and advanced practitioners. A reference guide to key sutras, this book serves equally as a thoughtful introduction for newcomers and a structured companion for those already on the path - offering not a foreign destination to strive toward but a quiet, practical method for governing the one kingdom that has always been rightfully one's own.
The heart of the book is a sustained, chapter-by-chapter exploration of the eight limbs (ashtanga) - the systematic path from ethical restraint through ultimate absorption. Beginning with yama and niyama, the ethical and personal foundations without which deeper practice cannot stabilise, the book moves through asana (the original, modest meaning of a stable meditative seat, not athletic postures), pranayama (breath as the bridge between body and mind), and pratyahara (the deliberate withdrawal of the senses). It then traces the progressive deepening of attention through dharana (concentration), dhyana (meditation), and finally samadhi - the dissolution of the boundary between observer and observed.
No honest account of this path ignores its difficulties. A dedicated section addresses these directly: the five kleshas, the root afflictions of ignorance, egoism, attachment, aversion, and the fear of death that generate the chain of ordinary suffering; the nine antarayas, the practical obstacles - doubt, laziness, illness, and instability - that interrupt sustained practice; and the deeper mechanics of karma and samskara, the accumulated mental impressions that shape habitual tendency and the patient methods by which sustained practice gradually loosens their grip.
The book's final section turns from theory to integration. It examines the philosophical foundation of Sankhya - the distinction between purusha (witnessing consciousness) and prakriti (active, changing nature) - that underlies the entire system, addresses the siddhis (extraordinary powers) and Patanjali's own firm warning against pursuing them, and offers concrete guidance for living this path through ordinary work, relationships, and decision-making, without requiring monastic withdrawal. A dedicated chapter places the tradition in conversation with modern cognitive science and therapeutic mindfulness, honestly identifying both genuine convergence and meaningful philosophical divergence. The book closes with kaivalya, the path's ultimate fruit: freedom understood not as something constructed through effort but as the recognition of a sovereignty that was, quietly, never actually absent.
Complete with a guided practice combining all eight limbs, a glossary of Sanskrit terms, and a tiered daily practice schedule for beginning, intermediate, and advanced practitioners. A reference guide to key sutras, this book serves equally as a thoughtful introduction for newcomers and a structured companion for those already on the path - offering not a foreign destination to strive toward but a quiet, practical method for governing the one kingdom that has always been rightfully one's own.
Also from
Jayalwal, Hem Raj Sharma
The Contagious Effects of Stress: How We Catch Each Other's Anxiety and What We Can Do to Stop the Spread
Jayalwal, Hem Raj Sharma
Paperback
$14.40
People Forget That You Forgot Them: Because Not All Goodbyes Are Spoken
Jayalwal, Hem Raj Sharma
Paperback
$12.00
If You Ever Feel 'Stuck' in Life: Emphasize on the Solution Rather Than the Problem
Jayalwal, Hem Raj Sharma
Paperback
$12.00
The Power of Now: Building a Life of Purpose and Continuous Learning
Jayalwal, Hem Raj Sharma
Paperback
$12.00
LalitĀ SahasranĀma: The Thousand Names of the Divine Mother
Jayalwal, Hem Raj Sharma
Paperback
$13.20
The Remedies of Mind: A Complete Guide to Mental Healing and Cognitive Restoration
Jayalwal, Hem Raj Sharma
Paperback
$21.60
Nobody Can Insult You Without Your Consent: Mastering the Art of Emotional Immunity and Inner Dignity
Jayalwal, Hem Raj Sharma
Paperback
$14.40
Every Struggle Teaches Something: A Journey from Self-Doubt to Self-Mastery
Jayalwal, Hem Raj Sharma
Paperback
$19.20
94: The Sacred Mathematics of Karma: Ancient Wisdom from the Burning Ghats of Varanasi
Jayalwal, Hem Raj Sharma
Paperback
$21.60
The Essence of Yoga Vashistha: Non-Dual Wisdom for Liberation, Living, and Self-Inquiry
Jayalwal, Hem Raj Sharma
Paperback
$48.00
The Power of Not Speaking: Psychological Wisdom for When Silence Speaks Loudest
Jayalwal, Hem Raj Sharma
Paperback
$14.40
Not All Friends Are Forever: Why I Let Go, What I Learned, and How I Grew
Jayalwal, Hem Raj Sharma
Paperback
$12.00
Living Between Birth and Death: A Spiritual Exploration Through the Lens of the Bhagavad Gita
Jayalwal, Hem Raj Sharma
Paperback
$13.20
Different, Not Wrong: How Embracing Diverse Perspectives Can Transform Relationships and Society
Jayalwal, Hem Raj Sharma
Paperback
$15.60
The Temples, Their Rise and Fall: A Journey Through Sacred Stones, Lost Glory, and Living Faith
Jayalwal, Hem Raj Sharma
Paperback
$19.20
Ekam SAT Vipra Bahudha Vadanti: Truth Is One; The Wise Call It by Many Names
Jayalwal, Hem Raj Sharma
Paperback
$14.40
Rise Again: The Real Meaning of Success: How Resilience, Not Perfection, Defines the Path to Victory
Jayalwal, Hem Raj Sharma
Paperback
$13.20
Positive by Choice: Proven Ways to Train Your Mind for Joy, Resilience, and Growth
Jayalwal, Hem Raj Sharma
Paperback
$14.40
Pain Is a Harsh Teacher, But an Honest One: How Life's Hardest Lessons Shape the Strongest Souls
Jayalwal, Hem Raj Sharma
Paperback
$15.60
The Lucifer Paradox: Why Morality Fails in the Face of Power and Pressure
Jayalwal, Hem Raj Sharma
Paperback
$12.00
Leelan and the Shimmering Book: A Tale of Questions, Courage, and the Magic Within
Jayalwal, Hem Raj Sharma
Paperback
$10.80
The Teachings of Upanishads: A Journey Into Ancient Wisdom and Self-Realization
Jayalwal, Hem Raj Sharma
Paperback
$24.00
The Psychology Tricks to Make You Powerful: A Complete Guide to Ethical Influence and Personal Mastery
Jayalwal, Hem Raj Sharma
Paperback
$15.60
Also in
Hinduism
The Stories Behind the Poses: The Indian Mythology That Inspired 50 Yoga Postures
Balkaran, Raj
Hardcover
$25.65
Third Eye Awakening: Ultimate Beginner's Guide to Open Your Third Eye Chakra
Brisbane, Chloe
Paperback
$18.99
Tantra Illuminated: The Philosophy, History, and Practice of a Timeless Tradition
Wallis, Christopher D.
Paperback
From $14.99
El Yoga de Jesus: Claves Para Comprender Las Enseanzas Ocultas de Los Evangelios
Yogananda
Yogananda, Paramahansa
Paperback
$14.20
Chakras and the Vagus Nerve: Tap Into the Healing Combination of Subtle Energy & Your Nervous System
Llewelyn, C. J.
Paperback
From $10.99
From Shiva to Schrödinger: Unravelling Cosmic Secrets with Trika Shaivism & Quantum Insights
Majumdar, Mrittunjoy Guha
Paperback
$16.14
The Psychology of Kundalini Yoga: Notes of the Seminar Given in 1932 by C. G. Jung
Jung, C. G.
Paperback
$23.70
Yoga Off the Mat: A Practical Guide to the Wisdom of Yoga--Find Balance, Meaning, and Liberation in Your Daily Life
Rountree, Sage
Desiato, Alexandra
Paperback
$20.85
Solving the Mystery of Life: Collected Talks & Essays on Realizing God in Daily Life Volume IV
Yogananda, Paramahansa
Paperback
$23.70
Dios Habla Con Arjuna: El Bhagavad Guita, Vol. 1: La Ciencia Suprema de La Unin Con Dios
Yogananda, Paramahansa
Paperback
$18.00
Karmic Relief: Harnessing the Laws of Cause and Effect for a Joyful, Meaningful Life
Goldberg, Philip
Paperback
$21.84
Myths of the Asanas: The Stories at the Heart of the Yoga Tradition
Kaivalya, Alanna
Van Der Kooij, Arjuna
Paperback
$20.89
El Yoga del Bhagavad Guita: Una Introduccion a la Ciencia Universal de la Union Con Dios Originaria de la India = The Yoga of the Bhagavad Gita
Yogananda, Paramahansa
Paperback
$14.20
Consciousness Is All There Is: How Understanding and Experiencing Consciousness Will Transform Your Life
Nader, Tony
Paperback
$23.74
Dasbodh - International Edition: Spiritual Instruction for the Servant
Shri Samartha Ramdas, Saint
Paperback
$24.99
Ashtavakra Gita - The Heart of Awareness: A bilingual edition in Sanskrit and English
Ashtavakra
Paperback
$16.19
The Yoga of the Bhagavad Gita: An Introduction to India's Universal Science of God-Realization
Yogananda, Paramahansa
Paperback
$14.20
The Little Book of Hindu Deities: From the Goddess of Wealth to the Sacred Cow
Patel, Sanjay
Paperback
From $8.99
Mudras of India: A Comprehensive Guide to the Hand Gestures of Yoga and Indian Dance
Carroll, Cain
Carroll, Revital
Paperback
$38.00
The Bhagavad Gita for Daily Living, Volume 1: A Verse-By-Verse Commentary: Chapters 1-6 the End of Sorrow
Easwaran, Eknath
Paperback
$26.55
Sanskrit Alphabet (Devanagari) Study Book Volume 2 Conjunct consonants & Exercises on mantras and slokas
Michika, Medha
Paperback
$9.36
Autobiography - Russian - Self Realization Fellowship Pub
Self Realization Fellowship Pub
Yogananda, Paramahansa
Paperback
$28.98
Shakti Rising: Embracing Shadow and Light on the Goddess Path to Wholeness
Chinnaiyan, Kavitha M.
Paperback
$22.75
Solving the Mystery of Life: Collected Talks & Essays on Realizing God in Daily Life Volume IV
Yogananda, Paramahansa
Hardcover
$33.20
The Yoga of Snakes and Arrows: The Leela of Self-Knowledge [With Fold Out Gameboard]
Johari, Harish
Paperback
$9.99
Journey to Self-Realization: Collected Talks and Essays on Real Izing God in Daily Life,
Yogananda, Paramahansa
Paperback
$17.05
God Makes the Rivers to Flow: An Anthology of the World's Sacred Poetry and Prose
Easwaran, Eknath
Paperback
$20.85
The Complete Life of Krishna: Based on the Earliest Oral Traditions and the Sacred Scriptures
Vanamali
Paperback
From $14.99
The Bhagavad Gita for Daily Living, Volume 2: A Verse-By-Verse Commentary: Chapters 7-12 Like a Thousand Suns
Easwaran, Eknath
Paperback
$26.55
The Beginner's Guide to Karma: How to Live with Less Negativity and More Peace
Levine, Mordy
Rinpoche, Lama Lhanang
Paperback
$16.10
Essence of the Bhagavad Gita: A Contemporary Guide to Yoga, Meditation & Indian Philosophy
Easwaran, Eknath
Paperback
$17.05
The Dharma in Difficult Times: Finding Your Calling in Times of Loss, Change, Struggle, and Doubt
Cope, Stephen
Paperback
$17.09
Chakras & Self-Care: Activate the Healing Power of Chakras with Everyday Rituals
Kavanagh, Ambi
Paperback
$16.14
Shiva Purana: The Great Hindu Epic of indestructible Destroyer
Divyananda, Swami
Hindu Philosophy Council
Paperback
$13.74
Sovereign Self: Claim Your Inner Joy and Freedom with the Empowering Wisdom of the Vedas, Upanishads, and Bhagavad Gita
Shunya, Acharya
Hardcover
$27.54
In Praise of Adya Kali: Approaching the Primordial Dark Goddess Through the Song of Her Hundred Names
Devi, Aditi
Paperback
$28.45
Holy Vedas: Wisdom from the Sacred Teachings of Hinduism
Divyananda, Swami
Hindu Philosophy Council
Paperback
$18.74