Read this book before you die! 2010-04-19

Reviewer: The Emperor of Antarctica

I have read many books concerning eastern and western philosophy, psychology, psychiatry, and religion. 'Yoga and Psychotherapy' ranks among the best. This book describes the human psyche from the perspective of Indian thinkers and Western thinkers. An especially fascinating section of the book is a detailed description of the chakra system. Also, there is a discussion of how Western psychiatrists, and their psychiatric systems, typically correspond to one specific chakra level. This book deeply touched my heart, mind, and soul. I have also purchased other Swami Rama and Swami Ajaya books. The ones that I have read so far, including 'Living With the Himalayan Masters', are excellent. Definitely, obtain and read this book. It is consciousness raising.

Great aproximation between east and west 2010-02-11

Reviewer: Luana M. Wedekin

I've bought this book as an Iyengar yoga student and an art therapist, interested in aproximate the views I've already studied in psychology and the wonderful things I'm living in yoga. The book is great! It's very clear and deep at the same time. We can find a critical point of view of the limitations of psychological approaches if compared with the ancient knowledge of yoga.I really reccomend the book.

A revolution in psychology. 2008-10-14

Reviewer: Rafal Gadomski

Really an amazing book, which opens your mind to completely new dimensions. By simply reading it you can get cured of various misunderstandings about the nature of your mind and incorrect reasoning. Through binding the ancient Indian way of understanding mind processes with the modern psychology of Western kind it widens the horizons of modern psychology and psychotherapy - which since is no more binded and kept away from the spiritual sheath.

Yoga and Psychotherapy 2008-08-14

Reviewer: Todd Zemek

A highly insightful discussion of the relationship between the two. A pleasure to read and essential for any psychotherapist interested in more than 'the surface'.

An extraordinary synthesis of Eastern and Western thinking 2008-07-26

Reviewer: Daniel R. Wilson

It's easy to get overwhelmed in the study of the structure of consciousness. We can start with the symbolic and highly poetic images from the Bhagavad Gita and Rumi. We can plunge into the esoteric, nearly impenetrable treatises on the arcane aspects of yoga and meditation with all the chakras and sheaths and such. We can lose ourselves in the wealth of western psychological advice about self-actualization, avoiding neurotic behavior, and disciplining our self-talk. We can vicariously sit in on those immensely profound conversations with Krishnamurti, trying to learn from his cool, intellectual analysis of the real and the unreal.

But the question remains. How can these wildly divergent sources of help be woven together into a comprehensible whole?

One way is to get two swamis and a western-trained medical doctor together to create a blended presentation of all these traditions. That is exactly what this book provides.

The authors describe how they worked through their own confusion, often staying up all night in the process. The result is "a comprehensive theory of personal evolution which incorporates the best of both systems [east and west]."

I thank them for overcoming their confusion because the book helps me overcome mine. This book is dense and challenging, but it rewards the hard work of anyone who studies it diligently. I recommend it highly.