Meditation and its Practices

Swami Adiswarananda, a senior monk of the Ramakrishna Order of India, is the Minister and Spiritual Leader of the Ramakrishna-Vivekananda Center of New York.

Preface
Introduction

Part One The Process of Meditation
1. The Meaning of Meditation
2. The Meditative State
3. The Goal of Meditation
4. The Benefits of Meditation
5. Meditation in the System of Yoga
6. Meditation in Vedanta
7. The Sacred Texts on Meditation
8. The Three Key Factors in All Meditation

Part Two Objects of Meditation
9. Objects of Meditation in Yoga and Vedanta
10. Meditation on a Divine Form
11. Meditation on a Divine Incarnation
12. Meditation on the Lord as Inmost Self and Supreme Teacher
13. Meditation on Virata Purusha, the Cosmic Person
14. Meditation on the Sacred Word Om
15. Meditation on the Gayatri Mantra
16. Meditation on the Great Vedic Sayings
17. Meditation on a Sacred Text, Word, or Mystic Syllable

Part Three Centers of Consciousness
18. The Centers for Meditation
19. Dualism, Nondualism, and the Centers

Part Four Methods of Concentration
20. Withdrawal and Concentration of Mind
21. Posture
22. Time and Place, Spiritual Vibrations, and Geographical Directions
23. Physical Condition, Eating Habits, and Exercise
24. Self-Analysis
25. Mystic Worship
26. Japa, or Repetition of a Sacred Word
27. Pranayama, or Control of Breath

Part Five Progress in Meditation
28. Milestones of Progress
29. Mystical Experiences and Realizations
30. The Transformation of Character
31. The Sacred Texts on Progress in Meditation

Part Six Obstacles in Meditation
32. Obstacles in Meditation and Ways of Overcoming Them

Notes
Glossary
Bibliography
Index