A sweeping and inspired survey of the practices and philosophies that make up the classical Eastern path of yoga.

Over the last 40 years in the West, yoga has mainly become equated with the practice of physical postures or asanas. Jyotirupananda’s book reveals to us the complete or integral yogic path for the total transformation of mind, body and spirit. Some of the ancient practices seem out of step with our modern world, but what makes this book pertinent for all seekers is its emphasis on the perennial keys to higher evolution: discipline, passion, and the need for spiritual guidance.

For a book on meditation, In Search of the Real Self is wonderfully edgy and uncompromising in parts - for example, in Dada Jyotirupananda's assessment of the qualities you should look for in a teacher, which certainly caused me to raise an eyebrow or two. But, in my view, that's perfect. Who needs another 'same old' book on meditation, after all? What we really need is fresh thinking, new insights, and new direction. Jyotirupananda gives us this, helps us rethink our craft, and, with fine learning and authorship, leads us to a new understanding of what meditation might really mean in our lives and the benefits we might reap from it.