Kindle
from $10.99
Paperback
$12.49
Enlightenment Without God (Mandukya Upanishad)
Paperback – Illustrated, January 1, 1982
by Swami Rama Himalayan Institute (Author)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 140 ratings
4.1 on Goodreads
74 ratings
It is a common misconception that a spiritual seeker must have faith in a god or divine entity to achieve self-realization. When one understands the teachings of the Upanishads, enlightenment is possible here and now without the word “God.”
Read less
Enlightenment Without God
Swami Rama
4.11
74 ratings11 reviews
This book is highly provocative and can inspire us to start thinking beyond our accustomed patterns. "Diverse are the ways, but the goal is the same." "Peace, happiness, and bliss are the prerequisites for attaining Ultimate Truth."
This book will be useful for those who have been seeking and are still unfulfilled. They can reevaluate their thinking process and the way they intellectualize by understanding the two separate methods systematically described within: the meditative way of having intuitive knowledge and the way of contemplation for attaining the supreme state of consciousness.
103 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 1982
Book details & editions
About the author
Swami Rama140 books193 followers
Swāmī Rāma was born Brij Kiśore Dhasmana or Brij Kiśore Kumar,to a northern Indian Brahmin family in a small village called Toli in the Garhwal Himalayas. From an early age he was raised in the Himalayas by his master Bengali Baba and, under the guidance of his master, traveled from temple to temple and studied with a variety of Himalayan saints and sages, including his grandmaster, who was living in a remote region of Tibet. From 1949 to 1952 he held the prestigious position of Shankaracharya of Karvirpitham in South India. After returning to his master in 1952 and practising further for many years in the Himalayan caves, Swami Rama was encouraged by his teacher to go to the West, where he spent a considerable portion of his life teaching, specifically in the United States and Europe.
He is especially notable as one of the first yogis to allow himself to be studied by Western scientists.
Swami Rama authored several books in which he describes the path he took to becoming a yogi and lays out the philosophy and benefits behind practices such as meditation. One of the common themes expressed in such books as "Enlightenment Without God" and "Living with the Himalayan Masters" is the ability of any person to achieve peace without the need for a structured religion. He was critical of the tendency for yogis to use supernatural feats to demonstrate their enlightenment, arguing that these only demonstrated the ability to perform a feat.
Show more
Readers also enjoyed
Many Lives, Many Masters: The True Story of a Prominent Psychiatrist, His Young Patient, and the Past Life Therapy That Changed Both Their Lives
Brian L. Weiss
4.17
65.4k
The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself
Michael A. Singer
4.21
110k
"Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!": Adventures of a Curious Character
Richard P. Feynman
4.27
201k
All similar books
Ratings & Reviews
My Review
Community Reviews
4.11
74 ratings11 reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 11 reviews
Neha
93 reviews · 1 follower
Follow
December 21, 2021
Had great potential but didn't learn anything new from the book. Disappointed.
1 like
Like
Comment
Ben
187 reviews · 6 followers
Follow
ReadJuly 21, 2020
If, like me, you are skeptical of organized religion, and if your skepticism borders on outright hostility, you will enjoy the short first chapter of this little book, in which Swami Rama attacks these institutions in the most uncompromising terms:
"Religious beliefs may offer solace to lower, primitive, less educated, and uncultivated minds, but they have nothing to offer those who already know what to do and what not to do, and who are seeking logical answers to life's questions and guidance in learning how to be."
"The way faith is described in religious scriptures is not actually faith at all, but is blind belief based on ignorance and rigidity of tradition."
The first quote seems possibly just a tad harsh, but the second one rings true to my ears. As an alternative to religious doctrine, Swami Rama offers the timeless wisdom of the Mandukya Upanishad, which he comments on verse-by-verse in Chapter 2.
This ancient Vedic scripture describes the four states of consciousness and how to attain them, ultimately realizing the significance of the cosmic sound Om and understanding that all life is one. For me, it was a bit like reading instructions for how to build, say, the Hadron Collider. I grasp the words, and I have some concept of the end goal, but I have nothing like the mental tools needed to achieve it. Get back to me after a few decades of meditation...
Like
Comment
Roland Lee
3 reviews
Follow
September 30, 2021
East meets west in talking of old discovered insights using the language of 20th century enlightenment. As the Enlightenment of the 1700s began our language was challenged with needing new words to replace those concepts of a western culture ignorant of science and shackled to patriarchy. Those old words are still around to hoist our minds back into the ignorance or knowledge from cultures of the past.
Like
Comment
Jay
1 review
Follow
January 29, 2024
It is a good nice book..only book to have complete knowledge in the shortest possible content.
It tells you All that can be learnt .
If we can somehow comprehend and put it into practice all is sorted.
Like
Comment
Tanmay Meher
1 book · 4 followers
Follow
December 23, 2017
A good beginning. It explains about the fourth state Turiya, How OM could be helpful to attain turiya and then how to do sabasana.
Like
Comment
Gagan Umesha
23 reviews
Follow
February 15, 2020
Well-written. It is a good introduction to Vedic philosophy, and the secular premise of the commentary is extremely helpful to any spiritual seeker or curious philosopher.
Like
Comment
Lingui5t
136 reviews · 1 follower
Follow
December 17, 2020
Total clickbait in terms of the title (the book is really not about that).
The Wikipedia article on turiya will give you most of the content of this book that is of any use.
Like
Comment
Jade
4 reviews
Follow
April 14, 2022
I got enlightened after reading this book. It opened my eyes to the true spiritual world which transcendent religion and everything around it. Sad that this book is out of print.
Like
Comment
Anirudh Jain
56 reviews · 1 follower
Follow
May 3, 2022
The context setting for the way to enlightenment
Like
Comment
P M
32 reviews · 7 followers
Follow
October 30, 2015
Swami Rama enunciates most complex philosophical concepts in lucid language. Book has been written in experiential and didactic mode. This makes the reader capable of practicing the concepts in daily life and attain consciousness of the 3 states of mind. Armed with such consciousness, attainment of the Absolute truth i.e. Turiya may become a reality for a serious practitioner. It is perhaps the best beginners' guide I have ever read on any subject.
Like
Comment
Displaying 1 - 10 of 11 reviews
More reviews and ratings
by Swami Rama Himalayan Institute (Author)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 140 ratings
4.1 on Goodreads
74 ratings
It is a common misconception that a spiritual seeker must have faith in a god or divine entity to achieve self-realization. When one understands the teachings of the Upanishads, enlightenment is possible here and now without the word “God.”
The Mandukya Upanishad is for those students who want to practice spirituality without resorting to unnecessary abstract concepts.
The Mandukya Upanishad provides a comprehensive map for the inward journey that shows the individual the way from the mundane to the eternal. It describes this state as the ultimate reality and the goal of human existence.
When one understands the teachings of the Upanishads, then one realizes that life itself is a sort of worship that can shine on the altar of infinity. ―From Chapter 1, “Awakening”
Read less
From the United States
Action Comet
5.0 out of 5 stars Essence of Mandukya
Reviewed in the United States on September 19, 2020
Verified Purchase
This book explained the concepts from Mandukya upanishad well. Each verse has layers of meaning & the author helped peel back some of them in his commentary. Recommended reading for those interested in Advaita (non-dualistic) philosophy.
4 people found this helpful
Helpful
Report
Lisa La
5.0 out of 5 stars enlightenment without god
Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2011
Verified Purchase
Love to find the original book by swami Rama. all the new editions are too different.
Although the old ones are rare to find and too expensive they are still better and much more clear in their simplicity.
Find all the old copies bij swami Rama and read them over and over again. Maybe even consider to practice what is suggested in the method.
6 people found this helpful
Helpful
Report
Amazon Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars this is a much more informative book than it may ...
Reviewed in the United States on April 27, 2018
Verified Purchase
this is a much more informative book than it may seem.
the crux of it is nidra yoga,
which means dreamless meditation.
basically to do this must NEVER sleep again!
there is a series of points on the body you are supposed to meditate on to get you into sleepless yoga.
some people may do this but not many.
12 people found this helpful
Helpful
Report
François
5.0 out of 5 stars Masterpiece
Reviewed in the United States on October 27, 2005
Verified Purchase
There is little to say about this unique and exceptionnal book. I guess you could say its clarity, accessibility and generosity is exactly what makes it a dangerous book. Difficult to find but worth the effort and the price. Swami Rama gave us everything. How many among us are ready to know. Can we handle the truth?
25 people found this helpful
Helpful
Report
Reader of Things
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United States on May 25, 2018
Verified Purchase
Love this book.
2 people found this helpful
Helpful
Report
Sandra Ayala
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United States on February 9, 2018
Verified Purchase
Love this book!
One person found this helpful
Helpful
Report
Sol
5.0 out of 5 stars Legit.
Reviewed in the United States on September 27, 2019
This is a rare find, a book by a legitimate Indian yogi who doesn't insult his readers' intelligence or blow smoke up their exhaust ports.
This is a translation with clear and straightforward commentary of the short (12 verse) Mandukya Upanishad. In short, it is an analysis of the sound OM which is considered in Vedantic thought to be the primordial sound which encompasses the totality of existence. This is probably the first book I've read after many many years of studying Indic philosophy and spirituality to explain these concepts in a straightforward and no BS way from a perspective that is oriented towards those who are actually interested in practicing spiritually. Unfortunately the 2nd volune with a translation of Gaudapada's commentary and an explanation of various meditation techniques referenced in the text appears to have never been published. Still, I read the whole book in two sittings and immediately ordered several more of Swami Rama's books after finishing it. Highly recommended!
9 people found this helpful
Helpful
Report
Zentao
5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent book...
Reviewed in the United States on October 23, 2006
Swami Rama writes about a topic that very few have been truthful about - that there is a state of consciousness beyond the states that we are accustomed to. This 'fourth statte' as listed in the Upanishads, is called "Turiya" and may be achieved through the correct meditation practice.
The book's first half is a candid discussion of how and why one should seek the correct meditation practice. The second half of the book is a discussion of the relevant sections of the Upanishads. It is evident that Swami Rama had achieved the state of Turiya based upon his commentary.
23 people found this helpful
Helpful
Report
From other countries
Jay
5.0 out of 5 stars It is a good nice book..only book to have complete knowledge in the shortest possible content.
Reviewed in India on January 28, 2024
Verified Purchase
It tells you All that can be learnt .
If we can somehow comprehend and put it into practice all is sorted.
One person found this helpful
Report
Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Swami Rama brilliance
Reviewed in Canada on May 3, 2019
Verified Purchase
I study the right handed path of tantra. Easy to understand and very valuable information for those who seek self-realization
Report
Enlightenment Without God
Swami Rama
4.11
74 ratings11 reviews
This book is highly provocative and can inspire us to start thinking beyond our accustomed patterns. "Diverse are the ways, but the goal is the same." "Peace, happiness, and bliss are the prerequisites for attaining Ultimate Truth."
This book will be useful for those who have been seeking and are still unfulfilled. They can reevaluate their thinking process and the way they intellectualize by understanding the two separate methods systematically described within: the meditative way of having intuitive knowledge and the way of contemplation for attaining the supreme state of consciousness.
103 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 1982
Book details & editions
About the author
Swami Rama140 books193 followers
Swāmī Rāma was born Brij Kiśore Dhasmana or Brij Kiśore Kumar,to a northern Indian Brahmin family in a small village called Toli in the Garhwal Himalayas. From an early age he was raised in the Himalayas by his master Bengali Baba and, under the guidance of his master, traveled from temple to temple and studied with a variety of Himalayan saints and sages, including his grandmaster, who was living in a remote region of Tibet. From 1949 to 1952 he held the prestigious position of Shankaracharya of Karvirpitham in South India. After returning to his master in 1952 and practising further for many years in the Himalayan caves, Swami Rama was encouraged by his teacher to go to the West, where he spent a considerable portion of his life teaching, specifically in the United States and Europe.
He is especially notable as one of the first yogis to allow himself to be studied by Western scientists.
Swami Rama authored several books in which he describes the path he took to becoming a yogi and lays out the philosophy and benefits behind practices such as meditation. One of the common themes expressed in such books as "Enlightenment Without God" and "Living with the Himalayan Masters" is the ability of any person to achieve peace without the need for a structured religion. He was critical of the tendency for yogis to use supernatural feats to demonstrate their enlightenment, arguing that these only demonstrated the ability to perform a feat.
Show more
Readers also enjoyed
Many Lives, Many Masters: The True Story of a Prominent Psychiatrist, His Young Patient, and the Past Life Therapy That Changed Both Their Lives
Brian L. Weiss
4.17
65.4k
The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself
Michael A. Singer
4.21
110k
"Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!": Adventures of a Curious Character
Richard P. Feynman
4.27
201k
All similar books
Ratings & Reviews
My Review
Community Reviews
4.11
74 ratings11 reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 11 reviews
Neha
93 reviews · 1 follower
Follow
December 21, 2021
Had great potential but didn't learn anything new from the book. Disappointed.
1 like
Like
Comment
Ben
187 reviews · 6 followers
Follow
ReadJuly 21, 2020
If, like me, you are skeptical of organized religion, and if your skepticism borders on outright hostility, you will enjoy the short first chapter of this little book, in which Swami Rama attacks these institutions in the most uncompromising terms:
"Religious beliefs may offer solace to lower, primitive, less educated, and uncultivated minds, but they have nothing to offer those who already know what to do and what not to do, and who are seeking logical answers to life's questions and guidance in learning how to be."
"The way faith is described in religious scriptures is not actually faith at all, but is blind belief based on ignorance and rigidity of tradition."
The first quote seems possibly just a tad harsh, but the second one rings true to my ears. As an alternative to religious doctrine, Swami Rama offers the timeless wisdom of the Mandukya Upanishad, which he comments on verse-by-verse in Chapter 2.
This ancient Vedic scripture describes the four states of consciousness and how to attain them, ultimately realizing the significance of the cosmic sound Om and understanding that all life is one. For me, it was a bit like reading instructions for how to build, say, the Hadron Collider. I grasp the words, and I have some concept of the end goal, but I have nothing like the mental tools needed to achieve it. Get back to me after a few decades of meditation...
Like
Comment
Roland Lee
3 reviews
Follow
September 30, 2021
East meets west in talking of old discovered insights using the language of 20th century enlightenment. As the Enlightenment of the 1700s began our language was challenged with needing new words to replace those concepts of a western culture ignorant of science and shackled to patriarchy. Those old words are still around to hoist our minds back into the ignorance or knowledge from cultures of the past.
Like
Comment
Jay
1 review
Follow
January 29, 2024
It is a good nice book..only book to have complete knowledge in the shortest possible content.
It tells you All that can be learnt .
If we can somehow comprehend and put it into practice all is sorted.
Like
Comment
Tanmay Meher
1 book · 4 followers
Follow
December 23, 2017
A good beginning. It explains about the fourth state Turiya, How OM could be helpful to attain turiya and then how to do sabasana.
Like
Comment
Gagan Umesha
23 reviews
Follow
February 15, 2020
Well-written. It is a good introduction to Vedic philosophy, and the secular premise of the commentary is extremely helpful to any spiritual seeker or curious philosopher.
Like
Comment
Lingui5t
136 reviews · 1 follower
Follow
December 17, 2020
Total clickbait in terms of the title (the book is really not about that).
The Wikipedia article on turiya will give you most of the content of this book that is of any use.
Like
Comment
Jade
4 reviews
Follow
April 14, 2022
I got enlightened after reading this book. It opened my eyes to the true spiritual world which transcendent religion and everything around it. Sad that this book is out of print.
Like
Comment
Anirudh Jain
56 reviews · 1 follower
Follow
May 3, 2022
The context setting for the way to enlightenment
Like
Comment
P M
32 reviews · 7 followers
Follow
October 30, 2015
Swami Rama enunciates most complex philosophical concepts in lucid language. Book has been written in experiential and didactic mode. This makes the reader capable of practicing the concepts in daily life and attain consciousness of the 3 states of mind. Armed with such consciousness, attainment of the Absolute truth i.e. Turiya may become a reality for a serious practitioner. It is perhaps the best beginners' guide I have ever read on any subject.
Like
Comment
Displaying 1 - 10 of 11 reviews
More reviews and ratings
====
