Im grateful to a number of people who have helped bring this book into creation; the many students over the years suggesting I write this book, Ray Noronha who showed me an actual need to write it, Jayanthi Noronha for her inspiring drawings used at the end of each chapter, and Victor Simon who inspired me to actually seek its publication.
Also I am grateful to Guru Amrit Kaur Khalsa for her personal care in editing the manuscript; Hari Prasad Bhatt Shastri who ensured my translation of the Sanskrit slokas was accurate, Linda Parks who put her soul into designing the cover ; and to Curt Matthews of IPG and his staff, Mark Noble, Mary Rowles, Erin McGee, Elisabeth Malzahn, and Jen Wisnowski, for their caring guidance while preparing this book.
About the Author
Swami Sadashiva Tirtha received sannyas in 1991 from his guruji, Swami Narayan Tirtha, in his gurujis ashram, Shankar Math, in Uttarkashi (Himalayas). Since then, Swamiji has visited his guruji yearly until his mahasamadhi (demise) in 2001.
Swamiji is a part of the dual Siddhayoga Tirtha lineage. Tirtha is a lineage created by Adi Shankaracharya (788820 CE), and is more recently known through Shankaracharya Bharati Krishna Tirtha, who, at the invitation of Paramhamsa Yogananda, was the first Shankaracharya to visit the USA. The Siddhayoga lineage is traced from Swamijis guru, Swami Narayan Tirtha to his guru, Swami Shankar Purushottam Tirtha, to Narayan Dev Tirtha and to his teacher Swami Gangadhar Tirth Maharaj.
He founded the Swami Narayan Tirtha Math in his gurujis name (swaminarayantirtha.org), and published two books by his Param Guruji (grandfather gurujiSwami Shankar Purushottam Tirtha); Yoga Vani, Instructions for the Attainment of Siddhayoga , and Guru Bani, 100 Ways to Attain Inner Peace .
Swamiji has written two books, The Ayurveda Encyclopedia , and the Ayurveda Primer (e-book), and is a published Ayurvedic researcher.
He is certified in Ayurveda, Vastu Shastra, and Jyotish, and earned a Doctor of Science in Ayurvedic Research.
Swamiji spends his time in the ashram and does some writing, guiding people to realize peace in their daily lives.
surfer balanced,
wave does the work,
surfer enjoys the ride.
person balanced,
life does the work
person enjoys the ride.
- Swami Sadashiva Tirtha
Resources
Other books by Swami Sadashiva Tirtha
Ayurveda Encyclopedia: Natural Secrets to Healing, Prevention, & Longevity. Now in its 2nd editionmore than 20,000 books in print and an amazon. com top 10 Ayurveda-category best-seller since its publication in 1998. This book covers all aspects of the subject, spiritual, life-purpose, lifestyle, emotional/physical health and balance; scientific research, more. Therapies include herbs, nutrition, aromas, yoga, and meditation. [686 pages -8.25 x 11]
This is also available as an e-book at ebooks.com)
Ayurveda Primer: Introduction, Case Studies, & Research (e-book). Clear, concise introduction to the subject. Questions most frequently asked by beginners are covered. Also included, simple guided meditation exercises and audio pronunciations of words. (download available at vedicvendor.com )
Spiritual Books from Sat Yuga Press
by Swami Shankar Purushottam Tirtha.
The author was requested to substitute as the Shankaracharya while H.H. Bharati Krishna Tirtha came to the USA at the invitation of Paramhamsa Yogananda. Thereafter he elected to leave the seat and return to his secluded ashram. Yoga Vani: Instructions for the Attainment of Siddhayoga . This book discusses the authentic spiritual lifeoriginally published decades before Western influence. Written in an easy-to-read, teacher-student question and answer conversation, the topics addressed include the meaning of Siddhayoga , gunas; experiences of asanas, pranayama, mudras; dik-sha (spiritual initiation), true Gurus, mantras, nada, kundalini shakti, deities, hatha, laya, raja yogas; yama-niyama, how to meditate, experiences in sadhana (meditation), the three bodies, more. 194 pgs.
Guru Bani: 100 Ways to Know Peace. This book addresses how to live a spiritual life outside of meditation. Short essays extracted from talks given by Swamiji to his disciplessome married, others monks. Pure teachings from an ancient time untouched by modernism. 59 pgs.
Both books available at at http://vedicvendor.com
Swami Sadashiva Tirthas Web Sites
1. Swami Narayan Tirtha Math
This site discusses the spiritual philosophy and history of the authors guru, Swami Narayan Tirtha. Specifically it talks about his dual Siddhayoga and Tirtha lineages. Also available are spiritual articles, poems, pictures, and letters by this great saint. See full details at http://swaminarayantirtha.org
2. Ayurveda Holistic Community
This site is a free educational online community. It offers Ayurveda article and research journals where hundreds of articles by Ayurvedic doctors from India and around the world freely share their expertise. http://ayurvedahc.com/
The online Research Ayurveda Journal publishes abstracts on research and case studies. http://www.ayurvedahc.com/articlelive/categories/Research-Ayurveda-Journal/
Shakti Ayurveda Magazine (available only as an online e-zine) covers Ayurveda, Spirituality, Ecological, Renewable energy, Alternative Education, Social/Fair Trade ideas, poetry, book reviews, and more. Free sign up at: http://ayurvedahc.com/
Suggested translations of Bhagavad Gita
Books
Srimad Bhagavad Gita
By Swami Paramananda
Vedanta Centre Publishers
Cohasset, MA, USA
The Bhagavad Gita:
According to Gandhi
Berkley Hills Books
Berkley, California, USA
Online:
http://www.bhagavad-gita.org/Gita/verse-02-01.html
http://www.asitis.com/6/20-23.html
http://webapps.uni-koeln.de/tamil/
Reader Feedback
Do you have questions, comments, or a story how this book has helped transform your thinking and life experiences? Do you have a parallel between ideas from your religion and those discussed in theGita? Log onto our website ( http:// satyuga.com ) and send Swamiji your feedback. We will post online reader comments and questions that will benefit others as well, and may use comments to update future editions of the book.