This text contains discourses from the early years of Adi Da's teaching work. These talks date back to 1972, when Adi Da opened his first ashram in Los Angeles. This text teaches the ancient trans-egoic truths, and transforms the student by paradox and example.

The first authoritative biography of Babaji, the immortal master made famous by Yogananda's Autobiography of a Yogi, an all-time best-seller. Babaji lives today near Badrinath, in the upper Himalayan mountains. His body has not aged since the age of sixteen, when centuries ago he attained the supreme state of enlightenment and divine transformation. This followed his initiation into scientific art of Kriya Yoga by two deathless masters, the siddhas Agastyar and Boganathar, who belonged to the "18 Siddha Tradition", famous among the Tamil speaking people of southern India. This rare account, by a long time disciple, reveals their little known stories, ancient culture and present mission, as well as how their Kriya Yoga can be used to bring about the integration of the material and spiritual dimensions of life. Clear explanations of the psychophysiological effects of Kriya Yoga and guidelines for its practice are given. It includes verses from the Siddhas' writings with commentary. A book which will inspire you.

In "My "Bright" Word, " a new edition of the collection of classic spiritual discourses originally published as "The Method of the Siddhas," Avatar Adi Da elucidates the fundamentals of "radical" self-understanding, or "His Revelation of the Way of Adidam." These include: --The basic principle of egoic existence, the search, which Avatar Adi Da later communicated in its simplest terms: "You want to feel good--because you feel bad. Therefore, you are seeking--in order to feel good." --The essential ego-fault and the means for overcoming it: (1) Truth cannot be realized by seeking for it. The seeking itself is the problem. When there is no seeking, Truth (or Reality) is obvious. (2) Freedom (or Divine Liberation) is not dependent on any objective entity or process. Freedom (or Divine Liberation) is always already the case. --The single logic of egoic life: the logic (or process) of separation itself, of enclosure and immunity, informs every function of the living being, every experience, every act, every event. --The grace-given process of "radical" self-understanding: observe your own self-contracting activity. Understand your own self-contracting activity. Transcend your own self-contracting activity. In modern language, this volume teaches the ancient all-time trans-egoic truth, transforming the student by paradox and by example. Consciousness, understanding, and finally the awakened self are the potential rewards.

What is the spirit of this tradition? Why does it have a rebellious streak and what makes the masters so reluctant and hidden? Siddhas - Masters of Nature is an inspiring preamble, taken at an existential pace into the world of Siddhas. The book reflects upon the spirit of the Immortal Masters, their teachings, esoteric nature, and divine prowess. And how the native wisdom imparted during primordial times still retain sharp applicability to our post-modern world. The author offers an easy understanding of yoga, tantra, alchemy, medicine and healing, and the occult dimensions of this ancient spiritual science through his personal experiences with the hidden Masters of the oral lineage and anecdotes. The authenticity of this book is heightened by the inclusion of ancient cryptic poems of the twilight language (translated into English). This book assumes the nature of the Siddhas themselves. It demands and shakes your conditioning, as the Siddhas are the cyclonic storms that shake and uproot trees! It is not meant for passive readers.

Dharma practice comprises a wide range of wise instructions and skillful means. As a result, meditators may be exposed to a diversity of approaches to the core teachings and the meditative path—and that can be confusing at times. In this clear and accessible exploration, Dharma teacher and longtime meditator Richard Shankman unravels the mix of differing, sometimes conflicting, views and traditional teachings on how samadhi (concentration) is understood and taught. In part one, Richard Shankman explores the range of teachings and views about samadhi in the Theravada Pali tradition, examines different approaches, and considers how they can inform and enrich our meditation practice. Part two consists of a series of interviews with prominent contemporary Theravada and Vipassana (Insight) Buddhist teachers. These discussions focus on the practical experience of samadhi, bringing the theoretical to life and offering a range of applications of the different meditation techniques.