It was Swami Vivekananda who first brought to the attention of the United States and the Western World at large the spiritual treasures of India, including the oldest living wisdom of Oneness, called Vedanta, Yoga and the classical yoga pathways to that Oneness, spiritual psychology, the science of meditation, and other revelations of Hinduism found in the Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, and the Yoga Sutras. He was the first internationally renowned Yogi and the very first Indian master to teach extensively and with great impact outside of India, and among the millions of lovers of his teachings attesting to Vivekananda's spiritual power and profound influence are such great historical figures as Mahatma Gandhi, Sri Aurobindo, Jawaharlal Nehru, Leo Tolstoy, and William James. And to this day, he is the most revered Vedantic teacher of the modern era.

Most American yoga enthusiasts are unaware that the introduction of yoga study to the American public at large had a moment of origin, September 11, 1893, when, in perfect and eloquent English, a young monk from India took the stage at the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago, and introduced the Western world for the first time to the oldest living wisdom of Oneness and the original yoga pathways to that Oneness. Swami stayed in America for almost four years, at first teaching Indian philosophy on a lecture circuit throughout the Midwest, and then, in 1894, founding the first ongoing center for Yoga studies in the West in New York City. He was also the first Indian master to publish English books on Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, and Jnana Yoga, and he gave the world the first English translation of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras by an Indian saint.

On this site we have posted some of the contents of Pathways to Joy for you to review: selections from Swami's teachings, the biography, and the stirring account of the 1893 Parliament of Religions. We have also included a few of the thousands of testimonials from those touched by the Vivekananda's spiritual power, as well as Links to the Ramakrishna Order and some of its Vedanta Societies. It will give you a good idea of why so many millions of people revere Vivekananda and the great good he was in the world. 

Vivekananda lived his entire life in selfless service to humanity as an extraordinary example of godliness in action. When you read his words, see if you don't have the same experience that untold others have had, that he is right there with you, teaching and guiding and transforming you as his great spiritual power works its way into your heart and elevates your spirit. As Tolstoy said, The book (by Vivekananda) is more than a pleasure, it is a broadening of the soul. We hope you will want to own this wonderful compilation of some of the most inspired yoga teachings ever offered by one of the greatest Yogis who ever lived.


Selections from the book