What do you think?
Rate this book
The Yoga Series
A Series of Lessons in Raja Yoga
This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery.
171 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1906
173 people are currently reading
471 people want to read
About the author
William Walker Atkinson
2,502 books399 followersPseudonyms: Theron Q. Dumont, Yogi Ramacharaka, Swami Bhakta Vishita & Swami Panchadasi
William Walker Atkinson (December 5, 1862 – November 22, 1932) was an attorney, merchant, publisher, and author, as well as an occultist and an American pioneer of the New Thought movement. He is also known to have been the author of the pseudonymous works attributed to Theron Q. Dumont, Swami Panchadasi and Yogi Ramacharaka and others.
Due in part to Atkinson's intense personal secrecy and extensive use of pseudonyms, he is now largely forgotten, despite having obtained mention in past editions of Who's Who in America, Religious Leaders of America, and several similar publications—and having written more than 100 books in the last 30 years of his life. His works have remained in print more or less continuously since 1900.
William Walker Atkinson was born in Baltimore, Maryland on December 5, 1862, to William and Emma Atkinson. He began his working life as a grocer at 15 years old, probably helping his father. He married Margret Foster Black of Beverly, New Jersey, in October 1889, and they had two children. The first probably died young. The second later married and had two daughters.
Atkinson pursued a business career from 1882 onwards and in 1894 he was admitted as an attorney to the Bar of Pennsylvania. While he gained much material success in his profession as a lawyer, the stress and over-strain eventually took its toll, and during this time he experienced a complete physical and mental breakdown, and financial disaster. He looked for healing and in the late 1880s he found it with New Thought, later attributing the restoration of his health, mental vigor and material prosperity to the application of the principles of New Thought.
Some time after his healing, Atkinson began to write articles on the truths he felt he had discovered, which were then known as Mental Science. In 1889, an article by him entitled "A Mental Science Catechism," appeared in Charles Fillmore's new periodical, Modern Thought.
By the early 1890s Chicago had become a major centre for New Thought, mainly through the work of Emma Curtis Hopkins, and Atkinson decided to move there. Once in the city, he became an active promoter of the movement as an editor and author. He was responsible for publishing the magazines Suggestion (1900–1901), New Thought (1901–1905) and Advanced Thought (1906–1916).
In 1900 Atkinson worked as an associate editor of Suggestion, a New Thought Journal, and wrote his probable first book, Thought-Force in Business and Everyday Life, being a series of lessons in personal magnetism, psychic influence, thought-force, concentration, will-power, and practical mental science.
He then met Sydney Flower, a well-known New Thought publisher and businessman, and teamed up with him. In December, 1901 he assumed editorship of Flower's popular New Thought magazine, a post which he held until 1905. During these years he built for himself an enduring place in the hearts of its readers. Article after article flowed from his pen. Meanwhile he also founded his own Psychic Club and the so-called "Atkinson School of Mental Science". Both were located in the same building as Flower's Psychic Research and New Thought Publishing Company.
Atkinson was a past president of the International New Thought Alliance.
Throughout his subsequent career, Atkinson wrote and published under his own name and many pseudonyms. It is not known whether he ever acknowledged authorship of these pseudonymous works, but all of the supposedly independent authors whose writings are now credited to Atkinson were linked to one another by virtue of the fact that their works were released by a series of publishing houses with shared addresses and they also wrote for a series of magazines with a shared roster of authors. Atkinson was the editor of a
William Walker Atkinson (December 5, 1862 – November 22, 1932) was an attorney, merchant, publisher, and author, as well as an occultist and an American pioneer of the New Thought movement. He is also known to have been the author of the pseudonymous works attributed to Theron Q. Dumont, Swami Panchadasi and Yogi Ramacharaka and others.
Due in part to Atkinson's intense personal secrecy and extensive use of pseudonyms, he is now largely forgotten, despite having obtained mention in past editions of Who's Who in America, Religious Leaders of America, and several similar publications—and having written more than 100 books in the last 30 years of his life. His works have remained in print more or less continuously since 1900.
William Walker Atkinson was born in Baltimore, Maryland on December 5, 1862, to William and Emma Atkinson. He began his working life as a grocer at 15 years old, probably helping his father. He married Margret Foster Black of Beverly, New Jersey, in October 1889, and they had two children. The first probably died young. The second later married and had two daughters.
Atkinson pursued a business career from 1882 onwards and in 1894 he was admitted as an attorney to the Bar of Pennsylvania. While he gained much material success in his profession as a lawyer, the stress and over-strain eventually took its toll, and during this time he experienced a complete physical and mental breakdown, and financial disaster. He looked for healing and in the late 1880s he found it with New Thought, later attributing the restoration of his health, mental vigor and material prosperity to the application of the principles of New Thought.
Some time after his healing, Atkinson began to write articles on the truths he felt he had discovered, which were then known as Mental Science. In 1889, an article by him entitled "A Mental Science Catechism," appeared in Charles Fillmore's new periodical, Modern Thought.
By the early 1890s Chicago had become a major centre for New Thought, mainly through the work of Emma Curtis Hopkins, and Atkinson decided to move there. Once in the city, he became an active promoter of the movement as an editor and author. He was responsible for publishing the magazines Suggestion (1900–1901), New Thought (1901–1905) and Advanced Thought (1906–1916).
In 1900 Atkinson worked as an associate editor of Suggestion, a New Thought Journal, and wrote his probable first book, Thought-Force in Business and Everyday Life, being a series of lessons in personal magnetism, psychic influence, thought-force, concentration, will-power, and practical mental science.
He then met Sydney Flower, a well-known New Thought publisher and businessman, and teamed up with him. In December, 1901 he assumed editorship of Flower's popular New Thought magazine, a post which he held until 1905. During these years he built for himself an enduring place in the hearts of its readers. Article after article flowed from his pen. Meanwhile he also founded his own Psychic Club and the so-called "Atkinson School of Mental Science". Both were located in the same building as Flower's Psychic Research and New Thought Publishing Company.
Atkinson was a past president of the International New Thought Alliance.
Throughout his subsequent career, Atkinson wrote and published under his own name and many pseudonyms. It is not known whether he ever acknowledged authorship of these pseudonymous works, but all of the supposedly independent authors whose writings are now credited to Atkinson were linked to one another by virtue of the fact that their works were released by a series of publishing houses with shared addresses and they also wrote for a series of magazines with a shared roster of authors. Atkinson was the editor of a
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
August 15, 2008
The perfect book overcoming stagnation. Spiritual, metaphysical and philosophical, its a cleansing for the brain, soul and spirit.
June 6, 2015
One of the greatest books I have ever read. It explains the processes of the mind on a level so clear that anyone should be able to understand the basic concepts which lie within the great depth that is our own mind (and you will find if you are well trained that it is the same thing as the mind of others!). Highly advanced meditation practices are included, and transcendental states of mind are within reach for anyone who chooses to study using this book. Psychedelic users can in effect experience highly similar states of mind without the use of any substances via the methods in this book, though it will take serious concentration and a highly supportive environment.
January 3, 2017
This is the 3rd book that I have read from William Walter Atkinson which is a kindle book. As in his other books, the author presents his views in a very unique, informative and compelling manner. In his discussion of Raja Yoga, the author states that we are the extension of the "Absolute" but are not the "Absolute" as expounded in some yoga schools. In other words, we are not "God" and the Universe is not a trick or fragment of our imagination; however, the "Supreme Intelligence", the "Absolute", has manifested itself in relativitiy, namely in different forms of life including Man. Atkinson further explains that Man is the Spark of God, a real Being, who is a Manifestation and Child of the "Absolute". In discussing Raja Yoga, the author delves into different aspects of the mind, consciousness, subconsciousness, mental control, amongst other topics, and incorporates examples and the use of mental drills to make the subject more understandable in a practical sense. I would highly recommend this book
November 3, 2016
Three stars for the assurances throughout the book for the practicing yogi who is at a crossroad.
One star for practical instructions.
One star for clarity of language, even where philosophies were covered, considering that the book was written in early twenty first century.
Minus one star for the grand language in the last tree chapters.
Summary: If you've been following any kind of spiritual path, there are lots of gems to reap from this book to steady your path and strengthen your reserve. "It's a lonesome and solitary path, we know, but it's okay. We're good. We're on the right track. We'll make it through."
One star for practical instructions.
One star for clarity of language, even where philosophies were covered, considering that the book was written in early twenty first century.
Minus one star for the grand language in the last tree chapters.
Summary: If you've been following any kind of spiritual path, there are lots of gems to reap from this book to steady your path and strengthen your reserve. "It's a lonesome and solitary path, we know, but it's okay. We're good. We're on the right track. We'll make it through."
December 16, 2023
Tai anglų lordo, 20 amžiaus pradžioje gyvenusio Britų kolonizuotoje Indijoje perpasakotos jogos pamokos.
Raja yoga (karūnos arba karališkoji) yra proto joga, mokantis atskirti mintis, jausmus, impulsus veikti, jusles ir atmintį su jais nesusitapatinant. Pateikiami dėmesingumo, pastabumo lavinimo pratimai, minčių ir jausmų atskyrimo praktikos.
Skaičiau ir galvojau, kad čia labai panašu į kognityvinę elgesio terapiją, minus Dievas (atmanas).
Taip pat knygoje cituojami to meto mokslininkai darbai iš neurologijos ir psichologijos srities, citavimo standartai tai šiais laikais absoliučiai kiti. Bet kuriuo atveju įdomus istorinis leidinys, leidžiantis matyti minties raidą ir pastebėti vienų idėjų pastovumą, o kitų kintamumą.
Raja yoga (karūnos arba karališkoji) yra proto joga, mokantis atskirti mintis, jausmus, impulsus veikti, jusles ir atmintį su jais nesusitapatinant. Pateikiami dėmesingumo, pastabumo lavinimo pratimai, minčių ir jausmų atskyrimo praktikos.
Skaičiau ir galvojau, kad čia labai panašu į kognityvinę elgesio terapiją, minus Dievas (atmanas).
Taip pat knygoje cituojami to meto mokslininkai darbai iš neurologijos ir psichologijos srities, citavimo standartai tai šiais laikais absoliučiai kiti. Bet kuriuo atveju įdomus istorinis leidinys, leidžiantis matyti minties raidą ir pastebėti vienų idėjų pastovumą, o kitų kintamumą.
July 28, 2012
This book inspired me to quit smoking cigs, though it wasn't specifically about that. But when one starts to look at the will and the ego - just what do they want to do? I suddenly knew I no longer wanted to do that. Unfortunately the edition I found in a second hand shop isn't here. It was pre-New Age, and without the cheesy cover as many of these. Just a blue bound, small, hard cover volume, compiled letters, originally sent out to an "esoteric society" around the turn of the 20th century.
October 16, 2015
The book is mainly about the Eastern way of meditation. Each chapter introduces the reader to a higher concept. It starts with exercises to improve concentration and slowly leads the readers on a self discovery path. It speaks about how the EGO should be the controller of the mind and not the other way round. The book hints at higher aspects of how all the EGOs are one, but does not delve as much in depth.
A good read for somebody wishing to get a perspective on Eastern philosophy of discovering oneself.
A good read for somebody wishing to get a perspective on Eastern philosophy of discovering oneself.
January 20, 2013
I am reading this and The Science of Breath which where both written by this yogi but publishing date in the books I have is 1904 so I was surprised I even found one of them on goodreads but the one on goodreads has an additional author other than just Yogi Ramacharaka and cover certainly looks different, so perhaps it is different
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews