Swami Vivekananda was an Indian Hindu monk who stands as one of the most inspiring personalities of all time in India as well as abroad. He traveled to many parts of the world and gave lectures on philosophy, religion, yoga, spirituality and more.
Most of his books are based on these lectures that were first recorded and later transcribed into books.
Books by Swami Vivekananda
There are many life-changing books by different authors but there are very few authors whose all books have the potential to change and mold your thoughts to live a peaceful and contented life. And Swami Vivekananda is unarguably among one of those few brilliant authors.
Swami Vivekananda’s books have touched and bettered the lives and souls of many people and will keep doing so for ages to come!
Here is a list of 12 Swami Vivekananda books that everyone should read at least once in a lifetime:
1. Karma Yoga
Karma yoga (The Yoga of Action) is a book based on the lectures by Swami Vivekananda which he delivered in his rented room in New York City from December 1895 to January 1896. This book was transcribed by Joseph Josiah Goodwin, a professional stenographer (a person whose job is to transcribe speech in shorthand) who later became a follower of Swami Vivekananda.
In this book, Swami Vivekananda discusses the concept of Karma Yoga in Bhagavad Gita. The book also shows a righteous path towards knowledge and wisdom.
Swami Vivekananda described Karma Yoga as the discipline of mind that allows a person to carry out his/her duties as a service to the entire world, as a path to enlightenment.
This book is easy to understand and can act as a very powerful tool in spiritual development.
2. Raja Yoga
The book ‘Raja Yoga’ is basically Swami Vivekananda’s interpretation of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras. It presents Vivekananda’s understanding of these Yoga Sutras in a profound and easy way. The book was first published in 1896 and it became an instant success.
This book is valuable for both knowledgeable as well as for those who are new to Raja-Yoga.
It starts with an introduction and the eight steps of Raja-yoga. In the progressive chapters, more complex concepts such as Dhyana and Samadhi are explained. All these concepts are explained in a concise and in a manner that is easy to understand for everyone.
This book also covers an introduction to the Yoga Aphorisms of Patanjali where the concept of Concentration is explained along with its practical uses and techniques. There are also explanations of the Powers of the Mind, Reincarnation, and Discipleship.
The readers can even feel the connection with the book and have a lot of positive vibes while reading it. It is truly a brilliant book and a must-read for everyone!
3. Jnana Yoga
Jnana Yoga is also based on lectures by Swami Vivekananda as transcribed by Joseph Josiah Goodwin. These lectures were delivered mainly in New York City and London.
This book is among the first to explain some basic concepts that underpin Yoga. It starts with the importance of religion and its relationship with men. Swami talks about the nature of man and makes a sincere and complete effort to help people understand that the Vedanta is a complete source of all knowledge of the Absolute. The book also tells ways to reach it.
This book explains many other important concepts such as Realization and God through an abridged version of the Katha Upanishad, nature of the Soul, The Cosmos, micro and macrocosm, and immortality in a simple and easy to understand manner.
This book is definitely a classic in the field of yoga. However, one thing should be kept in mind that this book was initially a lecture, not a book. So ideally it was meant to be heard and not read. So sometimes it can be a little tedious and difficult to understand. But this is nothing compared to the vast knowledge that this book is home to.
4. Bhakti Yoga
Bhakti yoga is a spiritual path or spiritual practice within Hinduism focused on the cultivation of love and devotion to God. It is the simplest and most direct path to God.
In this book, Swami Vivekananda writes with insight and profound knowledge and provides the reader with a simple path to the Divine. This book contains everything you need to know about the practice of Bhakti Yoga. It is concise and yet highly rich in contents and knowledge.
Swami Vivekananda through this book brilliantly brings before the reader the full range of the teachings of the path of the devotion of Hinduism. From simple dualistic beliefs to the highest Advaitic principles, this book covers every important concept o