Mahamantra Yoga*: Chanting to Anchor the Mind and Access the Divine - Softcover

"This book is a great companion for those of us on the path of chanting who want to go deeper into this very simple and extremely beneficial way of transformation and healing through the sacred Sanskrit sounds."--Deva Premal and Miten, world-renowned mantra and spiritual song artists

"Mahamantra Yoga's potent combination of deep learning and profound personal insight sets this book apart. It is not only a valuable resource for students of meditation and mysticism but also an important contribution to contemporary spiritual literature."--Steven J. Gelberg, M.T.S., author and editor of Hare Krishna Hare Krishna: 5 Distinguished Scholars

"Richard Whitehurst creates a bridge for the modern Western reader to a world of wonders, powered by an ancient lineage and presently accessed through a very specific form of chanting. The principles that he so carefully presents alert one to what is needed for any path of inner development."--David Tresemer, Ph.D., author of One-Two-ONE: Guidebook for Conscious Partnerships, Weddings, and Re

"This is a great little book and CD for anyone wanting to know more about or deepen his or her meditation. What really appealed to me was the way it addresses both the physical and the mental to bring them into balance . . . I also found the CD invaluable for learning the chants."--Rahasya Poe, Lotus Guide, July 2011

"The book (and the accompanying CD) is a wonderful addition to spiritual literature and mysticism in general, and a valuable resource for everyone interested in meditation and chanting."--Spirituality-and-Religion.com, October 2011

"From time immemorial, religions have used singing and the chanting of sacred syllables, mantras, to lift their spirits to the divine. Yoga, for its part, is an exercise or practice to strengthen the human spirit and help it mature. All this is pulled together in . . . this remarkable book."--Huston Smith, author of The World's Religions

"Chanting is a venerable vehicle for altering consciousness and for personal transformation. This book is a manual for diligent practitioners of the 'great mantra' process of chanting, one rooted in ancient Hindu traditions. It is detailed, comprehensive, and instructive. Those readers who immerse themselves in it will find the journey worth the effort."--Stanley Krippner, Ph.D., coauthor of Personal Mythology and the Alan Watts professor of psychology a

"Richard Whitehurst's Mahamantra Yoga is nothing less than a chalice of pure form that contains the elixir of highest truth. This book is magical, alchemical, and cut like crystal. It is a cleansing waterfall of light, sound, and spiritual resonance."--James O'Dea, teacher, author, visionary activist, and former president of the Institute of Noe

"Mahamantra Yoga is spiritually alive. Richard Whitehurst entwines practical guidance with authentic personal expression, thus encouraging the reader to fully embrace his or her humanness in the quest for spiritual enlightenment. This is a book for beginners as well as those who begin every moment anew."--Jamie K. Reaser, Ph.D., author of Note to Self: Poems for Changing the World from the Inside Out

". . . the book is very well organized and streamlined, making the material accessible to a broad range of readers (customers). Neither elusive theory nor over-simplified pop-culture literature, this is an affordable, and very workable, serious course of study. The teachings contained within it are rarely made so available to so many people."--Anna Jedrziewski, New Age Retailer, May 2011

A guide to mantra recitation for ecstatic states, spiritual liberation, and higher consciousness

· Ideal for those looking to deepen the spirituality of their physical yoga practice

· Offers detailed instruction on the practice of mahamantra yoga and exercises to improve one’s practice and move beyond rote chanting

· Includes a CD of mahamantra yoga chants

Based on a rich and ancient tradition revived more than five hundred years ago by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu in India, mahamantra yoga involves repeated recitation of a sacred phrase, such as the name of a deity, to anchor the mind and access ecstatic states, higher consciousness, and, ultimately, as you vibrate the holy names, the Divine presence in sound. Part of the bhakti devotional tradition, mahamantra yoga is considered the best path to self-realization in the current age, offering a doorway into the hidden recesses of our innermost being--the internal forest of the heart.

Citing ancient Vedic texts and the insights of perfected mahamantra yogis, Richard Whitehurst reveals the methods of mahamantra yoga and his own profound experiences based on more than 20 years of intense practice. Using the core principles of this ancient tradition, he offers mental and physical exercises--such as how to coordinate the breath, vocal cords, and mouth--to move beyond rote chanting and pursue the practice consciously and joyfully. He explains how to overcome common obstacles to successful chanting as well as purification practices to intensify your efforts. Including a CD of mahamantra yoga chants, this book is the perfect guide for those looking to deepen the spirituality of their physical yoga practice and attain the goals of spiritual life in the midst of the modern world.