I'm a great fan of Sivananda's and also recommend several of his
works, esp. "Tantra Yoga, Nada Yoga and Kriya Yoga". The best work
which is accessible in English IMO is probably _Mantra and Mediation_
by Pundit Usharbudh Arya, a Patanjali yogin and Pundit and also from
the Rig Veda tradition (this is actually part two of a series).
On Dec 3, 2006, at 6:43 PM, Bhairitu wrote:
I would also recommend reading Swami Vishnu-Devananda's "Meditation
and
Mantras" which is an expansion on Sivananda's book "Japa Yoga."
Particularly read Chapter 7 and on page 62 you will find the usual
method that gurus use to assign mantras via ishta devata. Also on
page
79 Devananda says of bija mantras:
"Because of their innate force, bija Mantras are generally not
given for
initiation. Japa on them may be practiced by those who are in a pure
state, and their use is preceded by intricate rituals."
