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Yogi Shanti Desai's PublicationsPersonal to Global Transformation
Personal to Global Transformation
$18.99 In order to effect life changes, Shanti provides practical guidelines for weight management, overcoming addictions, daily yoga practice, meditation, and skillful living. He then describes the natural outcome of universality and selfless service. In closing, the author recounts his own personal experiences and shares the essence of his revolutionary vision.  Personal to Global Transformation is also available through Amazon.com. Buy this book along with The 2008 Edition of Meditation Practice Manual and be eligible for Amazon's free shipping. From the book...Excerpt INTRODUCTION TO TRANSFORMATION The purpose of this book is to inspire people to slow down, wake up and realize the Self. The intention is to encourage and guide people to look inward, to accept and love themselves, to give up all the conditioning of their upbringing and illusions of the future. Happiness and bliss are our birthrights. Everyone is worthy. Anyone who chooses can live a fulfilling, dynamic, balanced and joyous life, with abundance. It takes awareness to wake up and experience transformation. It does not require dependence on dogma, religion, or philosophy. It can be applied at any age and in any situation of life. It does not require a special situation and extra time because life itself can be utilized for meditation. Anyone can use the breath and increase awareness for personal transformation. If you are dreaming, the dream is real for you until you wake up. The world is a cosmic dream (Maya). Everyone is dreaming simultaneously. To make sure you are not dreaming, you have to pinch yourself or slap yourself on the face. We have the choice to wake up voluntarily or nature will wake us up with a big slap. 'Out of thousands of men, perhaps one rare soul strives for perfection (Self Realization). Even among those thousand who are successful in their struggle, only one rare soul knows me in essence (Attains Self Realization)." Bhagavad-Gita. Chapter 7, Verse 3. Many met masters of all cultures have made similar observations. My observation is in line with the observations of previous masters. Students, teachers and leaders are running. Some are running in the name of conquering the world by attaining wealth, power and fame. Some are running in the name of religion or God. Some become missionaries and convert others to save the world. The true search begins only when one stops running, looks inward and practices introspection. One time a cowardly rabbit in a dense jungle heard a big thump. He started running declaring that the sky had fallen. Other animals asked why he was running and joined him. The rumor spread and the rest of the animals started running until the king of the jungle, the Lion, stopped the rabbit. He took the rabbit where he saw the sky had fallen. They found that only a fruit had fallen. Masses of people are mesmerized and follow the crowd without questioning. Instead of blind following, questioning like the lion and finding the source, is the essence of the spiritual search. Masses seek crowds, activities and set structures that take away their responsibility to think for themselves. We have made a tremendous amount of progress in the fields of technology and communication that provide us conveniences and comforts. We should have more time, freedom and peace of mind. However, in reality, most people complain of a lack of time, freedom and security. The reason is obvious. People have become extroverted and are conditioned to rely on external guidance. They have lost the capacity to look within and trust inner guidance. Organized religions and institutions provide the pacifying opium effect to the masses. They help to maintain social order by using a fear-and-reward strategy in their preaching. This does not produce long term transformation. Organizations get into conflict with other groups with different beliefs and create wars at social and national levels. The spiritual journey begins after one transcends religion and dogma. The spiritual path is for the brave only. Bravery is not fighting your external enemies. Cowards have insecurity, which compels them to control their enemies. The spiritual path tames the mind and controls internal enemies: desires, anger, greed, pride, attachment and hatred. The greatest bravery is required in dissolving the ego, becoming humble a cultivating compassion for all. It is rare to find a teacher who declares the bitter truth and rare to find a student who listens to the bitter truth. Teachers and students both want to cover up the truth with sweet illusions like a medicinal pill covered with sugar coating. You risk popularity by speaking the truth and have to sacrifice ego to accept the bitter truth. People complain about not having enough time and do not feel worthy to wake up and start the journey. They are programmed to believe that the spiritual path is difficult and requires many sacrifices. Really one does not need to do anything but to wake up and see reality clearly. One can learn to utilize the breath and awareness as tools in all situations and at all times. Once one sees the reality, activities follow effortlessly. Actions become the byproducts of inner convictions. One learns to utilize gaps in time between various activities. One can also apply the principles while walking, driving, cooking or waiting in a line. Exploration and awakening require stillness and subtlety of the intuitive mind. It has to come from within. One cannot attain awakening as long as one is hanging on to other people and dogmas. When desire for liberation intensifies, he finds the right teacher and the right situation, recognizes the teachings and utilizes inspiration and guidance. If the inner desire is lacking, no spiritual master, teaching or reading can transform him. Anyone can attain inner stillness by observing and slowing down the breath, regardless of their physical condition and environments. They can gain clarity of their own existence, and direction of life, through introspection. Table of Contents TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION ONE I. INTRODUCTION TO TRANSFORMATION..........3 II. DIRECTION FOR TRANSFORMATION ..........7 III. PERSONAL TO GLOBAL TRANSFORMATION AND PEACE..........13 IV. SPIRITUAL AWAKENING ..........21 SECTION TWO
VI. PERSONAL JOURNEY ..........41 VII. JOURNEY FOR PERSONAL TRANSFORMATION ..........49 VIII. FROM ATTACHMENT TO RENUNCIATION ..........53 IX. JOURNEY OF LIFE ..........73 X. QUANTUM PERSONAL TRANSFORMATION ..........81 SECTION THREE XI. GUIDELINE FOR DYNAMIC DISCIPLINE ..........109 XII. GUIDELINE FOR DYNAMIC WEIGHT MANAGEMENT..........115 XIII. GUIDELINE FOR DYNAMIC YOGA ..........119 XIV. GUIDELINE FOR DYNAMIC MEDITATION ..........129 XV. GUIDELINE FOR DYNAMIC FAITH ..........137 VII. MEDITATION ON DEATH EXPERIENCE ..........155 VIII. MEDITATION AS A WAY OF LIFE ..........159 SECTION FOUR XIX. SELFLESS SERVICE ..........171 XX. UNIVERSALITY ..........181 XXI. WILD FIRE OF SPIRITUAL AWAKENING ..........187 SECTION FIVE I. BIOGRAPHY OF SHANTI ..........191 TERMINOLOGY ..........243
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