Raja Yoga

Raja Yoga is a book by Swami Vivekananda about 'Raja Yoga', his interpretation of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras adapted for a Western audience. The book was published in July 1896. It became an instant success and was highly influential in the Western understanding of yogaRaja Yoga contains transcripts of lectures by Vivekananda on 'Raja Yoga', his interpretation of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, and a 'rather free translation' of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras plus Vivekananda's commentaries, which also was a series of talks. It presents Vivekananda's understanding and interpretation of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, 'and a selection of hathayoga teachings on the basis of the beliefs that he shared with his students.'These included elements from traditional Hinduism, but also ideas from western science, Idealism, and 'the Neo-Vedantic esotericism of the Brahmo Samaj and Western occultism,' including mesmerism and 'American Harmonial religion.'