Liberation - The Fruition of Yoga Paperback – June 1, 2012

Review of Yogani's "Liberation".Gee, I thought one had to be enlightened first before writing about 'liberation'. I guess not!Once again the anonymous anti-guru Yogani, scientific inventor of home-made yoga, is up to his slick tricks, claiming that AYP practices are related to Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, totally misinterpreting the classic meaning of the term samyama, and inventing his own practices which he claims will produce 'liberation'. Funny, I don't see a bibliography in there.. and it is customary to drop in quotes from Jesus and Zen, isn't it?Yogani claims: "And there is that special additional category of practice called Samyama, which employs the last three limbs of yoga simultaneously in reverse order, bringing stillness out to penetrate all of our thinking, feeling and daily activity." Not only does this statement show a total misunderstanding of Patanjali's "Samyama", which is the culmination of the eight limbs of yoga in proper sequence, but Yogani claims that you can work 'in reverse', going from samadhi back to concentration in order to manifest desires outcomes, a process which Yogani claims is morally self-regulating. Will the wonders of an overactive imagination never cease? Classic yoga practices, even Buddhist practices such as Anapansati, have a linear aspect to them for a specific reason. They progress from coarse to finer.But, disregarding the linear progression of development, this is what Yogani says: "Traditionally, the eight limbs of yoga have been taught in order. But in modern times we have seen variations in the order to optimize the evolution of human spiritual tendencies for purification and opening. In the AYP approach we begin with spiritual desire (bhakti) and go straight to deep meditation (dharana and dhyana), which cultivates abiding inner silence (samadhi). Then spinal breathing pranayama, asanas, mudras, bandhas and tantric methods are added according individual preference to facilitate the process of awakening ecstatic conductivity and radiance. Along the way, samyama is added to begin moving inner silence outward into the nervous system and the external environment in an increasing flow, which leads to increasing spiritual desire, and a natural tendency toward self-inquiry (jnana), service (karma yoga), and liberation (moksha)."If Patanjali's Sutras have stood the test of time and is the foundation of modern yoga, how can we disrespect those teachings and turn them into a non-sequential hodge podge of oatmeal like Yogani has done? Is that why there are so many overloads at AYP? Is that why Yogani invented self-pacing, which, incidentally, he recommends that one might have to do even after the practice of AYP samyama?In this very short book Yogani presents his formula for 'liberation' as the joining of his rather vague terms of "inner silence" with "ecstatic conductivity". As these two states combine into "unity", Yogani proposes that there is supposedly something 'divine' about this process.In this 'book', Yogani states "Even excessive kundalini symptoms can be quelled in relational self-inquiry." This is news to me. Not once on his forum has he ever given the advice to use self-inquiry as a remedy for kundalini syndrome. Instead, the one-size fits all solution is "self-pacing". What happened there?Further, the book is filled with confusing statements. For example, in one section, Yogani states that enlightenment is beyond the joining of inner silence and ecstatic conductivity: "Rise of Unity - Experience of merging of inner silence and ecstatic energy, manifesting as a natural divine flow coming from within during daily activity, and a sense of ripening in inquiry and more spontaneity of positive actions in the world. We come to know ourselves as stillness in action, beyond our prior sense of "I, me, and mine," and beyond the subject/object duality of earlier stages of witnessing."Yet, in another section he says this: "By definition, both the cause and the destination of true realization are beyond the mind, in the abiding inner witness, which never assumes or proclaims anything. It just is." So which is it? Is realization in the inner witness or beyond it? The reader feels like they are being led on a wild goose chase as the definitions are changed and further qualified.The section on the Witness is very confusing as the witness is given volitional accomplishments and various degrees of stages.The section on Unity is also very confusing. Yogani says: "No one knows what the true nature of existence is outside the realm of time and space. Yet, oddly enough, we can experience it directly. The reason we say "We cannot know" is because the reality we are able to experience through deep meditation and self-inquiry is outside the field of knowing." Ambiguous terms? Isn't experiencing something to know it? Yes, it is odd, isn't it?Then, later, while trying to explain the witness, he says: "We have gone from being a small identified self, to being the big universal Self. This is not philosophical. It is experiential. It is not a concept we can manifest as reality via the mind. It is a neurobiological condition that we find ourselves living in 24 hours per day, as a result of effective practices engaged in over time." But wait a minute, if we cannot know it, how can it be experiential?And there there is that fantastic statement, that the big universal Self is a neurobiological condition caused by practices.. If it were neurobiological, then surely science could measure it. Is Yogani saying here that enlightenment can be scientifically measured? Further, what about the people whose neurobiology is sick, deficient or incapable of sustaining such modification? Are they automatically out of the race?Rather than reading through the whole confusing section of the witness, Yogani could have simple stated this "We are the awareness that watches the awareness perceive". It does not require practices to realize this, nor is it something that must be developed. The challenge is to stay in that realization through mindfulness. It is rather simple but challenging. That is the Vedantic way. It requires mindfulness. But Yogani asserts that only practices will enable the realization of liberation and he even presents multiple variations of Jnana Yoga, inventing categories all with their own peculiar traits, in order to progressively learn how to recognize awareness through Self Inquiry..In this book, Yogani is trying to make it seem that Ramana's practices are only effective when coupled with AYP practices. Yogani says:" Ramana Maharshi, one of the greatest sages of the 20th century, offered a unique approach to self-inquiry that does not deal with the objects of perception at all, at least not in a common way. His enlightenment occurred outside the mainstream of traditional jnana and advaita in India, outside the guru system altogether. His approach is innovative, effective and safe. It is one of the most direct approaches to self-realization, if it is undertaken relationally, with the witness pre-cultivated in deep meditation, and with the habit of releasing intentions in stillness established (samyama)."Again we find Yogani misinterpreting classic teachings and trying to sell his view that AYP practices will somehow make them more effective.This is what has been written about what Ramana Maharshi said about the need for yogic practices:"Bhagavan accepted this and used it to critique traditional yoga practices which sought realisation by doing exercises that made the kundalini rise from the muladhara to the sahasrara chakra. He maintained that realisation would only result if the kundalini was brought down to the Heart centre through the jivanadi, and he sometimes added that since self-enquiry would achieve this automatically, specific yogic exercises to achieve this goal were not needed.[...]Not needed! That is a far cry from Yogani's statement about the need for a pre-cultivated witness through the practice of deep meditation and the practice of AYP's samyama!Yogani is also attempting to dilute the pure Advaita Vedanta perspective, the top-down approach, that you are already THAT and you just have to realize it, by saying that this direct approach is only direct if it is supplemented by the AYP bottom-up practices. This is downright false. Ramana (Bhagavan) said specifically that yogic exercises where not needed. Nisargadatta, a classic Vedanta Advaitist, did not say "go practice assanas, do pranayama, drink your pee and put your tongue up into your nasal cavity (some of the AYP practices)! He said "Focus on the feeling of "I AM". That is all you need do. The "I AM" is the doorway and it will set you free.I found this book very convoluted, deceptive and hard to read and filled with sales pitches and justifications for the AYP inventions. Many questions remained unresolved and left as 'mysteries'. Yogani takes classic yoga practices, twists them around, customizes them and then tries to convince us that his practices are true yoga by piggy backing onto the classic guru's teachings. Let the uninitiated beware.To view the shameless begging for reviews about this book on the AYP website, which has no doubt skewed the objectivity of any of the reviews you see written by AYP members here, see: [...]I don't recommend this book at all. Save your money, and more importantly, your precious time.

I have been a big fan of AYP and Yogani. I have been practicing their AYP approach for some time now. This book brings all the different components of the practice together very nicely and also gives us a taste as to what Enlightenment would feel like.

I’d give this book infinite stars if I could. I have the kindle, paperback & audio version. As a long-time student of transformation, I’ve practiced numerous forms of meditation, yoga, bodywork & healing (PEMS). What I appreciate the most is that Yogani has consolidated, bridged & *reconciled* what once seemed to be paradoxical & seemingly contradictory paths, at least to me. I’m able to move freely ahead thanks, at least in part to Yogani’s help bridging the gap. I recently donated my entire bookcase & most of the books therein, because I no longer need them. I now have a daily practice (built upon AYP’s deep meditation) that works wonders for me. I’m gradually learning to access my own stillness in action. In the last 18 months since discovering Yogani & AYP, my life has changed in significant & revealing ways (including work, home, relationships, movement/somatics, etc.). Yogani has clarified Patanjali’s teachings in a way that’s accessible to me. He’s bridged the gap between stillness & action—frequently referring to active surrender & stillness in action & describing straightforward methods to cultivate this. I have Yogani’s entire library on kindle & audio & a few favorites in paperback. I frequently listen to the Liberation audio book on loop overnight. (Last night I think I listened more than slept :-) Every time I read or listen to it, it crystallizes in a deeper way. I love it when it weaves into my dreams. I also have 4 favorite AYP books in paperbook which I highly recommend: Liberation, Samyama (extraordinary—a must-have!), Deep Meditation (the best place to start if you’re new to the teachings, followed by Spinal Breathing Pranayama) & Easy Lessons for Ecstatic Living (extensive). If you’re new to the teachings, check out AYP’s website where much of the information is available for free. Preview & see if it resonates with you. I tend to be an introvert so I appreciate that I have everything I need to practice on my own. However, there’s an active community, if you’re inclined that way. The bottom line—the AYP books are helping me in tangible miraculous ways. Yogani is an uplifter & teacher to the core. Thank you Yogani!! Carry on!!

Clear and points to beyond to the Ashtavakra Gita, where the eye does rarely wink.

I'm learning so much from his teachings, all his books.Thank you!!!!Lilly

Great book full of wisdom.

At a time when there is a proliferation of self-proclaimed "enlightened" non-duality authors, this book serves as a powerful antidote. For Yogani, liberation is loving engagement in the world, the spontaneous outpouring of the merging of inner silence and ecstatic conductivity. For many of these authors, "liberation" appears to be dissociation or unfeeling detachment. The author's distinction between relational and non-relational self-enquiry is insightful and powerful. As in all his books, he speaks with an air of authenticity. Highly recommended. .

This series is perfect if you are serious out progressing spiritually .If you are committed you will move forward to full realisation .Many books on the subject of spirituality are written for maximum sales-this series is a no fluff way to enlightenment by an author who wants no glory and remains anonymous .

Ich kann nur alle Yogani Bücher wärmstens empfehlen. Yogani schreibt ausführlich, detailliert, nimmt den Leser an die Hand und führt in Schritt für Schritt weiter. Der Leser erhält sehr gute Anleitung und Betreuung - übrigens auch per Email.