Swa-Dharma

Buddha's last words, "अप्प दीपो भवः" - translated as "Be your own beacon" - urge self-reliance and inner wisdom. The book aims to help you become the master of your body and mind, guiding you to shine from within. It provides a framework and scientific metrics to choose and evaluate theories that can be applied to take full charge of the body-mind layers. It starts with an ancient wisdom tradition that envisions the body-mind as successive layers, each one a gateway to deeper awareness. Mastery of these layers unfolds with the Annamaya Kosh, the physical or gross body; moving through the Pranamaya and Vijnanamaya Koshs, the sheath of vital energy, breath and intellect; then through the Manomaya Kosha, governed by the mind; and finally reaching the Anandamaya Kosh, the realm of eternal bliss.

Factors to help the readers evaluate the effectiveness of any principles used to gain control over these layers are also discussed as part of the chapters. The principles and practices presented here, aimed at helping you become the master of yourself, are rooted in Ayurveda, Pranayama, and Chakra activation, and Vedanta Darshan (Philosophy).