This book incorporates some of the practical lectures on devotion delivered by Swami Vivekananda. Here he discusses the preparatory disciplines, the importance of the guru and how to choose one, the principles of ritual worship, the chosen ideal, and finally, the supreme love. This book differs from the Swami's Bhakti Yoga lectures, not in subject matter, but in his treatment of the subject here in an intensive, yet more easily appreciable form.
After every happiness comes misery; they may be far apart or near. The more advanced the soul, the more quickly does one follow the other. What we want is neither happiness nor misery. Both make us forget our true nature; both are chains--one iron, one gold; behind both is the Atman, who knows neither happiness nor misery. These are states, and states must ever change; but the nature of the Atman is bliss, peace, unchanging. We have not to get it, we have it; only wash away the dross and see it.
-Swami Vivekananda
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