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The Book Selection Committee met on Friday, September 5th, to decide what the next book selection would be for the Sunday Morning Book Study Group, which will begin again on September 14, 2025

The criteria which were used to decide were:

1. Is it a book which received a significant number of votes in the book selection survey sent this past summer to all Book Study Group participants?

Click here to read the results of the book selection survey.

2. How long is the book?

3. How easy is it to acquire?

4. Is it a “stand-alone” book or tied to a longer series?

5. Is the material new and fresh?

6. Is it relevant to the issues that people are facing presently, such as aging and

living in a polarized society in a potentially violent world?

7. Is it primarily an academic book or for more general yoga audience?

8. How many people have actually read the book and could endorse it highly?

9. Has it been recommended by AHYMSIN?

10. Does the book have a friendly readable structure as read aloud?

The book the Selection Committee chose is THE ESSENCE OF SPIRITUAL LIFE (2002) by Swami Rama. It was first published in 1996 (hardbound, with the title SADHANA) and has been very popular over the years. It is a relatively short book of profound quotations by Swami Rama.

The Selection Committee chose THE ESSENCE OF SPIRITUAL LIFE because it is recommended by AHYMSIN for the month of September, and it also commemorates the 100th anniversary of Swami Rama’s birth. It is also easy to acquire and relatively short, so we would be able to finish it by the end of the year, and possibly even read another short book by Swami Rama. And then, in 2026, we could begin reading one of the most chosen books by Swami Veda.

If we finish THE ESSENCE OF SPIRITUAL LIFE quickly, we thought that CONSCIOUS LIVING, another book by Swami Rama, would be a good follow-up to it.

And then, in 2026, we could go to Swami Veda’s SILENCE, VOL. I, GURU-DISCIPLE RELATIONSHIP, VOL. II, or YOU AND YOUR EMOTIONS.

We look forward to seeing you at the Book Study at 10:00 a.m., on Sunday, September 14th, for a wonderful new season of learning, discussion and camaraderie.

Shantih!