The Bhagavad Gita

The 700 verses of the Bhagavad Gita are the philosophical essence of the great Indian epic "Mahabharata", and are the work of the great saint and sage Vyasa.
The Bhagavad Gita traces the timeless teaching of the pupil (Arjuna) by the master (Krishna) on the art of right living and right action.
In the form of a dialogue, the question of man's "true nature" and his relationship to God is raised.
The setting is a battlefield, symbolically representing man's constant struggle between his lower and higher (true) natures. The paths to supreme reality are those of selfless action (Karma Yoga), love and devotion to the divine (Bhakti Yoga) and knowledge (Jnana Yoga). The Bhagavad Gita's philosophical depth represents the essence of Indian Vedic wisdom.

Srimad Bhagavatam

This text is a complete encyclopedia of Indian ethics, philosophy and religion. God Krishna is the central figure in this unique book. It is one of the main works on Bhakti (devotion), linked to knowledge (Jnana). In the Srimad Bhagavatam, the ambrosia of Bhakti is mixed with the elixir of life of Jnana. This text is incomparable for its beauty and charm, its language and philosophy.

Vedanta texts

The Upanishads

The Upanishads are the final part of the Vedas and form the foundation of Vedanta philosophy. They are considered the mystical experience of the great sages. The word Upanishad means "to sit close to", i.e. beside a master or Guru, who orally transmits his spiritual knowledge to his pupil. Tradition knows 108 Upanishads.

The writings of Sri Adi Sankaracharya

Sankaracharya lived in the 8th century and is considered one of India's most eminent philosophers, as well as the greatest exponent of the philosophy of non-duality or Advaita Vedanta.

The jewel of discrimination

The Viveka Chudamani, literally the "Jewel of Discrimination", is a Prakarana Grantha, a text written in simple Sanskrit, which aims to explain in a common language the message of the Vedas and the Upanishads (wisdom teachings). The Viveka Chudamani, which consists of 580 verses, takes the form of a dialogue between a teacher and his pupil. The disciple gradually learns how to attain Brahman or higher consciousness. The text explains meditation methods, the characteristics of a Guru and the state of Self-realization.

Recognizing the truth
Who am I? What is the meaning of life? Tattva Bodha (the knowledge of truth) answers these and other questions. In the form of a dialogue between a master and a pupil, we discover the three bodies, the three Gunas (elements of nature), the three states of mind and the difference between the real and the unreal. With intensive questioning, the aspirant achieves Self-realization, or, to put it another way, the realization of the unity of the Self with the Absolute or God.

Knowing the Self
The Atma Bodha or "Knowledge of the Self" is a short text on Advaita Vedanta, the philosophy of non-duality. The work consists of 68 verses in Sanskrit. It deals with the belief in the unity of the individual soul with the absolute soul or Brahman. According to Atma Bodha, it is necessary to know the Self and the immutable in order to overcome mistaken identification with the perishable objects of the material world.

The Raja Yoga Sutras by Patanjali Maharishi

Patanjali Maharishi's Raja Yoga Sutras are the ideal manual for exploring and mastering our own thoughts. In the recent history of yoga in the West, this classic text acts as a comprehensive guide to the physical, mental and spiritual levels of meditation practice.
Confidence in self-discipline is the most important prerequisite on the spiritual path. Without self-discipline, even highly educated people will not benefit. This book is an invaluable source of knowledge for yoga practitioners in the West, especially for studying the spiritual psychology of yoga, the oldest psychology of mankind.

Hatha Yoga Pradipika

The Hatha Yoga Pradipika is a classic textbook on Hatha Yoga, written in Sanskrit in the 15th century by Swami Swatmarama, a disciple of Swami Goraknath. It is considered the oldest extant text on Hatha Yoga. Commented on by Swami Vishnudevananda, the book contains instructions for practicing Hatha Yoga postures (Asanas), as well as breathing exercises (Pranayama), purification exercises (Kriyas) and a description of the energies in the body.

Gheranda Samhita

The Gheranda Samhita (Sanskrit for "Gheranda Collection") was written in the 17th century by Gheranda. It is the most encyclopedic of the three classical texts of Hatha Yoga. This comprehensive work deals mainly with Shat Kriyas, exercises for the inner purification of the body, also known as Ghatastha Yoga.
Siva Samhita
The Siva Samhita, whose author is unknown, is one of the three classic texts of Hatha Yoga. The Sanskrit title literally means "Siva's Collection" and describes a dialogue between the Hindu God Siva and his consort Parvati. The Siva Samhita is considered the most comprehensive work on Hatha Yoga (the postures). It discusses the different philosophical viewpoints, asanas, meditation, the different energies in the body, the importance of the Guru, the four paths of yoga, as well as methods of liberation and the obstacles that stand in the way.

Bhakti Yoga

Bhakti Yoga, one of the four paths of Yoga along with Jnana Yoga (knowledge), Raja Yoga (control of the mind) and Karma Yoga (selfless action), is considered the easiest and most direct path to Self-realization in our time.

Epics
The Mahabharata

In its original Sanskrit version, the Mahabharata consists of 100,000 verses, making it the world's longest epic. The author is the sage Vyasa - it is also said that Ganesha (the elephant-headed god) wrote it according to Vyasa's tales.
It tells the fascinating story of the five Pandava brothers: the eldest, Yudhishthira, the very embodiment of Dharma or righteousness, loses his kingdom in a gamble and is condemned to exile for 12 years, along with his brothers Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva and Queen Draupadi. During these years, they experience many adventures and, with the help of their cousin Krishna, prepare for the imminent war with their enemy, Duryodhana. The heart of the epic is the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna's teaching to Arjuna on the battlefield, which symbolizes the struggle between the lower and higher mind.
The Mahabharata charms with its many colorful sub-stories and unforgettable characters, in whom we find the full diversity of human experience.

The Ramayana

Ramayana literally means "the biography of Rama". It is one of the oldest epics in Sanskrit literature. Its author is the sage Valmiki. The epic describes the lives of Rama and Sita, incarnations of the god Narayana and his consort Lakshmi. Rama represents Dharma (righteousness). He is the ideal symbol of the son, the husband and the statesman.
The Ramayana recounts Prince Rama's 14-year exile following intrigues at the court of his father, the king. His faithful companion Sita and his brother Lakshmana follow him into the forest. One day, Sita is kidnapped by the demon Ravana. The monkey god Hanuman and an army of monkeys and bears help Rama defeat Ravana's army and rescue Sita. The fantastic adventures detailed in the Ramayana and the large number of exceptional characters it contains make this magnificent epic - along with the Mahabharata - one of the most important poems in Indian literature.