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Rating: 
Summary: The life and letters of an American saint
Review: Edith Bissett's tough childhood days must have fueled her desire to seek out firsthand the deeper meaning of life. She delved into the world's great religious and philosophical writings, but became convinced that to realize the truth, you needed a guide who had already "been there and done that." In 1925, she met the great Indian saint and spiritual leader, Paramahansa Yogananda when he was in Seattle. Later, she joined his monastic order and took the name of Gyanamata ("Mother of Wisdom"). This book is a summary of her life and also contains many of her writings - journal entries, letters she wrote to Yogananda (and ones she received from him), counsel she gave to other truth seekers and so forth. Her inspiring writings cover the gamut - right attitude, devotion, renunciation, loyalty, dealing with suffering, gratitude, and much more. We learn so much by reading this book, and also realize why the author was called "Mother of Wisdom." A veritable gem.
Rating:
Summary: The life and letters of an American saint
Review: Edith Bissett's tough childhood days must have fueled her desire to seek out firsthand the deeper meaning of life. She delved into the world's great religious and philosophical writings, but became convinced that to realize the truth, you needed a guide who had already "been there and done that." In 1925, she met the great Indian saint and spiritual leader, Paramahansa Yogananda when he was in Seattle. Later, she joined his monastic order and took the name of Gyanamata ("Mother of Wisdom"). This book is a summary of her life and also contains many of her writings - journal entries, letters she wrote to Yogananda (and ones she received from him), counsel she gave to other truth seekers and so forth. Her inspiring writings cover the gamut - right attitude, devotion, renunciation, loyalty, dealing with suffering, gratitude, and much more. We learn so much by reading this book, and also realize why the author was called "Mother of Wisdom." A veritable gem.
Rating:
Summary: Spiritual secrets behind a woman yoga-saint
Review: It is impossible to do justice to "God Alone" in the space allotted on this site, but I feel I must redress my serious omission in not previously having offered at least some hint of its significance. First, to those new to Yogananda or to Self-Realization Fellowship it is probably important to offer reassurance that (despite its seemingly absolutist title) this is NOT some rabid tract by a mere missionary. The words "God Alone" were the personal, private motto of the intellectual giant and Himalayan spirit who was given the monastic title Sri Gyanamata. In the subtitle, The Life and Letters of a Saint, we find Yogananda's own perspective on "Sister", as she was commonly known around the hermitage. The sixteen pages of Yogananda's own personal tribute here to his "foremost woman disciple" are telling -- unparalleled in his treatment of any of his other students. Although her life was thorned with severe physical trials, Yogananda affirmed that "Never did I see inher face, in her eyes, anger or anguish or pain; only the sweetness of God." The master especially appreciated the humility which crowned her greatness. She never herself wrote a book. It remained for admiring devotees to collect letters and notes that were left after her passing in 1951. These very private notes (advice to devotees in need, devotional outpourings to Spirit or to Paramahansaji, notes of appreciation to her from Yogananda, diary entries). The candor, simplicity, and compassion of her advice have been priceless solace and inspiration to me during trials of body, mind, or spirit. I have often said to students that if I were sentenced to abandonment on a desert isle for the rest of my years that Richard Bucke's "Cosmic Consciousness" is one of the five books I would select if possible. "God Alone" is another of those top five. I regret only that the sales ranking on the present site suggests that thousands of potential beneficiaries have yet to discover gem and its blessings. CONTENTS include: Highlights of Gyanamata's life. Yogananda's account of her passing in the highest spiritual state. Her united love for spiritual truth from sources in both Christianity and yoga. The spiritual power achieved simply by cultivating 'right attitude.' Inspiring thoughts on the guru-disciple relationship by one who *could* have been a guru herself. Sophisticated understanding of renunciation as an *inner* process. A saint's insights on service, loyalty, and receptivity. Reaping blessings from times of great suffering. Spiritual healings and experiences. And unparalled insights on devotion -- from a mother of wisdom (the meaning of her monastic title, Gyanamata). In no other volume (outside his "Autobiography of a Yogi") will you find such a collection of transformative jewels from Yogananda's teachings as in these spell-binding pages. All who appreciate "Autobiography of a Yogi" owe it to their souls to visit these "spiritual footprints for all to follow."
Rating:
Summary: Spiritual secrets behind a woman yoga-saint
Review: It is impossible to do justice to "God Alone" in the space allotted on this site, but I feel I must redress my serious omission in not previously having offered at least some hint of its significance. First, to those new to Yogananda or to Self-Realization Fellowship it is probably important to offer reassurance that (despite its seemingly absolutist title) this is NOT some rabid tract by a mere missionary. The words "God Alone" were the personal, private motto of the intellectual giant and Himalayan spirit who was given the monastic title Sri Gyanamata. In the subtitle, The Life and Letters of a Saint, we find Yogananda's own perspective on "Sister", as she was commonly known around the hermitage. The sixteen pages of Yogananda's own personal tribute here to his "foremost woman disciple" are telling -- unparalleled in his treatment of any of his other students. Although her life was thorned with severe physical trials, Yogananda affirmed that "Never did I see inher face, in her eyes, anger or anguish or pain; only the sweetness of God." The master especially appreciated the humility which crowned her greatness. She never herself wrote a book. It remained for admiring devotees to collect letters and notes that were left after her passing in 1951. These very private notes (advice to devotees in need, devotional outpourings to Spirit or to Paramahansaji, notes of appreciation to her from Yogananda, diary entries). The candor, simplicity, and compassion of her advice have been priceless solace and inspiration to me during trials of body, mind, or spirit. I have often said to students that if I were sentenced to abandonment on a desert isle for the rest of my years that Richard Bucke's "Cosmic Consciousness" is one of the five books I would select if possible. "God Alone" is another of those top five. I regret only that the sales ranking on the present site suggests that thousands of potential beneficiaries have yet to discover gem and its blessings. CONTENTS include: Highlights of Gyanamata's life. Yogananda's account of her passing in the highest spiritual state. Her united love for spiritual truth from sources in both Christianity and yoga. The spiritual power achieved simply by cultivating 'right attitude.' Inspiring thoughts on the guru-disciple relationship by one who *could* have been a guru herself. Sophisticated understanding of renunciation as an *inner* process. A saint's insights on service, loyalty, and receptivity. Reaping blessings from times of great suffering. Spiritual healings and experiences. And unparalled insights on devotion -- from a mother of wisdom (the meaning of her monastic title, Gyanamata). In no other volume (outside his "Autobiography of a Yogi") will you find such a collection of transformative jewels from Yogananda's teachings as in these spell-binding pages. All who appreciate "Autobiography of a Yogi" owe it to their souls to visit these "spiritual footprints for all to follow."
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