The Doctrine and Practice of Yoga: Including the Practices and Exercises of Concentration, both Objective and Subjective, and Active and Passive Mentation, an Elucidation of Maya, Guru Worship, and the Worship of the Terrible, also the Mystery of Will-Force

In Short

Swami A. P. Mukerji presents a practical manual for mental discipline, physical vitality, and spiritual independence. Designed as a condensed course of study, the text instructs the reader on how to cultivate absolute concentration, master subconscious thought-habits, and strengthen internal will-force. Through specific mental exercises, physical movements, and breathing techniques, Mukerji guides the seeker away from lower emotional impulses toward the realization of the higher, impersonal self. The book endures as a accessible, direct synthesis of ancient Hindu philosophy and early twentieth-century mental science.

The Story

The manual unfolds as a systematic progression from foundational mental control to full spiritual self-realization. Swami Mukerji begins by establishing the primary premise that every individual holds complete responsibility for their present state and future destiny. He demands that the student take direct charge of their life through absolute seriousness, emotional composure, and unwavering perseverance. The text first introduces the reader to the principles of objective concentration, teaching techniques to eliminate superfluous thoughts, control impulsive behaviors, and sharpen visual memory through steady meditation on geometric forms and scenes.

Building upon basic concentration, Mukerji addresses the internal environment, identifying four toxic categories of thought—fear, hate, sensuality, and selfishness—that destroy human potential. To eradicate these, he details active and passive mentation, instructing the student on how to use sheer will, auto-suggestion, and deliberate physical action to break negative mental habits and build positive character traits. The discussion moves into the physical realm, evaluating the roles of celibacy, diet, and dynamic force. While endorsing vegetarianism for its rhythmic qualities and physical refinement, Mukerji emphasizes that mental dominion remains superior to physical form.

The central theoretical core examines the nature of will-force and the "I AM" consciousness. Mukerji reconciles the conflict between free will and determinism by arguing that the human will is a slave on the material plane but a sovereign on the spiritual plane. True will-power manifests when an individual rises above lower personal desires and acts under the direction of the higher, impersonal self. To build this power, he outlines rigorous practices of self-denial, emotional resistance, and mental focus.

The second half of the book turns to concrete application. Mukerji details practical exercises for mental projection, distant thought transmission, and memory development, always grounding these capabilities in spiritual responsibility rather than self-aggrandizement. He presents Vedanta-based meditations aimed at dispelling the fear of death by realizing the eternal nature of the soul. The text then pairs these mental disciplines with a complete physical regimen, offering detailed routines for fasting, sex-energy transmutation, bodily calisthenics, and specialized breathing exercises designed to stimulate cellular vitality and expand reserve force.

In the final movement, Mukerji binds physical health to natural laws and spiritual evolution. He concludes with an urgent call to action, demanding that the student apply these lessons in quiet self-reliance, serve others without condescension, and actively participate in the world's progress.

How It Unfolds

The foundation of attention The journey opens with the fundamental demand for focus, instructing the reader to isolate specific thoughts, conquer impulse, and practice visualization exercises to master objective concentration.

Eradicating toxic mentation The text moves to internal purification, identifying destructive thought patterns and prescribing auto-suggestion, will-power, and active behavioral expression to replace negative habits with unshakeable character.

Unlocking the true will Mukerji introduces the distinction between the lower personal self and the "I AM" consciousness, teaching that genuine will-power arises through self-denial, resistance to comfort, and alignment with the higher self.

Practical exercises and projection The student learns advanced mental disciplines, including sending positive thought-forms at a distance, drawing symbols in sand to develop focus, and utilizing evening auto-suggestions to strengthen subconscious resolution.

Philosophical illumination and Vedanta The treatise addresses the root of fear, offering specific meditative exercises to detach the mind from the physical body, realize the eternal nature of the ego, and comprehend the illusion of Maya.

Physical culture and vital force The final instructional phase links mental control to physical vitality through guided fasting methods, dynamic calisthenic movements, abdominal exercises, and specialized breathing techniques to generate internal reserve power.

The call to self-reliance The text closes with a final charge to the student to stand on their own feet, abandon the search for quick shortcuts, live selflessly, and apply these disciplines in service to humanity.

The People

The Teacher (Swami A. P. Mukerji) The author serves as an uncompromising, direct guide who demands absolute dedication and serious effort from the reader. He wants the student to achieve spiritual independence, mental poise, and physical strength, standing in the way only of their own impatience, superficiality, and desire for miraculous short-cuts. He concludes his instruction by placing full responsibility back on the reader, stepping aside so they may climb the ladder of self-perfection independently.

The Student The reader is addressed directly throughout as an active participant seeking truth, health, and soul-unfoldment. The student is driven by a desire for self-improvement but is hindered by pampered physical habits, subjection to lower impulses, and lingering fear. Through consistent application of the prescribed exercises, the student transforms from a slave of circumstance into a self-mastered individual capable of directing their own destiny.

The Lower Personal Self Represented as the central internal obstacle, this aspect of human nature seeks comfort, reacts with impulsiveness, and succumbs to fear, hate, sensuality, and selfishness. It constantly rebels against discipline and clings to material results, but ultimately yields when confronted by the persistent command of the higher will.

The Higher Impersonal Self The ultimate spiritual destination within every individual, synonymous with pure consciousness, eternal existence, and absolute unity. It remains unaffected by bodily changes or physical death, serving as the source of genuine will-power, wisdom, and universal love once the lower self is subdued.

In Its Own Voice

"Take your present into your own hand. Consciously shape out of it your future."

The author frames the entire work around absolute personal accountability and the conscious direction of one's internal forces.

"The strongest-willed man is he who has the greatest control over his inclinations, and who can 'force' himself to do such things as he is naturally most inclined to do."

This paradoxical definition highlights Mukerji's core philosophy that true strength lies in conquering personal convenience and lower impulses.

"To the work thou hast the right, O Partha, but not to the fruits thereof"--Gita.

Quoting the Bhagavad Gita, the text anchors its practical exercises in the spiritual discipline of selfless effort and detachment from material outcomes.

What It's Really About

The book addresses the fundamental question of human freedom: whether an individual is a helpless victim of external circumstances and lower impulses, or the sovereign master of their own fate. Mukerji argues that true freedom cannot be found in the gratification of material desires, which only binds the individual to the illusory world of Maya. Instead, liberty is attained when the lower personal self is brought under the strict governance of the disciplined intellect and absolute will. By uniting mental focus, physical purity, and Vedantic philosophy, the text presents self-mastery not as an abstract mystic state, but as an attainable, daily practice of conscious choice, self-denial, and selfless action.

Why Read It Today

The Doctrine and Practice of Yoga offers a refreshing, non-nonsense approach to personal growth that feels strikingly modern yet deeply rooted in traditional Indian thought. Readers drawn to mindfulness, mental discipline, and holistic wellness will appreciate Mukerji’s direct, instructional tone and his refusal to promise easy fixes or mystical shortcuts. The text balances theoretical philosophy with explicit, step-by-step physical and mental exercises, making abstract concepts immediately actionable.

Modern readers will encounter the period formatting typical of early twentieth-century self-study manuals, including emphatic capitalization, archaic spellings, and references to early mental science concepts. The physical routines and dietary advice reflect the health culture of 1922, requiring the reader to engage with historical contexts alongside the timeless spiritual principles. What remains long after reading is the book's intense, motivating insistence on self-reliance. Mukerji leaves no room for excuses, offering a clear and vigorous blueprint for building personal character, physical resilience, and quiet internal strength.