Genuine Mediumship; or, The Invisible Powers - Atkinson, William Walker

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Résumé :
Lawyer William Walker Atkinson was an important early exponent of New Thought metaphysics and the occult, and, under the name of Swami Ramacharaka, he was a pioneer advocate of Hinduism and yoga. Atkinson was born December 5, 1862, in Baltimore, Maryland, and began his legal career after he was admitted to the Pennsylvania bar in 1894. His promising future, however, began to dissolve as he found himself unable to cope with the pressures of the job. Doctors were unable to heal him, but in his search for health, he discovered the mind cure movement and was soon healed. He moved to Chicago around the turn of the century and there continued his law practice but developed a second career as a metaphysical teacher and writer. His first pamphlet, The Secret of the I AM, was freely distributed for many years. In 1900 he became the editor of Suggestion, a New Thought periodical, and about the same time met publisher and entrepreneur Sydney Flowers. Flowers had created the Psychic Research Company and the New Thought Publishing Company. In 1901 Atkinson became editor of Flowers's monthly New Thought magazine. He founded a Psychic Club and the Atkinson School of Mental Science, both of which he headquartered in the same building as Flowers's organizations. Soon after moving to Chicago, Atkinson became deeply involved in Hinduism and saw in yogic philosophy a parallel to his New Thought teachings. In 1903, under the pseudonym Swami Ramacharaka, Atkinson issued his first Hindu text, Fourteen Lessons in Yoga Philosophy and Oriental Occultism. It was followed by the Advanced Course in Yogi Philosophy (1904), Hindu Yogi Science of Breath (1904), Hatha Yoga (1905), Reincarnation and the Law of Karma (1908), and eight more. As popular as the New Thought books were, those books Atkinson wrote as Swami Ramacharaka have proved more enduring. They have remained in print to the present and have become important texts introducing Westerners to Hindu thought and practice. Atkinson remained active as a writer and editor into the 1920s. He wrote regularly for The Nautilus, Elizabeth Towne's monthly, and issued one set of books he cowrote with Edward E. Beals in the early 1920s. In his later years he retired to California; he died in Los Angeles on November 22, 1932. (encyclopedia.com)

Sommaire:
William Walker Atkinson, born in 1862, was an influential American author and philosopher known for his extensive writings on yoga, mysticism, and Eastern philosophy. He is the author of the pseudonymous works attributed to Theron Q. Dumont and Yogi Ramacharaka. A prominent figure in the New Thought movement, Atkinson authored numerous works exploring the principles of spiritual growth and self-realization. His writings often focus on practical applications of Eastern spiritual practices, particularly in the context of Western thought. Atkinson's most notable works include - A Series of Lessons in Gnani Yoga: The Yoga of Wisdom, where he delves into the philosophy of Gnani Yoga, emphasizing self-awareness, consciousness, and personal development. His approach combines insights from Indian spirituality with Western understanding, aiming to provide readers with tools for achieving enlightenment and inner peace. In addition to his work on yoga, Atkinson wrote extensively on subjects like mental science, self-help, and occultism. His contributions to spiritual literature have influenced many seeking to integrate Eastern philosophies into their lives. Atkinson's legacy endures through his writings, which continue to inspire those on a journey toward self-discovery and spiritual fulfillment....