Yogi Ramacharaka (William Walker Atkinson)

Fourteen Lessons in Yogi Philosophy and Oriental Occultism

Fourteen Lessons in Yogi Philosophy and Oriental Occultism by American occultist William Walker Atkinson was first published in 1904 under the pseudonym Yogi Ramacharaka. Written at a time when eastern religion and philosophy were getting popular with Western audiences, these fourteen lessons were originally part of a correspondence class course. The book is a basic introduction to yogi philosophy and starts with the seven principles of man - physical, astral, prana, instinctive intelligence, intellect, spiritual mind, and spirit. When Atkinson wrote under the pseudonym Yogi Ramacharaka, he claimed to be a Hindu, and as this persona, he helped to popularize Eastern concepts in America, with Yoga and a broadly-interpreted Hinduism being particular areas of focus. The works of Yogi Ramacharaka were published over the course of nearly ten years beginning in 1903.