The Power of Vital Force: Fuel Your Energy, Purpose, and Performance with Ancient Secrets of Breath and Meditation

by Rajshree Patel, Dave Asprey

Overview

"By contemplating and applying the precious knowledge in these pages, you will learn to make everything in your life easier . . . Relationships. Jobs. Family. Creativity. Happiness. And maybe even doing something more game-changing than you've ever thought possible." - Dave Asprey

Why do some people thrive while others just get by? What's their secret to peak performance and maximum happiness?
Some call it the zest, the gusto, or the extra edge in life. The ancient Indian spiritual tradition Vedanta calls it prana, or life force. We can call it vital force. By any name, it's the fundamental fuel that activates and optimizes all physical, emotional, and cognitive functions, including consciousness, perception, thinking, judgment, and memory.
In modern life, we have forgotten the golden key-the higher our energy, the better our performance in everything we do. Energy naturally impacts mind-set and moves us toward greater happiness, success, and self-awareness. This book gives you back your power with simple tools to take hold of the limitless energy of life itself-more swiftly and easily than you ever thought possible.
Rajshree Patel is a former federal prosecutor who discovered Vedanta by accident and went on to become an internationally renowned teacher of its deep wisdom and dynamic practice. In these pages, she reveals:
  •  What vital force is, how it influences every single aspect of your life, how to enhance it-and how your mind, the biggest energy hog, can drain it;
  •  Tools to dial down the chatter of your racing mind and resolve your personal energy crisis;
  •  Why traditional mindfulness meditation may not be your best path to inner peace;
  •  Easy biohacking techniques, from breath work to meditation to movement, that reduce stress and maximize joy; and
  •  Ancient secrets to fuel your purpose and performance in every aspect of your life.
The Power of Vital Force is a practical pathway to the unlimited source of energy and intelligence that exists beyond the thinking and reasoning mind.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781401956332
Publisher:	Hay House Inc.
Publication date:	10/01/2019
Sold by:	Penguin Random House Publisher Services
Format:	NOOK Book
Pages:	312
Sales rank:	909,664
File size:	4 MB

About the Author

Rajshree Patel is an international self-awareness coach, teacher, and speaker. She has taught hundreds of thousands of people in more than 35 countries the power of meditation, mindfulness, breath work, and other ancient tools for accessing the innate source of energy, creativity, and fulfillment within.
Born in Uganda and raised between rural India and New York City, Patel was working as a prosecutor for the U.S. Attorney's office and the Los Angeles District Attorney's office when a chance meeting with the renowned spiritual master Sri Sri Ravi Shankar changed her life. She left the practice of criminal law to explore the power of universal laws. Since then, over the last three decades she has established more than 600 meditation centers and trained thousands of instructors with the Art of Living, helping expand the self-development and humanitarian organization into a global nonprofit.
Through her unique blend of intuition, humor, and ancient techniques, Patel has guided government leaders, families, Oscar-winning filmmakers, Fortune 500 executives, and individuals from all walks of life in understanding how the mind works, how to let go of stress, and how to be more resilient and fulfilled in their personal and professional lives. She has given talks and led programs at organizations including NBC Universal, IBM, LinkedIn, Gap, The World Bank, Shell Oil, Morgan Stanley, Harvard University, IIT, the United Nations, UNESCO, and more.

Table of Contents

Foreword xi

Introduction: My Story and Your Journey xv

Part I Turn on Your Power

Chapter 1 Energy Is Life 3

Chapter 2 Beyond Belief 21

Chapter 3 Ancient Biohacking 41

Part II Brain Drain

Chapter 4 A Machine Called Mind 53

Chapter 5 The Past Is Present 75

Chapter 6 The Mindfulness Trap 97

Part III Reboot and Recharge

Chapter 7 The Secret of Life 117

Chapter 8 Meditation for Busy People 137

Chapter 9 Living Your Inner Superpowers 153

Part IV Upgrade Your Operating System

Chapter 10 Mastering Your Mind-Set 181

Chapter 11 From Fighting to Flowing 187

Chapter 12 Cutting Craving 207

Part V The Big Mind

Chapter 13 Undivided Mind 221

Chapter 14 It's All Connected 237

Last Word 255

More for You to Explore 259

Endnotes 261

Index 263

Acknowledgments 273

About the Author 275

Editorial Reviews

"The book you're holding in your hands right now contains an incredible distillation of what you might learn through years of studying many different Eastern traditions. But the single most precious thing you will get out of reading it is the knowledge that unconscious mental resistance and struggle makes everything you do harder than it needs to be."
- from the foreword by Dave Asprey, founder and CEO of Bulletproof 

"In this age of rampant burnout and stress, Patel shares a refreshing perspective on how we can use time-tested practices to seriously boost our energy, vitality, and well-being. Rich, practical, and life-changing wisdom!"
- Emma Seppälä, Ph.D., author of The Happiness Track 

"Human beings have labored immensely to explore the outer world; the continents, the oceans, the cosmos. Our creative enterprise and inquisitiveness has focused on the external-and we have failed to map the most mysterious terrain of all, the internal. . . . This book by Rajshree provides easy-to-use tools that actually optimize the internal landscape-our mental and emotional faculties. It provides the missing link to thriving both inside and out. It's the simple way to switch off your busy mind and turn on your power."
- Jason Silva, filmmaker, futurist, and former host of the Emmy-nominated Brain Games

"I had my team learn the tools to harness life energy and we found that with less effort we could achieve more. . . . High energy equals high impact. It naturally translates to greater self-empowerment, accountability, and generosity. One of the core statements at Panda is to 'Make Happy Happen.' The Power of Vital Force provides practical wisdom and techniques that naturally make happy happen."
- Andrew Cherng, founder and CEO of Panda Express

"Rajshree Patel is the 'real deal'. If you are looking to change your life using meditation, don't settle for gimmicks and hype. Pick up this book and discover how ancient, time-tested tools of breath and meditation can bring vitality and clarity to your life."
- Michael Edelstein, former president of NBC Universal International Studios and executive producer of Desperate Housewives 

"Neuroscience is finally catching up to what the wisdom of the East has been telling us for thousands of years. Vital force is the key to wellness. This book can up your game in every aspect of life."
- Naveen Jain, co-founder and CEO of Viome and author of Moonshots: Creating a World of Abundance

"The Power of Vital Force is exceptional! . . . . A true masterpiece that blends the 'art and science' of consciousness and what it takes to energize the human soul, to learn how to truly thrive in a way you could have never imagined."
- Peter Cooper, founder of Cooper Investors

"Finally, a book that gives the how-to's, not just what-to's. This book is filled with tools, practical insights, rooted in timeless wisdom that can enhance the physical and mental faculties with ease . . .and Rajshree with her deep wisdom and experience is the perfect exponent of these ancient truths."
- Chandrika Tandon, business leader, humanitarian, and Grammy-nominated artist 

"The Power of Vital Force is a practical guidebook for anyone who would like to supercharge their life. The honest guidance is not only actionable, but refreshing and personable. I only wish I'd had a book like this when I started my career."
- Rathi Murthy, SVP and Chief Technology Officer of Gap, Inc.

"A powerful guide full of actionable tools and practical timeless wisdom. If you are ready to think less and live more, read this book."
- Bernardo Bonjean, founder and CEO of Avante and entrepreneur

"The Power of Vital Force compiles all of Rajshree's wisdom and grace into easily applicable lessons. . . . Honestly, reading this book is the next best thing to working directly with Rajshree."
- Jeremy Larner, founder and president of JKL Worldwide and angel investor

From the Publisher