the Jewel of Abundance
Finding Prosperity through the Ancient Wisdom of Yoga
by Ellen Grace O'Brian
Artha—the Prosperity Imperative
Befriend Wealth
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About the Book
Although millions of Westerners practice yoga simply for its health benefits, the philosophy and wisdom behind the multifaceted discipline has far more to offer. In the Jewel of Abundance: Finding Prosperity through the Ancient Wisdom of Yoga, award winning author and Kriya Yoga teacher Ellen Grace O’Brian reveals an overlooked aspect of yoga: its powerful teachings on prosperity. She draws upon the ancient Vedic tradition of yoga philosophy and practice and shows how spiritual realization and earthly success go hand in hand, revealing a path to abundant living that is deeply satisfying, joyful, and purposeful.
“When prosperity is equated with material wealth attained for its own sake, the word prosperity loses its deep meaning,” writes O’Brian. “True prosperity is experienced in a spiritual context. Because this truth is frequently missed, the words prosperity and wealth are often narrowly defined or understood at the level of material accomplishment alone. But as you work through the teachings of this book with me, you’ll see that these words can rightly be applied and understood in the highest way as spiritual goals. And that makes all the difference.”
ARTHA
Explore the true meaning of prosperity and realize a life of profound abundance.
“The Jewel of Abundance is a useful antidote to the hypermaterialism that poisons modern life. And for those who seek the fulfillment of both their souls and their material desires, the book is a wellspring of inspiration and intelligent guidance.”
– From the foreword by Philip Goldberg, author of The Life of Yogananda
A Guide to Philosophy, Practice, and Profound Well-being
O'Brian presents a clear explanation of both the philosophy of yoga and the nuts and bolts of practice, such as setting up a daily meditation routine, incorporating mantras, discerning how to cooperate with universal principles for complete well-being, and cultivating mindfulness in action.
Along the way, she illustrates her lessons with personal stories and timeless sayings from great sages, both Eastern and Western. With O'Brian's insightful guidance, readers will discover an inexhaustible source of abundance that is available to them whenever they look within.
the Jewel of Abundance
A Refreshing Perspective
For thousands of years, ancient Vedic teachings have provided spiritually-conscious individuals a manual for living, including four universal goals of human life. These four goals are dharma (realizing our higher purpose and fulfilling our destiny), artha (true prosperity), kama (pleasure or enjoyment for the sake of the soul), and moksha (the absolute freedom that comes with enlightenment).
The Jewel of Abundance focuses on the second of these four universal goals — artha or prosperity. This book offers a refreshing perspective on how to live a prosperous, abundant life without losing your soul along the way.
Higher Purpose: Set the Foundation Upon Your Heart
Start to prosper right away by discovering the source of true wealth and honoring your innate, irrepressible inclination to thrive.
Insight: Roadmap for Abundant Living
Embrace your path of prosperous living as a path of spiritual transformation as you live with the guiding light of higher purpose and a toolkit of skillful means.
A Skillful Way: How to Realize Fulfillment
Learn to cooperate with universal spiritual laws that support awakening and thriving while contributing to the well-being of all.
Clarity: Overcome Obstacles and Thrive
Engage in time-tested practices to cultivate wisdom, clarity, and compassion.
Generosity: Live the Prosperous Life
Become unstoppable by meeting any obstacles or challenges to your success with profound insight, equanimity, and a higher commitment to be of service.
the Jewel of Abundance
Book Author
Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian is a western woman who teaches the riches of Indian philosophy in a fully accessible and inspiring way for newcomers and longtime practitioners alike. Ordained by Roy Eugene Davis, a direct disciple of Paramahansa Yogananda, she has been teachings for more than four decades.
She is a Kriya Yoga teacher, writer, poet, and the spiritual director of Center for Spiritual Enlightenment—a Kriya Yoga Meditation Center with headquarters in San Jose, California. She teaches nationally and internationally and has received several community service awards, including the Mahatma Gandhi Award for the Promotion of Religious Pluralism.
“Awakening, prospering, and fulfilling our potential is inextricably tied to the well-being of all. What we do matters. We are powerful agents, not only of personal prosperity but of essential social change and planetary healing, so that all may prosper.”
– Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian
ENDORSMENTS
Praise for the Jewel of Abundance
"Yoga is the science of the self. It is a practical science that validates the knowledge that the self of the individual is the self of the universe. When you are one with the Source of existence, you are one with infinite abundance and with the unlimited potential of all manifestation. This jewel of a book will show you how to tap into your inner intelligence, the ultimate and supreme genius that mirrors the wisdom of the cosmos. Cultivate wealth consciousness, and affluence and prosperity will effortlessly flow toward you in all their manifestations."
DEEPAK CHOPRA
bestselling author of The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success and You Are the Universe
"The Jewel of Abundance will inspire, challenge, and motivate readers to discover and express their innate potential to experience excellence in all aspects of life. Having known Ellen Grace O’Brian for almost four decades, I am pleased to affirm her good character and total commitment to living the principles she so clearly explains."
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ROY EUGENE DAVIS
founder and director of Center for Spiritual Awareness and author of Paramahansa Yogananda as I Knew Him
"The Jewel of Abundance lays out a well-defined perspective on prosperity, wealth, and abundance. It presents a balanced view that takes into account common human needs and shows us simple ways to find happiness and satisfaction that lie beyond the accumulation of material objects. Ellen Grace O’Brian carefully and simply presents ancient wisdom so that one can easily begin to make the necessary changes to one’s lifestyle. One does not have to be a saint to follow the path of righteousness; one simply has to learn the ways of dharma, kama, and artha and apply them to one’s daily life. The Jewel of Abundance is a very valuable book containing gems of wisdom. It can help the world change its course from the present crisis of materialism to a sustainable lifestyle."
ELA GHANDI
peace activist and founder of the Gandhi Development Trust
"Yogacharya Ellen Grace O’Brian says, ‘Prosperity provides the means to fulfill our divine potential; it’s the vehicle for the divine dream to manifest.’ She writes paragraphs that are jewels in their own right. Thus my advice is to read as I did — slowly, to allow the time required to savor and reflect on her wisdom. Do her suggested practices. You will find yourself refreshed and renewed in both your work and your spirit."
JOHN KEPNER, MA (Econ), MBA, C-IAYT,
executive director of the International Association of Yoga Therapists
"Wealth (artha) is a difficult and yet necessary topic for all to contemplate, as we live in a world of greed, competition, and selfishness motivated by scarcity and desires. Ellen Grace O’Brian has dived to the depths of the soul to transform our fears into courage and our sense of lack into our joy of abundance. She not only enlightens the reader about what true abundance is but also reassures the reader that it is reachable step-by-step. The Jewel of Abundance is accessible to a vast audience with transparent, graceful, and wise words."
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SWAMI SITARAMANANDA
acharya of International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centers
"To live well is to thrive physically, emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually. But how? Most self-help books focus on one of these factors, often at the expense of the other three. Ellen Grace O’Brian’s The Jewel of Abundance recognizes the interdependence of all four. That’s because this is not a self-help book, but a Self-help book: a manual for liberating the soul that optimizes body, heart, mind, and spirit as well. Please don’t read this book. Practice it."
RABI RAMI SHAPIRO
author of Perennial Wisdom for the Spiritually Independent
"Gaining true prosperity rests upon understanding our karmas and fulfilling our dharma, or soul’s purpose. Then we can achieve the outer success we need while continuing to progress along our spiritual path. In The Jewel of Abundance, Ellen Grace O’Brian provides us with the yogic keys to this process of realizing our inner abundance and letting it manifest in the world around us."
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DR. DAVID FRAWLEY (VAMADEVA SHASTRI)
author of Yoga and Ayurveda and Shiva: The Lord of Yoga
"Happiness, beauty, and abundance, symbolized by the goddess Lakshmi in yogic thought, arise along with Lord Vishnu, who represents wisdom, self-control, and detachment. Ellen Grace O’Brian reminds us that our outer life must be a mirror of our inner life in order for us to achieve our full potential in all that we do."
YOGINI SHAMBHAVI
author of Yogini: Unfolding the Goddess Within and Yogic Secrets of the Dark Goddess
"The Jewel of Abundance by Yogacharya Ellen Grace O’Brian is an excellent template to truly understand the meaning of artha as a tool to fulfill your dharma and continue to strive toward moksha. Perfect health is the foundation for right action, contentment, and nonsensorial happiness. O’Brian offers wonderful yogic tools to help you attract abundance and make a difference in your own unique way. Read, practice, and enjoy the gifts of human potential."
DR. SUHAS KSHIRASAGAR
author of The Art and Science of Vedic Counseling and Change Your Schedule, Change Your Life
"This epiphany-provoking, majestically written book, rich with life lessons and ancient wisdom, is a must-read. Every word rings with truth — it is a gem to be treasured. I stand in awe of Yogacharya O’Brian’s honesty and brilliance as a spiritual teacher and writer. The majesty of her prose powerfully yet gently guides humanity along an awakened journey toward thriving both materially and spiritually, despite crisis and loss or deep-seated patterns of depravity and lack. This book imparts truth, courage, inspiration, and hope. I recommend it to Vedic, yoga, and Ayurveda students worldwide."
ACHARYA SHUNYA MATHUR
founder and preceptor of Vedika Global and author of Ayurveda Lifestyle Wisdom
"Many of us aspire to purpose, and perhaps even enlightenment, in our lifetimes, but few realize that the path leads through prosperity and pleasure as equally important steps on the journey. Ellen Grace O’Brian’s clear and compelling words bring unique perspective to wisdom from ancient teachings, in language that is even more powerful today."
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SCOTT KRIENS
chairman and former CEO of Juniper Networks and cofounder of 1440 Multiversity
"You are holding in your hands definitive proof that spirituality and prosperity are aligned. Even better, it’s an easy-to-read guidebook for letting go of limiting beliefs and the behaviors that are likely blocking access to happiness and abundance — what we might call ‘spiritual clutter.’ In this book, Ellen Grace O’Brian gives us the tools and instructions to set ourselves free and to thrive in this fast-paced, unpredictable world. The Jewel of Abundance shows us how simple and attainable wealth is, in every form. And the best news is, as with every great coming-home story, she reminds us that we were born with everything we need to succeed already!"
ANDREW MELLEN
professional organizer, and author of Unstuff Your Life!
HIGHLIGHTS
Book Awards
the Jewel of Abundance
Achieve Success and Prosperity through the Principles of Yoga
“The aim of artha is to prosper in every way — to develop the consciousness and the skills to attract whatever is needed to fulfill our dharma or higher purpose. In this context, prosperity is understood as a spiritual goal — not for its own sake, but for the sake of the soul. It provides the means to live fully and freely.”
—Ellen Grace O'Brian, from the Jewel of Abundance
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© 2023 Ellen Grace O’Brian