The Deeper Dimension of Yoga: Theory and PracticeAn in-depth primer on the history, philosophy, spirituality, and current practices of yoga, from a respected scholar and longtime yoga practitioner Here is a comprehensive survey of the full breadth and depth of the 5,000-year-old Yoga tradition, emphasizing its potent philosophy and spiritual vision. Georg Feuerstein demonstrates that Yoga is much more than a system of physical exercises—it is a profound path of self-transformation that encompasses a range of teachings, practices, and sacred texts that can help us cultivate wisdom, balance, and inner freedom, as well as physical health. Feuerstein is one of the few Western scholar-teachers of Yoga whose writing and teaching penetrate the full richness and depth of this ancient tradition. Here he offers a collection of essays touching on all facets of the discipline. Topics include: • The different branches and styles of Yoga • The ethical teachings of Yoga • Yoga and vegetarianism • Meditation and mantras • Choosing a teacher • Tantric Yoga • The experience of ecstasy |
Contents
Yoga and Vegetarianism | 207 |
The Practice of EcoYoga | 210 |
Overcoming Greed | 215 |
Authenticity Integrity Unity | 218 |
The Power of Truth | 220 |
Compassion | 223 |
Ethical Guidelines for Yoga Teachers | 226 |
he pectrum of oga ractice | 229 |
30 | |
Traditional Definitions of Yoga | 31 |
Yoga in Hinduism Buddhism and Jainism | 32 |
Forty Types of Hindu Yoga | 36 |
The Tree of Hindu Yoga | 39 |
Styles of HathaYoga | 53 |
Crossing the Boundary between Hinduism and Buddhism via TantraYoga | 59 |
Vajrayâna Buddhist Yoga | 60 |
Introducing the Great Literary Heritage of Hindu Yoga | 64 |
Yoga Symbolism | 77 |
pproaching ractice | 83 |
Approaching Spiritual Practice | 85 |
The Twelve Steps of Spiritual Recovery | 89 |
Happiness WellBeing and Reality | 95 |
The Quest for Happiness | 101 |
Spiritual Discipline | 104 |
Life Is an Earthquake | 107 |
Samsâra Means Running Around in Circles | 110 |
Spiritual Friendship | 113 |
Dispeller of Darkness | 116 |
Broadcasting Reality | 118 |
Understanding the Guru | 127 |
Holy Madness | 132 |
Grace Has a Place in Yoga | 141 |
Tapas or Voluntary SelfChange | 143 |
The Art of Purification | 146 |
Obstacles on the Path According to Patanjali | 155 |
In Praise of Study | 164 |
The Practice of Mauna | 166 |
Die While You Live and LastHour Yoga | 170 |
Living in the Dark Age KaliYuga | 177 |
Yoga and Terrorism | 185 |
oral oundations | 195 |
Yoga Begins and Ends with Virtuous Action | 197 |
Is Nonharming Ahimsâ an OldFashioned Value? | 200 |
Nonharming According to Jaina Yoga | 204 |
Âsanas for the Body and the Mind | 231 |
ShavaÂsana or Corpse Posture | 235 |
The Breath of Life | 238 |
Cultivating Wisdom | 240 |
BuddhiYoga | 243 |
The Path of Wisdom | 248 |
That Art ThouThe Essence of Nondualist Yoga | 257 |
Discernment and SelfTranscendence | 262 |
The Way of SelfTranscending Action | 267 |
Worship Me with Love | 270 |
Degrees of Love | 276 |
The KriyâYoga of Patanjali | 279 |
A New Look at the Eightfold Path | 287 |
Sounding Out the Depth Within | 297 |
The GâyatrîMantra | 300 |
The Sacred Syllable Om | 304 |
Gestures of Wholeness | 315 |
Seeing the Light | 317 |
Divine Geometry | 323 |
What Is Tantra? | 329 |
Sex Asceticism and Mythology | 332 |
igher tages of ractice | 339 |
Pathways to Relaxation and Meditation | 341 |
What Is Meditation? | 346 |
Prayer in Yoga | 355 |
The Ecstatic State | 357 |
The Serpent Power and Spiritual Life | 362 |
Who or What Is the Self in SelfRealization? | 365 |
Emptiness | 368 |
Liberation | 372 |
Notes | 377 |
Key Sanskrit Terms of Hindu Yoga | 387 |
399 | |
About the Author | 416 |
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Common terms and phrases
action adepts âsana âtman B. K. S. Iyengar Bhagavad-Gîtâ Bhakti-Yoga bliss body body-mind brahman breath control Buddha Buddhist called Classical Yoga consciousness deity dhyâna disciple Divine ecstasy ecstatic energy enlightenment experience Georg Feuerstein guru happiness Hatha-Yoga Hindu Hindu Yoga Hinduism human India inner Jaina Jainism Jnâna-Yoga karma Karma-Yoga karmic Krishna kundalinî liberation limbs live Mahâyâna Mantra-Yoga masters means meditation mental merely mind moral mudrâ nature nondual nonharming object one’s ordinary ourselves Patanjali person philosophical physical postures practice prajnâ prâna prânâyâma purusha Ramana Maharshi realization Rig-Veda ritual sacred sages samâdhi Sâmkhya samsâra Sanskrit word sattva schools of Yoga scriptures Self-realization self-transcendence sense sexual Shakti Shankara Shiva sound spiritual subtle suffering Swami syllable symbolism Tantra Tantric tapas teachings tion trans transcendence transcendental true truth ultimate Reality unitive discipline Upanishads Vedânta Vedas Vedic wisdom Yoga practitioners Yoga teachers Yoga tradition Yoga-Sûtra yogic yogic path yogin