Re:

[Guest guest]

The TCM classic "The Web That Has No Weaver"

gives a good introduction into . For

Chinese Yogic techniques I recommend all of Mantak and

Manawe Chia’s books, of course the Tao Te King and the I

Ging.

[Guest guest]

No kidding !! Nothing wrong with questioning a

few things here & there. Blind faith can be

disappointing. Indians call many different teachers Guru as a

sign of respect but we North Americans & Europeans

seem to put a whole different spin on the whole thing.

I'm still waiting to hear about the people who've

attained the whole enchilada thru ashtanga.... <br> I'm

not trying to be disrespectful in any way but

sometimes people are willing to overlook things because of

enthusiasm.

[Guest guest]

And where are you in that most difficult asana, senor?

[Guest guest]

As far as I know, BBB probably coined the phrase

"Power Yoga" when she wrote her first book (Please

refute this if it is wrong; we may have to send it to

William Safire), and was unwise not to trademark it since

it is in wide use now. But BBB was referring to

Astangs when she wrote it.<br><br>I think "Power Yoga"

came into wide use to make yoga sound more appealing

to people who would normally shy away from something

so "mellow" as yoga is commonly understood to be.

Gym people, folks looking for an alternative to

aerobics (possibly after having ruined their knees),

people looking for a good workout, etc. When I go to a

BB Power Yoga class, there are a broad mix of

people, from the lithe "yoga babes" to these extremely

macho guys who brag about how much more weight they can

lift after doing yoga and grunt and groan during

class. (BTW, this is the only place I have been to where

peole groan loudly during class. Anyone else experience

that?)<br>As to what Power Yoga has come to mean, in my

experience, at least, it is a series of hatha postures --

some of which are used in Astanga, some not -- not

held for very long, strung together by some form of

flow, usually incorporating sun salutations. The

sequence varies; it is not set.<br><br>At least in the

classes I have been to, the other seven limbs of yoga

that distinguish Astanga are not even mentioned.

Bandhas, ujayii breath, and drishtis are not emphasized,

if they are mentioned. The teaching of coordinating

movement with breath is kind of sketchy. Along with those

other components that "Power Yoga" classes neglect,

Astanga is the particular sequence you are learning from

David's book, without variation. <br><br>I hope that goes

some way toward answering your questions...Others may

have more to add.<br>B

[Guest guest]

Salon is really carving out a niche with articles

like "Boomer Buddhism" (check out the reader's letters

in response to that article)... here is another

article they ran a few weeks

ago...<br><a href=http://www.salon.com/mwt/style/2001/03/19/zoza/index1.html

target=new>http://www.salon.com/mwt/style/2001/03/19/zoza/index1.html</a>

[Guest guest]

What I'm getting from these 2 articles is that

material wealth and spirituality are incompatible. I think

Buddha would disagree. I thought the point was to have

all the cookies but don't be attached to them -- not

necessarily renunciation...

[Guest guest]

I think it varies by tradition. I think that in

the Thereveda renunciation is essential to becoming

an arahant, whereas in the Mahayana there's a

stronger tradition of enlightened bodhisatva householders.

If nothing else, renunciation is a good test of

attachment - if you can't renounce something, you're

probably attached!