Guest guest Posted April 13, 2001 Report Share Posted April 13, 2001 Hi Everyone,<br><br>I have a question. There seems to be a lot of talk here about different teachings and beliefs. I have been a Christian all my life and have had it be more meaningful to me at different times in my life. I am wondering about different books that have been mentioned like the Patanjali and the Upanishads. I went to the Borders bookstore and browsed a little. I found it very confusing to figure. Any advice?<br><br>Thanks<br><br>Lewis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 13, 2001 Report Share Posted April 13, 2001 The recent Yoga Journal - April - has an article on this very subject. This may be a starting place.<br><br>FBL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 13, 2001 Report Share Posted April 13, 2001 Ooops! Misread you posting. Disregard previous posting about YJ article. Sorry.<br>FBL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 14, 2001 Report Share Posted April 14, 2001 Patanjali's Yoga Sutra are indeed very confusing to figure, as they are highly complex stuff and difficult to understand. The aphorisms (sutra) are written in a cryptic language which, if not accompanied by a whole body of introductions, explanations, commentaries and footnotes, makes almost impenetrable reading.<br><br>If you are new to yoga, other texts on yoga philosophy may be more suitable. I'd recommend you 2 books, which will give you a good idea of what yoga is about:<br><br>One is the Bhagavad Gita in the translation by Juan Mascaro, the other text is Light on Yoga by B.K.S. Iyengar:<br><br><a href= target=new> </a><br><\ a href= target=new> </a><br><\ br>Juan Mascaro's English translation of the Bhagavad Gita, reckoned by some to be the best one of its kind, does without tedious commentaries and footnotes; it presents this ancient text in a language which is both a pleasure to read and easily understood, also by those who have not the foggiest of what yoga is about.<br><br>Under the title "What is Yoga", B.K.S. Iyengar gives probably the most classic intro to yoga philosophy you can have. Though not a book on astanga vinyasa, Light on Yoga is also useful for its detailed & richly illustrated explanations of 200 hatha-yoga postures.<br><br>You can get these two books in every bookshop of your choice, or order them online from Amazon.com.<br><br>Sri Jois' Yoga Mala is the most authoritative book on the philosophy of astanga vinyasa yoga, but it's not necessarily the one I would pick up if I were new to yoga.<br><br>As for Christianity & Yoga, it's wrong to believe that the two don't match. Despite being deeply rooted in Indian religion and spirituality, yoga itself is not a religion or faith, but a practical philosophy dealing with individual self-improvement, ultimately resulting in Self-realisation. Everyone can benefit from it, regardless of what concept of God they might adhere to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 14, 2001 Report Share Posted April 14, 2001 good advice for sure.practice practice practice. understsanding is a personal thing comes from practice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 14, 2001 Report Share Posted April 14, 2001 Hello Lewis<br><br>I too was brought up as a Christian (Anglican/Episcopal)--you know, sunday school, church services, confirmation classes, communion. But for me the Christian teachings had little vitality. There was always a gap between me and the message of the Church. But I did have a yearning to spiritualize my life. So, I took confirmation classes a second time as an adult. There was still no sense of resonance between the teachings and my psyche. Until, that is, I started taking yoga classes, learned a little about vedanta and began to read the Upanishads.<br><br>I found that when I filtered Christian teachings, sermons and church services through a yogic consciousness there was resonance. I felt to closer to the mystery of Christ and closer to the members of the congregation. In that place and at that time, I felt that we were all pilgrims on a spiritual journey. So yoga/vedanta enhanced my appreciation of Christianity.<br><br>Yoga/vedanta will remain my chosen path but it brings the happy bonus of making me more deeply appreciative of the teachings of other spiritual paths and religions and especially of the people who sincerely follow those paths and religions. <br><br>In my meditation classes,during the first week, I stress that yoga/vedanta is not a religion but will give one a more profound appreciation of their own religion.And if someone, doesn't have a religion, it will reveal a spiritual path for them.<br><br>In one meditation group, there was a woman who had just returned to the religion of her childhood.(This is a mainstream religion). She become increasingly concerned that the yoga classes and meditation classes that she was taking would conflict with the teaching of her religion . She became so concerned about this that she spoke with her priest about it. The priest told her that he was pleased that she was learning to meditate and that there was no conflict between yoga/vedanta and her religion.So she continued the course and when she related this story to the group I believe that others were relieved as well.<br><br>So my advice to you is continue with what you are doing in the yoga/vedanta field and what you are doing in Christian field. They are complementary. Try doing the reverse of what I did. Filter the yoga/vedanta teachings through your Christian consciousness.<br><br>If, for example, you read the works of St. Teresa of Avila and St John of the Cross, two Christian saints from the 1500's, there is no difference between what they say and what any Sikh or Hindu yoga Self-Realized Master has to say. The language is similar, the vision is similar, the methodology is similar. Paths are many, Truth is One. <br><br>Hope this helps.<br><br>Om and Prem Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 14, 2001 Report Share Posted April 14, 2001 Skull,<br>WOW! SS. For a BEGINNER you know so much about yoga and yoga philosophy. And your English is getting better and better! It must be all those supta kurmasanas in the traffic... er... or maybe you aren't that far into the primary series yet, since you are a beginner. How insensitive of me.<br><br>FBL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 14, 2001 Report Share Posted April 14, 2001 "The Interior Castle" is a great book. St Theresa.<br><br>FBL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 15, 2001 Report Share Posted April 15, 2001 must be that set of notecards the christian coalition provides to make their anonymous operatives sound authoritative. omprem has a set too -- "sivananda .... 12 basic postures ..." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 15, 2001 Report Share Posted April 15, 2001 Right, Queen IMO. For the shit you put out here, you don't need any notecards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 15, 2001 Report Share Posted April 15, 2001 somebody needs a hug. are we soon to witness another final farewell forever, followed by an astonishing return of the prodigal? oh, the drama! the drama! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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