Guest guest Posted August 14, 2001 Report Share Posted August 14, 2001 I think it's more appropriate that the book fall apart as soon as it's delivered. That way both the exterior accurately reflects what's inside. <br><br>There's so much bad adivice in Yoga Mala, it ought to be sold as an artifact or curiosity of times gone by, and NOT as a guidebook for anyone interested in practicing yoga.<br><br>Just to cite one example: Guruji's recommendations for hours-long headstands, which have been proven to cause severe eye damage to more than a few yoga fanatics gullible enough to follow the advice of certain yoga texts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 14, 2001 Report Share Posted August 14, 2001 Oh yes. And I've heard some people say that doing padmasana as described in B.K.S. Iyengar's "Light on Yoga" is the best way to destroy your knees. So I must assume that Iyengar's book should "fall apart as soon as it's delivered", too? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 14, 2001 Report Share Posted August 14, 2001 Screwgee, perhaps the guru's advice regarding semen retention upset you given your chronic masturbation problem.<br><br>Ole! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 14, 2001 Report Share Posted August 14, 2001 When I got my copy of Yoga Mala earlier this year, it was the dietary advice that seemed odd to me. I posted about it on the other board, because they happened to be talking about food at the time... here's what I posted there. If anyone has any comments, I'd appreciate hearing about it:<br><br>"Just acquired a copy of Yoga Mala over the weekend, and was curious about some of the dietary advice, at about page 36 or thereabouts. It recommends against eating very much in the way of vegetables. !?! Says the best things to eat are, wheat, ... mung beans, ginger, milk and sugar. Never considered giving up dairy myself, but I know lots of health minded people do. Sugar? I can only surmise that means things like dates and fresh fruit. But what I'm really mystified by is the "don't go heavy on the veggies" line. Is that a typo? About the only thing common to much of the varying dietary advice that is out there, is to get lots of veggies, so what's up with that, the line in this book? "<br><br>Edie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 14, 2001 Report Share Posted August 14, 2001 Now if we really wanted to judge Yoga Mala by its cover, well that's quite a picture of Pattabhi Jois. I have not met him in person, but man that sure is a bright glow he has on there.<br><br>As for the contents, I have not studied the book as a bible or anything and would only say that this is an essential reference on Ashtanga Yoga as taught by KPJ, who supposedly reviewed the contents thoroughly before the new edition was published. As I may have revealed here before, I am not a strict adherant of Ashtanga Yoga. I don't believe it to be the only way or necessarily the best way for any particular person. Also, I'm sure that Jois' own teachings are continuing to evolve. There is probably no single book I would recommend for anyone wanting to study yoga. Instead I would recommend a giant stack just to start with (see <a href=http://www.ionet.net/~tslade/yogabook/ target=new>http://www.ionet.net/~tslade/yogabook/</a> ). I would probably have to suggest another giant stack for dietary issues. But of course its not all in the books anyway, eh?<br><br>El Senor (or someone), can you verify that the address in the cover of my copy is the correct address for Eddie Stern's studio: 611 Broadway Street Suite 203 NY, NY 10012. Also, I think we have covered this here before, but a phone number too? (just to update my listing for the book)<br><br>Interesting to hear the book is available in hardback. Does someone know the price on it?<br><br>Slade the Bookfiend<br><br>"everyday I get more clues" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 14, 2001 Report Share Posted August 14, 2001 Just in case anyone wants to see the "giant stack of yoga books", I will correct the typo in my last post: <a href=http://www.ionet.net/~tslade/yogabook.htm target=new>http://www.ionet.net/~tslade/yogabook.htm</a><br><br>It has been interesting for me to realize that most of the very best books on yoga have been published very recently (including everything published on Ashtanga). This may be true for many subjects. Information is becoming more available and is building upon itself. I have been in a state of excitement for a year now due to the nonstop flow of answers to my questions. The more I look the more I find. This can be very good or it could also be a great distraction. Yes I recommend get all the books you can, get videos, study with teachers, learn learn learn. <br>But here is some wisdom from the Tao Te Ching:<br><br>"Give up learning and put an end to your troubles." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 14, 2001 Report Share Posted August 14, 2001 check out www.pattabhijois.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 14, 2001 Report Share Posted August 14, 2001 as long as it is performed on the 8th or 14th night after a full or new moon only, using a lubricant composed of red clay and water and breathing only through chandra nadi, masturbation may be enaged in by the aspirant. after 32 strokes, for a brief moment, wherever you look you will see god. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 14, 2001 Report Share Posted August 14, 2001 That's a cool site. Can you say who put this up? Can books be ordered there? Hopefully more info will appear there, at least pertaining to how to get the book. Also, are you still working on the documentary? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 14, 2001 Report Share Posted August 14, 2001 Using the Buddi or discriminitive awareness.<br><br>Sisela Bok, ethicist and philosopher, writes in her forward to Gandhi, an Autobiography: <br> "...it is well worth adopting that same attitude of experimenting , of testing what will and will not bear scrutiny, what can and cannot be adapted to new circumstances....We can pick and choose from amoung his views just as he did from those of others." Gandhi held "obsessive views on diet, sexuality, or body hygeine." Does it negate the Satyagraha movement? Of course not. We can salvage his aims of non-violent civil resistance.<br><br>Iyengar once said of his picture of Adho-Mukha-Svanasana showing his head on the floor,"one time a stupid man, showed a stupid pose, in a stupid book". Do I relegate that book to the closed stacks of the library next to Richard Hittleman (with all respects to Mr. Hittleman)?<br><br><br>Similarly, we can see that Jois's and many others dedication have kept the practice alive. Jois's intentions were to serve the betterment of humanity. And I say this not to heroize this man but I do pay homage to his teaching and his earnest attempts to transcribe his approach and that of his teacher.<br> <br><br>I agree there is a larger issue that many "seekersyogi's" waiting for the opportunity to throw ourselves at the feet of "enlightenment" as though is were waiting to recieve us in the form of a teacher/master. I also believe that the scrutiny will come...if not right away. One can only suspend disbelief for so long. And then they face themselves again. AAH but then there is grace, and I do believe grace exists. Ishvara Pranidhana is not unreasoned gullibility is it? Lets drink the kool-aid, all together now.<br><br>And I was so looking forward to a workshop to be given at the Yoga Journal conference on how one cuts the bottom of one's tongue for insertion into the back of the throat. But now I know that blasted Swami Swatmarama... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 15, 2001 Report Share Posted August 15, 2001 The site was put up by Eddie and I believe you can order the book via the contact address. The documentary is still moving forward though a little slowly. Lori was in Mysore for the recent temple opening and for Guruji's ceremony at the sanskrit college and we also just interviewed Nancy Gilgoff. Looking forward to having Guruji in NYC and one more trip to Mysore this winter, we hope it will be finished in about a year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 15, 2001 Report Share Posted August 15, 2001 TLS - Check msg # 9673 by kkyogagirlme for info on the current address of Eddie Stern's studio.<br><br>As regards Sri Jois' book, by the little that I've read so far, I'm sure that most westerners will have a hard time to swallow much of its contents and teachings as well. Sri Jois doesn't make the least attempt to popularise Yoga - contrary to B.K.S. Iyengar, whose book "Light on Yoga" was addressed to a western public from the start. This is also why "Yoga Mala" looks more 'authentic' to me in several ways than "Light on Yoga". Certainly it adds to the charm.<br><br>Some of the pictures in the "Mala" also are truly impressive. My favourite one is the old photo of 1937 on the inside back, which shows Sri Jois demonstrating sarvangasana in front of a group of UNESCO officials. Those were the days... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 15, 2001 Report Share Posted August 15, 2001 Padmasana is actually good for the knees, if one's hips are open enough. Orthopaedic surgeons will agree to that. <br><br>But 2 hour headstands have caused severe damage to the eyes. I know this is true, because an eye surgeon told me so recently. She'd had a patient who was a yoga student, was doing very long headstands, and directly because of those long headstands had much vascular damage to her eyes.<br><br>Even Swami Sivananda, in one of his yoga books, commented on the dangers posed by long headstands to eye health.<br><br>Guruji should just re-write YOGA MALA and take out the junk. Then maybe the gods wouldn't make his book fall apart on delivery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 15, 2001 Report Share Posted August 15, 2001 If Jois's teachings are evolving, then he should re-write YOGA MALA and take out the bad, that is, medically prove bad, advice on headstands.<br><br>Either that, or just sell YOGA MALA as an artifact, like a treatise on ancient greek medicine.<br><br>It should not be sold or touted as a guidebook for anyone's yoga practice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 15, 2001 Report Share Posted August 15, 2001 The solution is simple:<br><br>Edit the book, and take out the recommendations for practices that are injurious to our health.<br><br>It's okay to tell the Guru he is wrong about certain things. After all, he's not God, just a human being like all the rest of us. We do him, ourselves, and others no good whatsoever by making excuses condoning what's clearly wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 17, 2001 Report Share Posted August 17, 2001 I can personally attest to eye pressure. I'm a marathoner at inversion supported against the wall. With some reference for the head (i.e. block) one can stay longer. I was in for almost 40 min approx began long slow ujayi breath. My teacher noticed my eyes fluttering and said I'd have to come out. I said it was the overhead lights. Lights out. I was enraptured with the breath. I thought it was the breathing (silk thread breath). I coudn't tell whether I was controlling the breath or not. That night my dream was of a zeppelin blimp flying over head. And I stood with a match lit ready to explode the craft. Nagging headache next day, and sharp realization that there was definite danger. Was it the pranayama w/o jalandhara bandha? Thanks for the Info Screwgee. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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