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The basic questions of Who Am I? Where Am I Going? What Is the
Purpose of Life? are asked by every generation, and Patanjali's
answers (given in the third century BC) form one of the oldest
spiritual texts in the world. 'That which unites' is called 'Yoga'
- and is thus much broader than the form of exercise so popular
today. It is a way to restore our lost wholeness, our integrity as
complete human beings, by unifying the personality around a centre
that is silent and unbounded. Alistair Shearer's superb
introduction and translation bring these ancient, vital teachings
to life in the modern world and are for all those who seek the
benefits of self-knowledge.
How did a venerable Indian spiritual discipline turn into a GBP20
billion-a-year mainstay of the wellness industry? What happened
along yoga's winding path from the caves and forests of the sages
to the gyms, hospitals and village halls of the modern West? This
comprehensive history sets yoga in its global cultural context for
the first time, leading us on a journey from arcane religious
rituals and medieval body-magic, through Christianity and the
British Empire, to Indian nationalists and the twentieth-century
West. Yoga has now become embedded in powerful social currents
including feminism, digital media, celebrity culture, the stress
pandemic and the quest for authentic identity. Shearer's revealing
history boasts a colourful cast of characters past and present, in
an engaging tale of scholars and scandal, science and spirit,
wisdom and waywardness. This is the untold story of yoga, warts and
all.
How did a venerable Indian spiritual discipline turn into a GBP20
billion-a-year mainstay of the wellness industry? What happened
along yoga's winding path from the caves and forests of the sages
to the gyms, hospitals and village halls of the modern West? This
comprehensive history sets yoga in its global cultural context for
the first time, leading us on a journey from arcane religious
rituals and medieval body-magic, through Christianity and the
British Empire, to Indian nationalists and the twentieth-century
West. Yoga has now become embedded in powerful social currents
including feminism, digital media, celebrity culture, the stress
pandemic and the quest for authentic identity. Shearer's revealing
history boasts a colourful cast of characters past and present, in
an engaging tale of scholars and scandal, science and spirit,
wisdom and waywardness. This is the untold story of yoga, warts and
all.
“A wonderful translation, full of contemporary insight yet luminous with eternal truth.”—Jacob Needleman
The Yoga Sutras were cast in their present form in India around the third century b.c. Yoga is from the Sanskrit root meaning “union,” and a sutra is a thread or aphoristic verse. The basic questions “Who am I?” “Where am I going?” “What is the purpose of life?” are asked by each new generation, and Patanjali’s answers form one of the oldest and most vibrant spiritual texts in the world. He explains what yoga is, how it works, and exactly how to purify the mind and let it settle into absolute stillness. This stillness is our own Self. It is the indispensable ground for Enlightenment, which is the ultimate goal of all our aspirations.
Alistair Shearer’s lucid introduction and superb translation, fully preserving Patanjali’s jewel-like style, bring these ancient but vital teachings to those who seek the path of self-knowledge today.
Bell Tower’s series, Sacred Teachings, offers essential spiritual classics from all traditions. May each book become a trusted companion on the way of truth, encouraging readers to study the wisdom of the ages and put it into practice each day.
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