From the foremost living authority on Yoga comes the most comprehensive and reliable treatment of the subject available today. This is a work of impeccable scholarship by a person who has dedicated his life to the understanding and practice of yoga. The book offers a complete overview of every Yogic tradition, from the familiar to the lesser-known forms. It also covers all aspects of Hindu, Buddhist and Jaina Yoga, including history, philosophy, literature, psychology and practice. In addition, included are translations of twenty Yoga treatises and the first translation of the Goraksha Paddhati.

This book examines the history of sexuality as a sacramental act. In spite of our culture's recent sexual liberalisations, sexual intimacy often remains unfulfilling. Georg Feuerstein instructs that the fulfilment we long for in our sex lives can only be attained once we have explored the spiritual depths of our erotic natures. Feuerstein delves into a wide variety of spiritual traditions--including Christianity, Judaism, goddess worship, Taoism, and Hinduism--in search of sacred truths regarding sexuality. He reveals that all of these great teachings share the hidden message that spirituality is, in essence, erotic and that sexuality is inherently spiritual. From the erotic cult of the Great Mother and the archaic ritual of heiros gamos (sacred marriage) to the institution of sacred prostitution and the erotic spirituality practiced in the mystery traditions, Feuerstein offers a wealth of historical practices and perspectives that serve as the bases for a positive sexual spirituality suited to our contemporary needs.

A fresh English translation laid out facing the original Sanskrit for easy reference and accompanied by a wealth of essential ancillary materials that make this book a complete course on the "Bhagavad-Gītā "in a single volume.
This translation stands out from the many others first of all in its careful faithfulness to the original language, but also for the extensive tools for understanding it provides. It is accompanied by detailed explanatory notes, as well as by the entire Sanskrit text on facing pages--both in the original Devanagri alphabet and in a romanized version that allows the reader to approximate the sounds of this work (a pronunciation guide is also provided). Also included is a literal, word-for-word translation for comparison; extensive material on the background, symbolism, and influence of the "Gītā"; and an exhaustive glossary of terms.

This book explores what integral morality and maturity means in traditional yogic terms and in the context of contemporary culture. Feuerstein shows how the ancient teachings of Yoga are singularly relevant in our time of global crisis. At the same time, he offers a trenchant critique of the contemporary Yoga movement. This work, which is full of surprising insights, is required reading for anyone aspiring to understand or practice authentic Yoga.

This overview of the essentials of Yoga is meant to both broaden and deepen the understanding of beginning students. It covers all the basic elements of this ancient discipline and philosophy of India--including Yoga poses, diet, breath control, meditation, mantras, Kundalini energy, and more. It also includes newly translated excerpts from the scriptures and pays special attention to branches of Yoga, such as Tantra, that are of great interest to Western students but are frequently misunderstood.

This book explores the religious phenomenon referred to as crazy wisdom - the purposefully outrageous, convention destroying behaviour of spiritual adepts in every great tradition, from Christian Fools for Christ through the Sufi Path of Blame, to the charismatic leaders of new religions. The author explores the core of the spiritual process through eight critical in-depth cameos of holy madness in action in the lives of eight contemporaries, including Chgyam Trungpa, Bhagwan Rajneesh and Aleister Crowley. This revised and expanded edition includes a new assessment of the American guru Adi Da (formerly Da Free John) and the psychopathology of blind faith, using the example of Shoko Asahara (founder of Japan's infamous terrorist sect AUM). The author offers guidelines for choosing a wise, enlightened guide or guru, and tips for avoiding the exploitative.

A collection of classic essays by two highly regarded scholars on the development of yoga and its rapport with other religious traditions.
Georg Feuerstein, one of the world's foremost scholars of yoga, and Jeanine Miller, long recognized for her insightful commentaries on the RgVeda, here pool their considerable talents in a look at the development of yogic thought across the ages and its similarities with the Christian mysticism of Meister Eckhart. Two of their essays included here, one concerning the essence of yoga and the other looking at the meaning of suffering in yoga, have long been singled out by indologists for correcting prevalent misconceptions and providing a conceptual framework for many of the subsequent studies in that field. The reprinting of these important essays in "The Essence of Yoga" gives new readers a chance to share some of the authors' earliest insights into yoga and their deep conviction that these discoveries are of the highest significance for a proper understanding of the human condition.

Approximately two thousand years old, The Yoga-Sutra of Patañjali is the landmark scripture on classical yoga. The translation and commentary provided here by Georg Feuerstein are outstanding for their accessibility and their insight into the essential meaning of this ancient and complex text. A scholar of international renown who has studied and practiced yoga since the age of fourteen, Feuerstein also brings to The Yoga-Sutra of Patañjali his experience as a professional indologist. His faithful and informed rendering of the aphorisms (sutras) is based on extensive personal research into the Sanscrit sources. Each word is explained so that the entire text becomes readily available to the western reader and student of yoga.

It is an authoritative treatment of the subject. The author has dedicated his life for the understanding and practice of yoga and established that yoga is a sys tematic science. Man's true nature is divine. Through the meditative methods of yoga, however one can cast off his ignorance and become aware of his own true self, which is pure and free from all imperfections. It is a complete overview of the great yogic traditions of Raja yoga, Hatha yoga, Jnana yoga, Bhakti yoga, Karma yoga, Tantra yoga etc, It includes translation of over 20 famous yoga treatises, like the yoga-Sutra of Patanjali, and a first time translation of the Goraksha Paddhati, an ancient Hatha yoga text.

A noted scholar of Eastern philosophy explains how to make the experience of heightened awareness a part of everyday life, and how this can transform the planet.Lucid waking means bringing an intense awareness to the business of living by meeting the challenges of existence sanely, creatively, and philosophically. It is the goal of all the great spiritual traditions of the world. Georg Feuerstein shows how this awareness is quietly emerging in individuals in the West after a prolonged spiritual slumber. "Lucid Waking" shows us that it is possible to be so vividly engaged in life that it will seem as though others are sleepwalking by comparison. Feuerstein brings clarity to the often murky concepts of soul, spirit, imagination, wholeness, and enlightenment, providing a sensible accounting of higher consciousness and self-transcendence in modern life as we approach the millennium. Rich with philosophy and insight from one of our most gifted chroniclers of the inner experience, "Lucid Waking "is a statement of unshakable faith in the great potential of humanity.

How the mind works according to the ancient yogic traditions, compared and contrasted to the approaches of Western psychology - by one of the greatest yoga scholars of our time. Georg Feuerstein begins the book by establishing the historical context of modern Western psychology and its gradual encounter with Indian thought, then follows this introduction with 23 chapters, each of which presents a topic - generally a point of correspondence or distinction - between Western and Eastern paradigms.

Tantra--often associated with Kundalini Yoga--is a fundamental dimension of Hinduism, emphasizing the cultivation of "divine power" "(shakti)" as a path to infinite bliss. Tantra has been widely misunderstood in the West, however, where its practices are often confused with eroticism and licentious morality. "Tantra: The Path of Ecstasy " dispels many common misconceptions, providing an accessible introduction to the history, philosophy, and practice of this extraordinary spiritual tradition.
The Tantric teachings are geared toward the attainment of enlightenment as well as spiritual power and are present not only in Hinduism but also Jainism and Vajrayana Buddhism. In this book, Georg Feuerstein offers readers a clear understanding of authentic Tantra, as well as appropriate guidance for spiritual practice and the attainment of higher consciousness.

An exploration of the shock tactics and radical teachings of "crazy-wise adepts, holy fools and rascal gurus" - the cult religious leaders who challenge our commonsense views of reality and norms of conduct. This book explores this universal dimension of spirituality in a blend of history, philosophy, theology and first-person accounts. Here are Fools for Christ, sitting naked on garbage heaps, eccentric Zen masters baffling their students with beatings and belly laughs and enigmatic spritual clowns like Gurdjieff and Aleister Crowley.

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

A masterful exploration of the major schools of yoga, published on the 100th anniversary of yoga in America. With this book, readers will discover the wisdom of the millenia--and learn to live yoga. Topics include the yoga approach to diet and nutrition, meditation as an antidote to stress, the yoga of love and devotion, and more. Photographs and illustrations.

Here is an inspirational and accessible introduction to the deep inner wisdom of yoga gathered from sources both ancient and modern by one of America’s most respected yoga scholars.

YOGA GEMS

For the millions of Americans who now practice yoga regularly, here is the perfect introduction to the rich philosophical and spiritual tradition behind the exercises.

George Feuerstein has drawn short, memorable quotations from the key texts of this five-thousand-year-old legacy, with an emphasis on the wisdom of modern yoga masters.The quotations have been selected and arranged to address the needs of yoga practitioners in the twenty-first century.

Among the many themes touched on in this treasure of a book: the process of inner growth; the value of silence; how to meditate; how to infuse everyday life with joy; universal kinship; overcoming suffering; dealing with grief, loss, anger, and jealousy; remembering and cultivating one’s true inner self; developing self-discipline; and bringing out the good in all you say and do.

For both new and experienced yoga students alike, Yoga Gems is the perfect travel companion on the road to inner peace.