The Deeper Dimension of Yoga

Book excerpt: An in-depth primer on the history, philosophy, spirituality, and current practices of yoga, from a respected scholar and longtime yoga practitioner 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