The Yoga Tradition (Georg Fuerstein)
A Monumental Survey of the Yoga Tradition
[My 5-star Amazon review (NDA) of “The Yoga Tradition: Its History, Literacy, Philosophy and Practice.”]
The first think I did before I began to write this review was to read all the three, two and one-star reviews (the ones most critical of this book). Guess what, not a single one of these reviewers could recommend another comprehensive yoga book in its stead. I’m a mystical teacher, quasi-scholar, and author—and if someone can point me to a text that surveys the vast and deep yoga tradition on a level even close to this one, then please do so. Until such a text is available, this one will remain the preeminent one in the field.
Many of the negative reviews come from superficial, intellectually challenged yogis who can’t think beyond asanas and basic meditation exercises. These individuals suffer from projection: the problem with this book is really the problem with their limited minds and sadhana. Then, of course, there are those who recoil from Fuerstein’s mention of controversial gurus, such as Adi Da (a.k.a. Franklin Jones, Bubba Free John, Da Free John, et al.). How could anyone write a great survey of yoga and not refer to Adi Da, easily the most profound and enlightening spiritual figure since Ramana Maharshi? And Fuerstein, who was deeply involved in the Daist cult for a time, and who has studied under other prominent spiritual teachers, is the perfect voice to consider antinomian spiritual figures in the context of the orthodox traditions.
As I see it, this encyclopediac text represents a monumental intellectual achievement in the field of yoga. And until another yogi-scholar can create an epic volume comparable or superior this one, it will reign supreme as foremost survey of the yoga tradition’s history, literature, philosophy, and practice.
[My 5-star Amazon review (NDA) of “The Yoga Tradition: Its History, Literacy, Philosophy and Practice.”]
The first think I did before I began to write this review was to read all the three, two and one-star reviews (the ones most critical of this book). Guess what, not a single one of these reviewers could recommend another comprehensive yoga book in its stead. I’m a mystical teacher, quasi-scholar, and author—and if someone can point me to a text that surveys the vast and deep yoga tradition on a level even close to this one, then please do so. Until such a text is available, this one will remain the preeminent one in the field.
Many of the negative reviews come from superficial, intellectually challenged yogis who can’t think beyond asanas and basic meditation exercises. These individuals suffer from projection: the problem with this book is really the problem with their limited minds and sadhana. Then, of course, there are those who recoil from Fuerstein’s mention of controversial gurus, such as Adi Da (a.k.a. Franklin Jones, Bubba Free John, Da Free John, et al.). How could anyone write a great survey of yoga and not refer to Adi Da, easily the most profound and enlightening spiritual figure since Ramana Maharshi? And Fuerstein, who was deeply involved in the Daist cult for a time, and who has studied under other prominent spiritual teachers, is the perfect voice to consider antinomian spiritual figures in the context of the orthodox traditions.
As I see it, this encyclopediac text represents a monumental intellectual achievement in the field of yoga. And until another yogi-scholar can create an epic volume comparable or superior this one, it will reign supreme as foremost survey of the yoga tradition’s history, literature, philosophy, and practice.
