THIS book gives resources for learning about Yoga. It starts with a timeline that outlines Yoga's history. Text translations are given from the Upanisads, Yoga Sūtra, Bhagavad Gitä, Sämkhya Kärikä, the Satipatthana Sutra, Heart Sütra, Yogabindu, Acaränga Sūtra, Yogadrşțisamuccaya, and the Yogaväsistha. All were written more than 1,000 years ago. All translations are by the author unless noted otherwise. Later Hatha Yoga texts can be found in excellent translations by M.L. Gharote, James Mallinson, Jason Birch, Mark Singleton, and others.
Each chapter includes a short introduction. Reading guides are given as subject headings in bold print. Discussion questions are included at the end of each chapter. Additional readings are also listed.
History of Yoga: A Short Timeline All dates are approximate:
3500 ВСЕ-1500 ВСЕ
Indus Valley Civilization (with images of what may be meditation).
No clear textual evidence of Yoga.
1500 BCE-900 BCE The Rg Veda, Sama Veda, Yajur Veda, and Atharva Veda.
Philosophical and liturgical Sanskrit literary texts; mention of the "two birds", referring to consciousness (Purusa) and activity (Prakrtí).
The word yoga means yoking of horses and cattle to chariots and carts.
850 BCE Parsvanatha, the 23rd Jaina Tirthankara, teaches ethics grounded in non-violence and truth.
800 BCE-400 CE
The Upaniṣads talk about the human being within the cosmos, the five great elements, the body, the mind, emotions, and breath.
Description of Yoga as spiritual practice is found in the Katha, Svetasvatara, and Maitri Upanisads.
563-483 BCE
Traditional dates for Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha. The Buddha teaches meditation in the Satipatthana Sūtra and ethics for monks and nuns. Written down c.300 BCE.
500-400 BCE
Mahavira, 24th great teacher of Jainism.
Early teachings on non-violence (ahimsa), truth (satya), not stealing (asteya), celibacy (brahmacarya), and non-possession (aparigraha) in the Acaranga Sutra. Written down C.300 BCE.
600 BCE-600 CE
Composition of the epic Mahabharata.
Hindu (1781)
Philosophers (2328)
Aesthetics (320)
Comparative (71)
Dictionary (12)
Ethics (49)
Language (352)
Logic (81)
Mimamsa (59)
Nyaya (137)
Psychology (516)
Samkhya (61)
Shaivism (66)
Shankaracharya (231)
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