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Yoga and the Hindu Tradition

Translated by Derek Coltman
A popular and critical success when it first appeared in France, Yoga and the Hindu Tradition has freed Yoga from the common misconceptions of the recent Yoga vogue. Jean Varenne, the distinguished French Orientalist, presents the theory of classical Yoga, in all its richness, as a method—a concrete way to reach the Absolute through spiritual exercises—which makes possible the transition from existence to essence.

This excellent translation, including line drawings and charts, a glossary of technical terms, and a complete translation of the Yoga Darshana Upanishad, begins with a brief description of the metaphysical and religious history on which Yoga is based. Varenne discusses the theoretical conception of Yoga as the search for liberating knowledge, concluding with a brief indication of the physical practices and extra Yogic themes such as Kundalini and Tantrism. It is the author’s hope that "those who read [this book] will come to realize that it is in fact dishonest to reduce Yoga to some sort of physical training, or to just an occult doctrine; it is a ’world view’ a Weltanschauung that comprehends reality in its totality."

"The straightforward, well-organized presentation makes the book itself a microcosm of what Varenne singles out as a dominant feature of classical Hindu thought—a bringing of the complex and multitudinous into a unity."—Judith Guttman, Yoga Journal

264 pages | 5.5 x 9 | © 1977

Asian Studies: South Asia

Religion: South and East Asian Religions

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations
Preface
Introduction
Part One. Man and the Universe
1. The Cosmic Order
2. Man as Analogue
3. Sarvam Duhkham
Part Two. In Search of the Absolute
4. Knowledge
5. The Migratory Bird
6. From Yogas to Yoga
Part Three. The Royal Art
7. Taming the Body
8. Dissolving the Mind
9. Seeing God Face to Face
Part Four. The Eternal Feminine
10. The Divine Couple
11. The Subtle Body
12. The Power of the Serpent
Conclusion
Yoga Darshana Upanishad
Notes
Glossary
Suggestions for Further Reading
Index

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