A History of Modern Yoga: Patañjali and Western EsotericismIn recent years yoga and meditation have become mass-market pursuits in the West. A History of Modern Yoga traces this phenomenon back to its ideological roots in the esoteric circles of late 18th century Bengal, then follows some of its main developments to date. Fully-fledged Modern Yoga, the author argues, started with the publication of Swami Vivekananda's seminal Raja Yoga (1896), in which Patanjali's Yoga Sutras were reconfigured along the lines of a then emerging New Age style of secularised and individualistically oriented religiosity. But what exactly are yoga and meditation as taught and practised today? Many committed practitioners and sympathisers take them to be straight continuations, or even rediscoveries, of ancient South Asian religious practices, but use peculiarly modern ideas when they define them as powerful tools for cultivating one's human potential' and as ultimately aimed at achieving 'self-realisation'. Thus, despite the fact that Modern Yoga encapsulates many religio-philosophical presuppositions (some of which are discussed in this book), it is often characterised as a 'philosophy' or as 'a way of life' rather than as 'religion' per se. In order to map t |
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Page xiii
... throughout the years . While I thoroughly enjoyed all my studies up to BA level , I only came to academic research work relatively late in life . I was most fortunate to carry out the initial part of my post - graduate studies at the ...
... throughout the years . While I thoroughly enjoyed all my studies up to BA level , I only came to academic research work relatively late in life . I was most fortunate to carry out the initial part of my post - graduate studies at the ...
Page 74
... throughout his life from the former towards the latter , despite having introduced " enthusiastic " Neo - Vaishnava devotionalism into the ritual life of the Brahmo Samaj . Indeed , such forms of devotionalism should be understood as ...
... throughout his life from the former towards the latter , despite having introduced " enthusiastic " Neo - Vaishnava devotionalism into the ritual life of the Brahmo Samaj . Indeed , such forms of devotionalism should be understood as ...
Page 77
... throughout his life . When he seceded from Tagore to form his own Brahmo Samaj of India in 1866 , for example , " there was no constitution , no governing body , no rules . Everything was left in Keshab's hands " ( Farquhar 1977 [ 1914 ] ...
... throughout his life . When he seceded from Tagore to form his own Brahmo Samaj of India in 1866 , for example , " there was no constitution , no governing body , no rules . Everything was left in Keshab's hands " ( Farquhar 1977 [ 1914 ] ...
Contents
Introduction | 1 |
Some notes on terminology | 7 |
3 Imagination and mediations | 22 |
Copyright | |
20 other sections not shown
Other editions - View all
A History of Modern Yoga: Patanjali and Western Esotericism Elizabeth De Michelis Limited preview - 2005 |
A History of Modern Yoga: Patañjali and Western Esotericism Elizabeth De Michelis No preview available - 2004 |
A History of Modern Yoga: Patan~jali and Western Esotericism Elizabeth De Michelis No preview available - 2014 |
Common terms and phrases
Acculturation Age religion āsana assimilated aṣṭāngayoga B. K. S. Iyengar become beliefs Bengali body Brahmo Samaj British Chapter Christian classical Hinduism concept contemporary context cultic milieu cultural Datta Debendranath Tagore developments dhyāna discourses discussed divine doctrinal elaborations esoteric esotericism especially example forms Halbfass Hanegraaff 1996 hathayoga healing Hindu Hinduism human ibid ideas ideological India influence intellectual interpretations Iyengar Yoga Keshubchandra knowledge Kopf Light on Yoga LOYSP meditation mesmeric Metaphysical mind Modern Postural Yoga Modern Yoga mysticism nature Neo-Hindu Neo-Vedāntic occultism occultistic Oriental Orientalist Patañjali popular practice practitioners Prana prāṇāyāma psychological quoted Raja Rāja Yoga Ramakrishna movement Rammohan realization religious ritual role Roy's samādhi Samādhi Model Sanskrit schools secular Self-realization Sen's soul spiritual Swami Vivekananda Tagore's teachers teachings theory thought tradition translation types universe Upanisad Vedanta West Western esotericism Yoga Institute Yoga Sutras Yogi yogic