Shambhala Encyclopedia of Yoga [Hardcover]

Georg Feuerstein (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 13, 1997

     This comprehensive desktop encyclopedia gives an authentic portrayal of a rich and highly complex spiritual tradition of India, with its history, its many approaches, schools, and teachers, its scriptures, and its technical terminology. The book is arranged and written so that, in spite of the wealth of detail provided, it will inform rather than overwhelm the lay reader, while at the same time offering valuable references for the professional researcher and historian of religion. Among its unique features:
      Each entry has cross-references providing pertinent conceptual links.
      Entries are in English alphabetical order, unlike
     comparable reference works that follow Sanskrit alphabetical order, which is difficult for the lay reader to follow.
      Orientational entries furnish an overview of central aspects to the Yoga tradition, such as history, psychology, and major branches.
      Many entries cite or even quote original sources, shedding light on how a given term is used by traditional Yoga authorities.
      The Shambhala Encyclopedia of Yoga is a thoroughly updated Edition, expanded with 400 new entries, of Dr. Feuerstein's Encyclopedic Dictionary of Yoga , which received the Outstanding Academic Book of the Year Award for 1991 from Choice magazine.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Any student of Yoga will want to know more about not only the practices of Yoga but also its history and spirituality. One of the best places to turn is to Georg Feuerstein's acclaimed Shambhala Encyclopedia of Yoga. With more than 100 illustrations (such as the many asana postures and chakra centers) and entries on everything from the Bhagavad Gita to Swami Vivekananda and from the Aryan invasion theory to biofeedback, you can't go wrong. Extensive cross-references also facilitate searches for both English and Sanskrit versions of terms. The Shambhala Encyclopedia is a complete yet concise guide to the galaxy of Yoga.

Review

     Yoga, a rich and a complex spiritual tradition of India at least 5,000 years ago, has become very popular in the West during the last 25 years. Many books have been written on Yoga, but Feuerstein's is perhaps the best ever published. It is the revised edition of Feuerstein's award-winning Encyclopedic Dictionary of Yoga. It has more than 2,000 entries, arranged alphabetically, each carefully defined with many cross-references. All entries include key words in English with reference to their Sanskrit equivalents. Compound words have been separated into their individual stems. A special feature is an excellent introduction to the history, development, and continuous practice of Yoga. Other features include a chapter on the pronunciation of Sanskrit words and numerous illustrations that will help readers understand the meanings of many words and asanas (exercises). This excellent addition to the literature will be useful for scholars, historians, and general readers. Recommended for all libraries interested in developing collections on India and Hinduism. – R.N. Sharma, Choice, November 1997
     

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 357 pages
• Publisher: Shambhala; 1st edition (May 13, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1570621373
• ISBN-13: 978-1570621376
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.3 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #675,944 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dr. Georg Feuerstein (born 1947) is a German-Canadian Indologist. Feuerstein has authored over 45 books on mysticism, Yoga, Tantra, and Hinduism and Buddhism.

Dr. Feuerstein offers distance-learning courses on Yoga philosophy and history through Traditional Yoga Studies at http://www.traditionalyogastudies.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Indispensable, lively and a pleasure to read, May 3, 2002

By 

Dennis Littrell (SoCal) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Shambhala Encyclopedia of Yoga (Paperback)

This book stands alone in English. There is simply nothing else like it. Feuerstein is the leading academic expert on yoga in the United States while Shambhala is the leading publisher of books on yoga, so it is not surprising that this is clearly a superior work that fills a void. As such it is a boon to scholars and practitioners alike.

It is also very well cross-referenced so that a reader may, by following the starred words, begin or expand his own study of yoga. There is a guide to pronunciation of the Sanskrit words, numerous bits of black and white artwork and photos, and an engaging and informative introduction by Feuerstein. This handsome book has all those words that you won't find in even an unabridged English dictionary, defined and given their expression in an historical and spiritual context. Anyone with more than a passing interest in yoga will find this book invaluable.

I should add that this is a revised and greatly expanded edition of Dr. Feuerstein's Encyclopedic Dictionary of Yoga (1990), and that it dwarfs both Ernest Wood's Yoga Wisdom (1970) and Harvey Day's Yoga Illustrated Dictionary (1971), which I have enjoyed, but which are also very much out of date.

For Dr. Feuerstein's revision (due circa 2010, I would imagine) perhaps some entries on Westerners (and contemporaries) who have contributed to the study and practice of yoga would be appropriate, including, e.g., Theos Bernard (I was pleased to see eleven photos herein of Bernard demonstrating asana), Richard Hittleman, B.K.S. Iyengar, Swami Vishnudevananda, and others.

Bottom line: this is an up to date, thorough, and lively work of reference without peer.

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Resource Book for Yoga Teachers/Students, January 25, 2000

By 

Robert Butera (Philadelphia, PA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Shambhala Encyclopedia of Yoga (Hardcover)

As a yoga writer, teacher and PhD, I still use this Dr. Feuerstein's Encyclopedia of Yoga daily as I study yoga. The precise explanations help me understand the subtle points of yoga. The references to other Sanskrit terms is invaluable. This book is worth it, especially to help when reading other texts. I write this as a thanks for this great book!

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A magnificent book of reference and daily use, July 30, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Shambhala Encyclopedia of Yoga (Hardcover)

An invaluable resource book for all lovers of yoga, meditation, spirituality, and human potential. Dispels many common misconceptions about yoga and reveals its true message. A great buy!