Shambhala Encyclopedia of Yoga [Paperback]

Georg Feuerstein (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 11, 2000

Here is an authentic portrayal of a rich and complex spiritual tradition of India. The over two thousand entries cover Yoga's history, its many approaches, schools, teachers, scriptures, as well as its technical terminology. The book is arranged and written in a manner that will inform rather than overwhelm the lay reader, while at the same time offering valuable references for the professional researcher and the historian of religion.

The Shambhala Encyclopedia of Yoga offers the following 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 provide an overview of central aspects of 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

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. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"Many books have been written on Yoga, but Feuerstein's is perhaps the best ever published."—Choice

"Sound, discerning, and endlessly useful. No serious student of Yoga—the most protracted human effort to explore the limits of consciousness—can afford to be without it. A splendid introduction positions the subject lucidly in the global history of the human spirit."—Huston Smith, author of The World's Religions



"All Westerners interested in Eastern philosophy and religion will soon wonder how they ever did without this volume at their side."—Jacob Needleman, author of The Heart of Philosophy

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 357 pages
• Publisher: Shambhala (April 11, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1570625557
• ISBN-13: 978-1570625558
• Product Dimensions: 5.9 x 1 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #480,915 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!