Many in the West still hold the idea that their Yoga practice is purely physical fitness. Some might be surprised to discover that this profound science of well-being draws from a 5,000-year-old tradition of balancing body, mind and spirit to strengthen an individual’s immediate experience of the divine. Myths of the Asanas: the Stories at the Heart of the Yoga Tradition, by Alanna Kaivalya and Arjuna van der Kooij, uses the iconography of the Yoga poses, stances and seats named after plants and animals, heroes and sages, to connect the physical practice to its deeper roots.
Drawing upon the teaching stories of both Hindu and Buddhist spiritual traditions, Myths reconnects the lexicon of postures to the oral tradition of myths and legends. These stories, which might have been told as bedtime stories, fables, fairytales and the context for the Hatha Yoga teachings, imbue each position with a profound significance and suggest moral and philosophic questions that can be brought to the practice of the postures.
Without sounding preachy, the authors make the spiritual intentions of Hinduism and Buddhism easily comprehensible. They introduce the chakra system and a basic understanding of the subtle body. Many cornerstones of Vedic literature are introduced, including the Bhagavad Gita and Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, as are basic concepts such as the gunas, or qualities, and the kleshas, or hindrances, as practical tools for self-discovery and reflection regardless of spiritual views.
Although Myths of the Asanas might not have much to offer someone who comes from a tradition steeped in story, it is an evocative introduction for those who have not yet heard these tales. Appropriate for children and those new to the path, it may also be a useful tool for teachers looking for ways to encourage students toward a deeper intention in their practice.
Geoffrey Earendil teaches Hatha Yoga and qigong in Topanga and beyond. He is an artist, musician, dancer, cook and handyman who seeks to approach every activity as devotion.gOff2fish@hotmail.com; godzhealermonster.blogspot.com
Alan Roettinger begins by admitting he’s not a vegan, yet his accompanying news flash states that he’s been feeling the benefits of a vegan diet. His body is ecstatic with the change and he admits that he has more energy and needs less sleep. His refreshing sense of humor (even with the confession) and emphasis on fun in the kitchen adds a personal touch, which is reflected throughout, along with his commonsense approach. Roettinger’s expertise instills reader confidence with a section on jump starts – the quick approaches that allow this title to live up to its name so that you don’t waste time or energy on unnecessary tasks. The section on essential kitchen equipment is lighthearted and funny, explaining why you need items like a pepper mill (since fresh ground pepper has greater benefit).
Roettinger suggests buying locally grown organic produce, thereby reducing a meal’s carbon footprint while simultaneously supporting the local community and giving us fresher ingredients and more delicious food. This statement should be in every cookbook. The one thing that I feel would have made this cookbook complete would be more enticing pictures of the finished product, beyond the handful of colorful images.
The recipes were stellar, the hot eggplant and seitan open-face sandwich was delicious. I also enjoyed the navy bean and Swiss chard soup. And the black bean, mushroom, and bok choy was an awesome combination of flavors and a great complementary use of three very different foods.
Some of his ingredients you may have to find in specialty stores. However, once your pantry is stocked with his suggested items, the recipes are in fact, both easy to make and gourmet. This is a great book for a novice cook or even a veteran chef. It offers delicious recipes that vegans will love and will inspire many nonvegans to reconsider.
Reviewed by Matt Rothert, who uses locally grown organic produce to cook vegan meals for families in the South Bay when he is not teaching at the Green Yogi and the Yoga Loft in Manhattan Beach: rotherto@gmail.com.
If you have thought the world’s religions could not exist in harmony with one another, this book may challenge that preconception. After reading Unifying Truths of the World’s Religions by C. David Lundberg, I was happy to reform my previous opinions.
So often are the differences between religions highlighted that it is easy to overlook the striking similarities among the teachings. The religious texts of the world incorporate similar messages aimed at guiding people through the rollercoaster of life. Lundberg shows how the vast array of religious ideas are masked in different languages, but ultimately speak the same truths.
Growing up with a specific religion, it was easy to separate myself. However, when encouraged to look past the superficial aspects of organized religion to focus on similarities of ideas, it is possible to see how unified we truly are. A question that has always been a challenge for me is: “What is the nature of God?” I have heard contradictory descriptions, making God’s nature difficult for me to pinpoint. Lundberg devotes six chapters to comparing different religion’s descriptions of God’s nature, finding that Christianity,
Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism all profess six of the same key descriptions of God.
For example, Lundberg shows how each religion’s sacred text proclaims there is only one God and that God is the Creator of all good things. We may associate these proclamations with a couple religions, but examining the texts reveals all agree with these qualities. Unifying Truths combines excellent research and clear organization for strong examples from each of the world’s most practiced religions. This book will allow you to feel more connected with other religions, as the principles resemble each other almost exactly. It can clarify misconceptions that people may hold, and furthermore, promotes the power of unity and harmony, which can help steer our world in a more positive direction.
Reviewed by Tiffany Chin, a recent graduate of Pepperdine University.
In January, 2007, Mullaparttan, one of the original translators of Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj, gave us an old VHS tape containing this historical document.”
Such is the introduction to The Lost Satsang, produced and distributed by Neti Neti Films, the same group who produced the October, 2009, Science and Nonduality Conference in San Rafael and the subsequent DVD set of key speakers from the conference who focused their teachings on the intersection of the investigations and revelations found in science with the philosophy of Advaita Vedanta, commonly known as nondualism. These are teachings that cut straight to the heart of seeing the nature of existence as not separated into different modalities, such as self and other. It can be a tricky concept to grasp with minds that, by their very makeup, see the world in a state of duality. The name of the film company itself, Neti Neti, speaks to this, as it means, “Not this; not that.”
Sri Nisargatta Maharaj, along with Sri Ramana Maharishi, was one of the twentieth centuries’ great Advaita Vedanta teachers. This homage was filmed by an unknown cameraperson and is unedited to allow the viewer a personal view of Maharaj’s life as the film begins with him walking through the streets before following him into the space of satsang, of spiritual gathering and transmission of teaching. We get a sense of him as a person and a teacher as his words and ideas come alive. We literally join his students as he expresses the concepts based on his statement, in the film, “If you don’t understand the ‘I am,’ how can you understand the rest.”
For those curious about the person behind the spiritual classic, I Am That, The Lost Satsang is an invaluable addition to a library to be enjoyed again and again for its thought-provoking discourse. netinetifilms.com
For more information on the 2010 Science and Nonduality Conference, scheduled for October 20 – 25 in San Rafael, visit: scienceofnonduality.com.
Reviewed by Felicia M. Tomasko, RN
