The Psychology of Yoga: Integrating Eastern and Western Approaches for Understanding the Mind

by Georg Feuerstein

How the mind works according to the ancient yogic traditions, compared and contrasted to the approaches of Western psychology—by one of the greatest yoga scholars of our time.

     Georg Feuerstein begins the book by establishing the historical context of modern Western psychology and its gradual encounter with Indian thought, then follows this introduction with twenty-three chapters, each of which presents a topic--generally a point of correspondence or distinction--between Western and Eastern paradigms. These are grouped into three general Foundations, Mind and Beyond, and Mind In Transition. The book concludes with a brief epilogue as well as three appendices, adding depth to the discussion of the ancient yoga traditions as well as an informative survey of yoga psychology literature. The Psychology of Yoga is a feast of wisdom and lore, assembled from a perspective possible only for one whose monumental scholarship has been tempered and leavened by practice.

Genres: Psychology, Nonfiction, Spirituality, Philosophy

304 pages, Paperback

First published January 7, 2014

About the author

Georg A. Feuerstein was an Indologist and, according to his associate Ken Wilber, among the foremost Westerns scholar-practitioners of yoga. After doing his postgraduate research at Durham University in England, he moved to the United States, eventually settling in Canada with his wife and sometime co-author Brenda.

Reviews

[❀ Diana ❀ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Over the past decades Yoga has been heavily misinterpreted; it became a way for charlatans to stock in money from westerners seeking for ways to practice mindfulness and whatnot. In fact, the teachings of Yoga go far beyond that. Some psychotherapeutic approaches such as abisal psychology, parapsychology and transpersonal psychology all tried to tie together the teachings of Yoga with psychology, as a way to reach your higher Self and integrate it in your decision-making, discharging yourself from life's burdens and so on.

Georg Feuerstein gives an in-depth analysis of how Yoga is viewed in the West and why westerners are less likely to truly comprehend the meanings of the Yoga teachings unless approached with an open-mind and willingness to succumb oneself to deep studying.

A very nice reading, with lots of recommended readings too. :)

[Alina Stepan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dificila, foarte incarcata de termeni,mai mult filosofica si religioasa si paradigmatica decat psihologica. Interesanta, instructiva (in pofida faptului ca mi-a luat atata timp sa o termin!), dar nu de recitit. Recomand mai degraba pentru cei cu interes in yoga si ezoteriile indiene (ceea ce si eu am - interes, adica -, dar tot mi-s parut prea mult si prea greu de digerat/inteles) decat pentru psihologi.

[Shiva Das · Rating 4 out of 5]

I expected it to be a little more how-to, but as a yoga philosophy primer it was very informative.

[Jason Gregory · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are interested in real yoga then you cannot go past Georg Feuerstein in exploring the depths of this ancient tradition. Georg dedicated his life to the study of yoga and all of his books are enlightening and go to a depth on the subject that is unmatched. This book is an advanced study of yoga and is probably better to read after you have read "The Yoga Tradition" by him. His work is at a high level, it is scholarly and intuitive. When I read Georg's books I get the feeling that he really embodied the esoteric axiom of the "intellectual intuition" that a master exhibits. When I teach and mention the tradition of yoga I always point people in the direction of his books. Hopefully those people interested in just the materialist yoga that is developing in the world will one day be brought back to the inner tradition of yoga and follow its philosophical tenets. This book is a gem and one that I cherish.

[K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great overview. Note that "overview" is the operative word here. If you seek something detailed on Samkhya, Jainism, Buddhism, Hinduism (all of which are forms of Yogic psychology), then this isn't it. This is, however, a superb introduction to each branch with fantastic suggestions for deeper reading. All in all, it's hard to go wrong with the brilliant Georg Feurstein.