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Tracing the Path of Yoga: The History and Philosophy of Indian Mind-Body Discipline
Clear, accessible, and meticulously annotated, Tracing the Path of Yoga offers a comprehensive survey of the history and philosophy of yoga that will be invaluable to both specialists and to nonspecialists seeking a deeper understanding of this fascinating subject. Stuart Ray Sarbacker argues that yoga can be understood first and foremost as a discipline of mind and body that is represented in its narrative and philosophical literature as resulting in both numinous and cessative accomplishments that correspond, respectively, to the attainment of this-worldly power and otherworldly liberation. Sarbacker demonstrates how the yogic quest for perfection as such is situated within the concrete realities of human life, intersecting with issues of politics, economics, class, gender, and sexuality, as well as reflecting larger Indic religious and philosophical ideals.
451 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 2021
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September 6, 2021
I would give this a 3.5. I read this book for my Foundations in Yoga Studies course to begin my Yoga Studies master's program at LMU, which was intended to give us a great overview of how yoga has evolved over the years. I believe it fits in an academic setting as Sarbacker really tried to keep an objective tone and just present facts without a critical lens. But that can also be its downside, as there wasn't much nuance in the politics and prejudices of what he was describing to have happened throughout yogic history.
One such example is the use of female consorts in medieval tantric rituals, which he plainly just states and gives no interpretation on whatsoever. Seeming as India has Brahmanically patriarchal for much of its history, I doubt this was empowering for the women involved in the supposed taboo-transcending activities of ancient tantra. Another example are the hoards of Indian male gurus throughout time, but especially recently, who have encouraged leaders of conservative movements, such as the founder of Hindutva.
It's not like there isn't nuance. Sarbacker does have one like that I appreciated which was something like, "yoga is whatever gets tacked on to an activity to allow that activity to be transcendental and give it a higher importance," in reference to how hard it is to define yoga because it continues to change. Yet, I wish there was more of a critical eye. I'm sure it wasn't in his intentions, yet I do believe yoga needs interpretations that lead to its understanding that it isn't just meant to liberate the person. It's meant to liberate social groups and interdependent systems as well.
If you're an average yoga practitioner looking to understand the history of yoga but cannot do dense texts with large blocks of direct, unspiritually glamorous information, I wouldn't recommend this. But if you're into non-narrative history, academic understandings of yoga or just willing to sit through a lot of information being thrown at you without distinct threads combining them for the sheer joy of facts — you may be the right audience for this book. Of course, this book is great for research papers as well since it is thoroughly researched and provides that nonsubjective understanding of yoga's context and transformation across all recorded human time.
One such example is the use of female consorts in medieval tantric rituals, which he plainly just states and gives no interpretation on whatsoever. Seeming as India has Brahmanically patriarchal for much of its history, I doubt this was empowering for the women involved in the supposed taboo-transcending activities of ancient tantra. Another example are the hoards of Indian male gurus throughout time, but especially recently, who have encouraged leaders of conservative movements, such as the founder of Hindutva.
It's not like there isn't nuance. Sarbacker does have one like that I appreciated which was something like, "yoga is whatever gets tacked on to an activity to allow that activity to be transcendental and give it a higher importance," in reference to how hard it is to define yoga because it continues to change. Yet, I wish there was more of a critical eye. I'm sure it wasn't in his intentions, yet I do believe yoga needs interpretations that lead to its understanding that it isn't just meant to liberate the person. It's meant to liberate social groups and interdependent systems as well.
If you're an average yoga practitioner looking to understand the history of yoga but cannot do dense texts with large blocks of direct, unspiritually glamorous information, I wouldn't recommend this. But if you're into non-narrative history, academic understandings of yoga or just willing to sit through a lot of information being thrown at you without distinct threads combining them for the sheer joy of facts — you may be the right audience for this book. Of course, this book is great for research papers as well since it is thoroughly researched and provides that nonsubjective understanding of yoga's context and transformation across all recorded human time.
Displaying 1 of 1 review