Yoga for a World Out of Balance: Teachings on Ethics and Social Action

by Michael Stone, B.K.S. Iyengar (Foreword)

Every aspect of our life has a part to play in the greater ecological system, Michael Stone explains in this book. How do we bring this large view to our yoga practice? According to Stone, our responsibility as human beings is to live in a sustainable and respectful way. He says two things need to change. First, we need to understand the relationship between our actions and the effects of our actions. Second, once we see the effect of our actions in the human and non-human world, we need practical skills for learning how to make changes.

Using the five principles ( yama ) described in the Yoga-Sutra attributed to Patanjali, Michael Stone offers a basis for rethinking ethical action and the spiritual path.

Genres: Nonfiction, Philosophy, Spirituality, Psychology, Justice

214 pages, Paperback

First published September 29, 2009

About the author

Librarian Note:
There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[Kelly]

One of the best yogic texts I've read. This is a look at the yamas -- the ethics of yoga -- and how they intertwine with being not just a better human, but better part of a global world that is entirely one and whole. The practice of yoga isn't about fitness or about hitting that cool pose. It's about finding stillness and wholeness within, so that we're all better prepared to do good for the world, coming from a place of non-attachment, non-greed, non-theft, and energy control. The examples here are extremely easy to connect with and make it clear that living a yogic life isn't a passive one. It's not about transcendence. It's about radical presence and understanding ecology and our role within it.

[Jayney · Rating 5 out of 5]

At the moment Michael Stone's teachings are modern and relevant in this materialistic, commercialised globalised society. The ancient yoga sutras are often over analysed. Michael Stone openly states that there is no point in trying to take meaning from thousands of years ago and apply them to present society. He's a sanskrit scholar himself so, he isn't getting the translation from other people.

Ethics is something I am very passionate about, especially in regards to the environment, fair-trade, the cruelty of animals and I find it difficult to see all people around me living without a thought for any of these things. Yoga is about interconnectedness and Michael Stone's teachings are what I think are missing from yoga at this current time. I hope this book will have a positive influence on people who practise yoga and that Western yoga evolves beyond asana classes and do the rest on your own attitude'.

[Annie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was for a friend's Yoga, Books, and Brunch Book Club back on June 4th. I had read about half of it back then. Group consensus was it was extremely wordy.

Myself I would continually start a sentence and lose track of what author was saying by the end of sentence. After Book Club I set it aside. Today I finally picked up and tried again. Writing style doesn't work for me. Skimmed to finish.

I do vaguely remember a couple of good points but nothing has stuck with me. Glad I bought a cheap used copy because it's not a keeper.

[Cami · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an incredible reading, when I finished I found myself in tears. This is a necessary and most relevant book for all of us interested in leading positive lives and our impact in this world, our world, us.

Especially if you only practice Asanas you won’t be practicing yoga until you begin to grasp the vastness of the philosophy of yoga. This books has helped me see so much more.

As Michael says in his other book The Inner Tradition of Yoga:” If our practice is creating flexibility of the body without a corresponding flexibility of the heart, we need to redress the way we conceive of and engage in practice.”

[Milo Krawiec · Rating 4 out of 5]

We can look and try to find the bottom and final substance of things. All we will find are more and more intricate relationships

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book. I got lost in some of the chapters but always found my way back out. I feel like a changed person…someone with a new set of eyes…when it comes to my approach to our earth and its people.

[Frank Jude · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the books I have used with my students studying the precepts, as four of the five yamas of the classical yoga tradition are the same as the buddhist precepts. And, the fifth yama, non-grasping certainly has linkage to the fifth precept of non-intoxication -- which Stone also points out.

I especially appreciate his working in of David Loy's concept of "lack" and how it influences behavior and the toxic consumption of our economic system. The other important contribution Stone makes is to the application of yogic teachings and practice to socially and politically engaged activism. This is much needed in the contemporary hatha-yoga world!

My students generally found the book quite interesting, thought-provoking and a good balance to the other books read -- generally from various zen teachers (including Aitken, Anderson, Loori and Hanh). The only criticism seemed to be that at times Stone's writing gets a bit overly dense, repetitive and a bit confusing -- but this was overall a very minor quibble.

SO, I can wholeheartedly recommend this book to all yoga practitioners who may not have given the ethical underpinnings of the yoga tradition much thought, as well as to those for whom ethical thinking and behavior is of prime importance!

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book examines the ancient yoga sutras, focusing specifically on the yamas, and works to apply them to today's world. However, I found it to be hard to read and difficult to understand.

The central tenet of the book is that yoga cannot only apply to life on the mat, it has to reach into other areas of our lives and exist in a dualist place. I can accept this argument, but didn't find that his commentary on the modern interpretation of the yamas held the kind of thought provoking commentary I had hoped for.

[Jim Thompson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Made it almost to the end but finally just sort of gave up on it. My patience for reading bad books is less than it used to be. I can read books full of bad ideas if they are at least engaging, but I can't make myself stick with a book that is just poorly done.

This is a book full of basically good ideas. It reminds me of David R. Loy's books "EcoDharma" and "A New Buddhist Path," as well as many of Thich Nhat Hanh's books. It's an attempt to connect certain very old teachings to modern problems.

What Stone has to say on the topic is basically worthwhile. Sometimes a bit generic, but worthwhile.

But it's just not very well done.

I'm glad others don't agree. I'm glad a lot of people gave this good ratings and got something out of it.

I found the writing style very hard to stick with. Not because it was "difficult," it was just... sort of boring. And redundant. He could have shaved 50 or 60 pages off the book easily without losing anything. As is, I just found my mind constantly wandering, found myself looking for any excuse to put the book down or just not pick it up to begin with.

So, yeah, close enough. Setting this one aside now.

[Kalin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great but challenging read, although there are some things about it that didn't fully work for me. Michael's teachings are profound and crucial in this time and I truly wish he were still with us to help us navigate these increasingly fraught times. There is a lot to digest in this book and it's one I can see myself returning to in the future, though a warning to potential readers that it's not an introductory text on yoga as a physical, psychological, or ethical practice -- it is more focused on arguing within the community of yogis that yoga should be practiced in engagement with the world and its current problems than as a form of retreat from the world. There was not as much as I would have liked in discussing the "social action" that yoga practice can contribute to. It's fair enough to say "external change starts within" but actually creating external change is REALLY hard and this book only dipped into the surface of those challenges.

The chapters were a little too unfocused and there was unneeded repetition; in short, the book needed more editing.

But it is more than worthwhile, as is anything Stone has written.

[Claudia Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Michael Stone sheds light on one of the things the humans seem to have forgotten in today's society, which is the simple fact that we as humans are a part of the ecosystem, we are one single organism, and there is no us and them. Adopting this non-dualistic world conception, he urges to bring the yamas from the ancient yoga sutras into our everyday lives, which removes the walls between spirituality and "reality"and urges us to live fully, earnestly and mindfully- NOW. I loved this book.

[Michelle Hand · Rating 4 out of 5]

A necessary reminder for the foundations of life and optimizing the inner tools we have through yoga thought processes to perceive life in an optimistic way.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the better writings on yoga and social engagement.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book I've read by Michael Stone, and I enjoyed it equally as much, if not more than the last. Stone gets to the heart of what ails society - in his view, materialism and greed - and teases out how the Yamas and Niyamas can address these problems. This is a very skillful adaptation of yoga philosophy for modern life. Every chapter held moments of inspiration, thanks to Stone's beautiful prose, and cutting insights into the relationship between consumerism, overwork and everyday misery; while suggesting the Yamas and Niyamas as a path toward happiness. I found it to be very affirming of my lifestyle of reducing debt and consumption that I've been inspired to take.

Here's a quote:
"Consumerism does not refer to basic subsistence nor to a general life of enjoyment or pleasure but rather to seeking satisfaction through buying things. This is more than being caught by the sensuality of goods; we are caught in a mythology in which there is a correlation between duhkha and consumption whereby consuming things, we imagine, will overcome or even satisfy our unsatisfied mental states."

In other words, shopping won't make you happy! Lol
The book might feel a bit harsh for those who aren't accustomed to reducing consumption, with maybe a slight lack of hopefulness - which may unfortunately reduce its appeal. However for geeks like me, it's a delight.

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just finished reading this book my Michael Stone, and I feel I should start right back at the beginning again. It's not a huge book but Stone packs a lot in and it's deep stuff. I feel it would make a great text book and provide a teacher and students with great material for weekly lectures and discussions. There were many times during this book that I wanted to ask questions so I could understand better what the author meant. BTW, this book isn't about yoga as in asanas or yoga poses, rather it is about the full practice of yoga as a way of life - what you eat, how you speak, your livelyhood, etc. I was particularly interested in the topic of deep ecology touched on briefly in the chapter on Community. I will be looking for other books on this topic.

[Celestia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being an Ashtanga yoga practitioner and activist, I really enjoyed this book. Stone presents ancient yogic wisdom so that it can be applied to the current context of today's fast-paced, attention-deficit, aggrieved world.

This book helps the reader to understand that everything they do, on the mat or off, has a direct impact on the world around us. A great reminder that we are but a part of the web of life, and that all is interconnected.

[Dylan]

great read

As I've been deepening my practice and thinking about the other seven limbs than asana practice, this was a great introduction to the yamas and how my yoga practice can be reflected in my life, and how I can use the teachings to improve my life. I didn't agree wi everything, but it was excellent.

[Monica Flynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely one to dip in and out of again and again. Michael discusses how a yoga practice might extend into the world in our attitude toward each other and the environment. In an tangential way he brings a Buddhist Marxist critique to his discussion about our Western life style.

[Alexandra Mergen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wise friend told me that to be happy one must live in alignment with one's values. This book is helpful for clarifying values and figuring out how to live in alignment with them. You do not have to be a "yoga person" to be enriched by this book. You just have to be a person.

[John Hawkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Almost the book I wanted to write, Michale Stone takes the precepts of the 22-hundred-year old text and places it in 21st Century challenges, understanding that the Patanjali writer is not an ideologue, but a very practical person.

[Todd Mayville · Rating 5 out of 5]

http://www.elephantjournal.com/2009/1...

[Ruth Clark]

really enjoying this book

[Sian Lile-Pastore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a wonderful wise book, tho a little bit of a slog at times. Still, I feel I could read and re-read this and still not take it all in.