Judging a book by its Cover

[Guest guest]

I think it's more appropriate that the book fall

apart as soon as it's delivered. That way both the

exterior accurately reflects what's inside.

<br><br>There's so much bad adivice in Yoga Mala, it ought to be

sold as an artifact or curiosity of times gone by, and

NOT as a guidebook for anyone interested in

practicing yoga.<br><br>Just to cite one example: Guruji's

recommendations for hours-long headstands, which have been proven

to cause severe eye damage to more than a few yoga

fanatics gullible enough to follow the advice of certain

yoga texts.

[Guest guest]

Oh yes. And I've heard some people say that doing

padmasana as described in B.K.S. Iyengar's "Light on Yoga"

is the best way to destroy your knees. So I must

assume that Iyengar's book should "fall apart as soon as

it's delivered", too?

[Guest guest]

Screwgee, perhaps the guru's advice regarding semen retention upset you given

your chronic masturbation problem.<br><br>Ole!

[Guest guest]

When I got my copy of Yoga Mala earlier this

year, it was the dietary advice that seemed odd to me.

I posted about it on the other board, because they

happened to be talking about food at the time... here's

what I posted there. If anyone has any comments, I'd

appreciate hearing about it:<br><br>"Just acquired a copy of

Yoga Mala over the weekend, and was curious about some

of the dietary advice, at about page 36 or

thereabouts. It recommends against eating very much in the way

of vegetables. !?! Says the best things to eat are,

wheat, ... mung beans, ginger, milk and sugar. Never

considered giving up dairy myself, but I know lots of health

minded people do. Sugar? I can only surmise that means

things like dates and fresh fruit. But what I'm really

mystified by is the "don't go heavy on the veggies" line.

Is that a typo? About the only thing common to much

of the varying dietary advice that is out there, is

to get lots of veggies, so what's up with that, the

line in this book? "<br><br>Edie

[Guest guest]

Now if we really wanted to judge Yoga Mala by its

cover, well that's quite a picture of Pattabhi Jois. I

have not met him in person, but man that sure is a

bright glow he has on there.<br><br>As for the contents,

I have not studied the book as a bible or anything

and would only say that this is an essential

reference on Ashtanga Yoga as taught by KPJ, who supposedly

reviewed the contents thoroughly before the new edition

was published. As I may have revealed here before, I

am not a strict adherant of Ashtanga Yoga. I don't

believe it to be the only way or necessarily the best way

for any particular person. Also, I'm sure that Jois'

own teachings are continuing to evolve. There is

probably no single book I would recommend for anyone

wanting to study yoga. Instead I would recommend a giant

stack just to start with (see

<a href=http://www.ionet.net/~tslade/yogabook/

target=new>http://www.ionet.net/~tslade/yogabook/</a> ). I would probably have

to suggest another giant

stack for dietary issues. But of course its not all in

the books anyway, eh?<br><br>El Senor (or someone),

can you verify that the address in the cover of my

copy is the correct address for Eddie Stern's studio:

611 Broadway Street Suite 203 NY, NY 10012. Also, I

think we have covered this here before, but a phone

number too? (just to update my listing for the

book)<br><br>Interesting to hear the book is available in hardback. Does

someone know the price on it?<br><br>Slade the

Bookfiend<br><br>"everyday I get more clues"

[Guest guest]

Just in case anyone wants to see the "giant stack

of yoga books", I will correct the typo in my last

post:

<a href=http://www.ionet.net/~tslade/yogabook.htm

target=new>http://www.ionet.net/~tslade/yogabook.htm</a><br><br>It has been

interesting for me to realize that most

of the very best books on yoga have been published

very recently (including everything published on

Ashtanga). This may be true for many subjects. Information

is becoming more available and is building upon

itself. I have been in a state of excitement for a year

now due to the nonstop flow of answers to my

questions. The more I look the more I find. This can be very

good or it could also be a great distraction. Yes I

recommend get all the books you can, get videos, study with

teachers, learn learn learn. <br>But here is some wisdom

from the Tao Te Ching:<br><br>"Give up learning and

put an end to your troubles."

[Guest guest]

check out www.pattabhijois.com

[Guest guest]

as long as it is performed on the 8th or 14th

night after a full or new moon only, using a lubricant

composed of red clay and water and breathing only through

chandra nadi, masturbation may be enaged in by the

aspirant. after 32 strokes, for a brief moment, wherever

you look you will see god.

[Guest guest]

That's a cool site. Can you say who put this up?

Can books be ordered there? Hopefully more info will

appear there, at least pertaining to how to get the

book. Also, are you still working on the documentary?

[Guest guest]

Using the Buddi or discriminitive

awareness.<br><br>Sisela Bok, ethicist and philosopher, writes in her

forward to Gandhi, an Autobiography: <br> "...it is well

worth adopting that same attitude of experimenting , of

testing what will and will not bear scrutiny, what can

and cannot be adapted to new circumstances....We can

pick and choose from amoung his views just as he did

from those of others." Gandhi held "obsessive views on

diet, sexuality, or body hygeine." Does it negate the

Satyagraha movement? Of course not. We can salvage his aims

of non-violent civil resistance.<br><br>Iyengar once

said of his picture of Adho-Mukha-Svanasana showing

his head on the floor,"one time a stupid man, showed

a stupid pose, in a stupid book". Do I relegate

that book to the closed stacks of the library next to

Richard Hittleman (with all respects to Mr.

Hittleman)?<br><br><br>Similarly, we can see that Jois's and many others

dedication

have kept the practice alive. Jois's intentions were

to serve the betterment of humanity. And I say this

not to heroize this man but I do pay homage to his

teaching and his earnest attempts to transcribe his

approach and that of his teacher.<br> <br><br>I agree

there is a larger issue that many "seekersyogi's"

waiting for the opportunity to throw ourselves at the

feet of "enlightenment" as though is were waiting to

recieve us in the form of a teacher/master. I also

believe that the scrutiny will come...if not right away.

One can only suspend disbelief for so long. And then

they face themselves again. AAH but then there is

grace, and I do believe grace exists. Ishvara Pranidhana

is not unreasoned gullibility is it? Lets drink the

kool-aid, all together now.<br><br>And I was so looking

forward to a workshop to be given at the Yoga Journal

conference on how one cuts the bottom of one's tongue for

insertion into the back of the throat. But now I know that

blasted Swami Swatmarama...

[Guest guest]

The site was put up by Eddie and I believe you

can order the book via the contact address. The

documentary is still moving forward though a little slowly.

Lori was in Mysore for the recent temple opening and

for Guruji's ceremony at the sanskrit college and we

also just interviewed Nancy Gilgoff. Looking forward

to having Guruji in NYC and one more trip to Mysore

this winter, we hope it will be finished in about a

year.

[Guest guest]

TLS - Check msg # 9673 by kkyogagirlme for info

on the current address of Eddie Stern's

studio.<br><br>As regards Sri Jois' book, by the little that I've

read so far, I'm sure that most westerners will have a

hard time to swallow much of its contents and

teachings as well. Sri Jois doesn't make the least attempt

to popularise Yoga - contrary to B.K.S. Iyengar,

whose book "Light on Yoga" was addressed to a western

public from the start. This is also why "Yoga Mala"

looks more 'authentic' to me in several ways than

"Light on Yoga". Certainly it adds to the

charm.<br><br>Some of the pictures in the "Mala" also are truly

impressive. My favourite one is the old photo of 1937 on the

inside back, which shows Sri Jois demonstrating

sarvangasana in front of a group of UNESCO officials. Those

were the days...

[Guest guest]

Padmasana is actually good for the knees, if

one's hips are open enough. Orthopaedic surgeons will

agree to that. <br><br>But 2 hour headstands have

caused severe damage to the eyes. I know this is true,

because an eye surgeon told me so recently. She'd had a

patient who was a yoga student, was doing very long

headstands, and directly because of those long headstands had

much vascular damage to her eyes.<br><br>Even Swami

Sivananda, in one of his yoga books, commented on the

dangers posed by long headstands to eye

health.<br><br>Guruji should just re-write YOGA MALA and take out the

junk. Then maybe the gods wouldn't make his book fall

apart on delivery.

[Guest guest]

If Jois's teachings are evolving, then he should

re-write YOGA MALA and take out the bad, that is,

medically prove bad, advice on headstands.<br><br>Either

that, or just sell YOGA MALA as an artifact, like a

treatise on ancient greek medicine.<br><br>It should not

be sold or touted as a guidebook for anyone's yoga

practice.

[Guest guest]

The solution is simple:<br><br>Edit the book, and

take out the recommendations for practices that are

injurious to our health.<br><br>It's okay to tell the Guru

he is wrong about certain things. After all, he's

not God, just a human being like all the rest of us.

We do him, ourselves, and others no good whatsoever

by making excuses condoning what's clearly wrong.

[Guest guest]

I can personally attest to eye pressure. I'm a

marathoner at inversion supported against the wall. With

some reference for the head (i.e. block) one can stay

longer. I was in for almost 40 min approx began long slow

ujayi breath. My teacher noticed my eyes fluttering and

said I'd have to come out. I said it was the overhead

lights. Lights out. I was enraptured with the breath. I

thought it was the breathing (silk thread breath). I

coudn't tell whether I was controlling the breath or not.

That night my dream was of a zeppelin blimp flying

over head. And I stood with a match lit ready to

explode the craft. Nagging headache next day, and sharp

realization that there was definite danger. Was it the

pranayama w/o jalandhara bandha? Thanks for the Info

Screwgee.