Gandhiji Appears on Google

www.labnol.org/internet/google-gandhi-logo/10171/



Not since the appearance of modern India's other beloved transformative figure, Rabindrinath Tagore, has Google included a representative from South Central Asia in their icon.



As cultural icons, how do you think the two compare? One as a key political figure in the liberation of India; the other as a recipient of the Nobel Peace Price in Literature?



What similar historical figures existed for you in the 20th century US?



What can we learn from Gandhiji and how can we apply it to the 21st century?

Bandhas/Mula Bandha

Over the past several weeks, we have been integrating Bandha practice into our Asana/Pranayama practice. First, we started with the Mula (Root) Bandha and then have worked our way upward through the body, including Uddayani, Jihva and Jalandhara Bandha. There has also been an emphasis on Ujjayi Pranayama.

As requested, I am posting one of many articles that may be found online regarding Bandha practice. I especially want to recommend the last paragraph. In particular, please consider the two concepts of Antara and Bahya Sadhana.

The link to the article is www.doashtanga.com/mula.

Your Yoga Poses Aren't 5,000 Years Old...

Your Yoga Poses Aren't 5,000 Years Old: A New Perspective On "Old " Yoga





http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sadie-nadini/your-yoga-poses-arent-500_b_272821.html





Thanks, W!

Life and Music/Alan Watts

Life and Music, From Recordings of Alan Watts

http://www.neticons.net/music_life/

Does this seem strangely familiar?


Thanks J!

Top 10 Reasons Not To Do Yoga

Top 10 Reasons Not To Do Yoga


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sadie-nandini/top-10-reasons-not-to-do_b_260935.html


Thanks W!

Samadhi

Samadhi, the eighth of eight limbs (of the tree) of Patanjali's Yoga, is defined by Georg Feurstein in the Encyclopedic Dictionary of Yoga as "the final 'limb' (anga) of the yogic path."

Does this imply or infer that there is a necessary sequence in the limbs of yoga, as one might ascend a tree from below to above? For instance, is the practitioner advised to practice the 5 Yamas and Niyamas prior to moving forward into the practice of Asanas and Pranayama? And then, only then, move into Samyama (Dharana, Dhyana, Samadhi)? And, of course, do not forget Pratyahara.

What was Patanjali's intent as he constructed the 196 aphorisms? And, on what basis do you support your thesis?

Maybe, we are existentially prone to enter the path to Samadhi on one of three arbitrary, yet categorical, sets of activity - Yama/Niyama, Asana/Pranayama, Pratyahara/Dharana/Dhyana.
Perhaps Patanjali constructed a sequentially efficient and systematic approach to Kaivalya (Freedom).

What do you think?

Traditional Knowledge Digital Library, India

As promised, here is the link to the Traditional Knowledge Digital Library, India.

http://www.tkdl.res.in/

Thanks to all for the lively and informative discussion regarding Western notions of treating Yoga knowledge as legally defensible intellectual property.

What do you think? Should it be legally defensible? Especially in the West? What do you think the Indian government's motives were in going to such an expense in neutralizing other's ability to profit from their cultural and medicinal heritage?

Thanks T. for introducing us to the database!