What are the most authoritative Yoga texts?

Spirituality
#4

No Nichole, my teacher is not Mukunda Stiles. I am actually still in search of a teacher.

In my own practice of Yoga, and in my study and reflection of these same books, I find that they speak to many universal principles and codes of right living. These principles are shared between most of the major religions and philosophies of the world.

I covered this point already in another thread. Hinduism is not a religion, it is a spiritual science and philosophy. Its authentic name is “Santana dharma” meaning the eternal law and principles of the universe. Those principles are dharma, karma, reincarnation and yoga.

Hinduism has no particular deity, no particular founder, no particular scripture, no particular code of laws and no particular way. It is clearly not a religion as we understand religion.

Yoga is nothing more than a spiritual technology developed from Hindu science and philosophy. I mean come on one of the core texts of Yoga is the Gita which is one of the most sacred and popular texts of the Hindus.

Yoga and Hinduism cannot be separated.

#5

From what I have read, I would go with Yogani from AYPSITE.ORG as he has covered a lot of info and is very easy to read. Even if you choose not to use the I AM meditation practice that he promotes/ His 8 limbs of yoga is a personal favorite. I know it is not the 1000 or so year old texts, however he covers quite a bit of info in his books and it is in laymens terms.
Peace be with you
Brother Neil

#6

One may add grahand samhita in the list.

#7

Yogasutras
Bhagvad Gita
Yoga Vasistha
Yoga Upanishads
Hatha Yoga Pradipika
Shiva Sutras
Vijnana Bhairava

If I was to pick only one or two of these, other than the Yoga Sutras which I already have, which would you recommend?

#8

Also, which translations/commentaries??

#9

au?thor?i?ta?tive/əˈTH?riˌtātiv/Adjective

  1. Able to be trusted as being accurate or true; reliable: “clear, authoritative information”.
  2. (of a text) Considered to be the best of its kind and unlikely to be improved upon.

I first came across the term “authoritative text” when I was beginning to read about Indian philosophy. One or two of the books I was reading cited various texts that were considered authoritative with respect to a particular school of philosophy. I was surprised to find that the only text considered to be authoritative with respect to the yoga darsana is Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras. I assume that the other books mentioned here were not considered authoritative because they aren’t works of philosophy. But I take it that you’re not interested in just philosophy.

Would you consider the Vedas a yogic book?
Only if you are into yoga as a spiritual practice. The Upanishads, which are part of the Vedas, are full of spiritual practices and can be useful, but difficult to understand in a lot of cases.

#10

Stuff from B.K.S Iyengar

  • The Path To Holistic Health
  • Light on Yoga
  • Light on life
#11

[QUOTE=AbdhijaKimberly;32182]If I was to pick only one or two of these, other than the Yoga Sutras which I already have, which would you recommend?[/QUOTE]

Bhagvad Gita and Yoga Upanishads(Also consider the Yoga Vasishta, it is a remarkable text)

The best translation I have come across of the Bhagvad Gita is Swami Yogananda paramhansa’s beutifully illustrated and annotated translation, “God talks to Arjuna” If you get it, you should get the boxed set.

Yoga Upanishads you can find here: http://www.celextel.org/108upanishads/

#12

[QUOTE=CityMonk;32030]Would you consider the Vedas a yogic book? [/QUOTE]

when it is impossible to find genuine translations, the next best available option is to go for commentaries by some noted authors.

Secret of Veda by Shri Aurobindo would make a good read.

how yogic you want any book to be is upto you.

#13

[QUOTE=Surya Deva;32040]The most authoritative Yoga texts are:

Yogasutras
…
Shiva Sutras

.[/QUOTE]

quite controversial…
Shiva Sutra is a central text for Kashmir Shaivism
Bhagavad Gita is a Hindu scripture…

while Yoga Sutras refers tot the “harmony with [U]your[/U] religious heritage” and devotion to the [U]Lord of yoga[/U]…

#14

[QUOTE=Surya Deva;32047]No Nichole, my teacher is not Mukunda Stiles. I am actually still in search of a teacher.

I covered this point already in another thread. Hinduism is not a religion, it is a spiritual science and philosophy.

Hinduism has no particular deity, no particular founder, no particular scripture, no particular code of laws and no particular way. It is clearly not a religion as we understand religion.

Yoga is nothing more than a spiritual technology developed from Hindu science and philosophy. I mean come on one of the core texts of Yoga is the Gita which is one of the most sacred and popular texts of the Hindus.

Yoga and Hinduism cannot be separated.[/QUOTE]

Hinduism is a religion. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduism

There is no evidence, that yoga was derived from hinduism.

Maybe yoga was derived from Hinduism, but:
Yoga Sutras have no single word about Hindu gods or traditions, as well as it does not note to any affiliating with any religion.

#15

They are both Hindu, Citymonk. I think what you meant to say was that the Bhagvad Gita is Vaishnavism and the Shiva sutras are Shivaism. Yogasutras, on the other hand is secular, but still Hindu.

#16

There is no evidence, that yoga was derived from hinduism.

Yes, there is. Patanjali was Hindu and he was codifying in a systematic and scientic way Vedic philosophy as expounded in the Upanishads(Hindu texts)

Yoga Sutras have no single word about Hindu gods or traditions, as well as it does not note to any affiliating with any religion.

No, because Yoga is a secular branch of Hinduism and is not affiliated to any Hindu god or goddess tradition. They all appear later on in the puranic period, prior to that Hinduism only believes in an impersonal god called Brahman or ishvara.

Hinduism is defined by its philosophy not by the gods and goddesses present within it. This is why it is possible to meet Hindu atheists.

#17

Most canoical scriptures, whatever the religion, are authoratative yogic treatises. Jesus is talking Yoga the whole time. Buddha? He talking yoga.

But if your looking for classical yoga proper . . . which you probably are I can add nothing to the lists above but only remephasize.

The Upanishads.

The Works of Shakaracharya.

The Works of Vyasa.

The Works of Patanjali.

The Works of Svatmarama.

The Works of Goraksha.

The Shiva Samhita.

#18

GORAKSHA PADDHATI - but remember all tantrik shastras ( as yogis traditions are all tantrik) are writen into sandhyabhasha language, thats ocult iniciatory coded language may only iniciated ones can read it in its real interpretation

so if you have deep interest into it … search a true nath guru, only nath guru can teach you hatha yoga for real

#20

Yoga Sutras by Patanjali
Gheranda Samhita
Hatha Yoga Pradipika

#21

Hah…today reading Kadampa Buddist book… it also referres to practice of yoga and tantra…go figure…

#22

These days, many books talk about tantra and yoga. But the question was about the most authoritative books on yoga.

#23

[QUOTE=himalayan yoga;80624]These days, many books talk about tantra and yoga. But the question was about the most authoritative books on yoga.[/QUOTE]

well… meaning that lots of texts, yogas, and religions have originated from tantra

#24

[QUOTE=CityMonk;80698]well… meaning that lots of texts, yogas, and religions have originated from tantra[/QUOTE]

Hard to tell. Depends on what you consider the origin of tantra and the origin of yoga. Moreover, in modern yoga, tantric stuff is only a fancy cover. One could practice yoga without the knowledge of all the nadis and chakras. And, I’m not even talking about postural hatha yoga. If we go read the ‘classical’ yoga opus, Yoga Sutras, there is nothing tantric in it and yet it is absolutely yogic.