Rethinking 'Classical Yoga' and Buddhism
Book Description
Karen O'Brien-Kop invites readers on a transformative journey through the authentic origins of yoga, revealing how our modern understanding has been shaped by colonial perspectives that obscure the true richness of ancient practice. This scholarly yet accessible exploration takes us back to the formative centuries between the 1st and 5th CE, when yoga emerged not as a singular tradition but as a dynamic conversation between Hindu and Buddhist spiritual communities.
Rather than accepting the conventional narrative of yoga as an isolated Hindu practice, O'Brien-Kop demonstrates how Buddhist and Hindu thinkers collaborated in developing the systematic approaches to meditation and spiritual discipline that we recognize today. Through careful analysis of foundational texts including Patanjali's Yogasastra alongside Buddhist works like Vasubandhu's Abhidharmakosa-bhaya and Asanga's Yogacarabhumisastra, she reveals the profound interconnectedness of these traditions.
This groundwork challenges practitioners and scholars alike to reconsider their assumptions about classical yoga. By examining these ancient texts within their actual historical and economic contexts, O'Brien-Kop strips away romanticized notions of timeless, unchanging practices to reveal yoga as a living, evolving response to the spiritual needs of its time.
For contemporary seekers interested in understanding the authentic roots of their practice, this work offers invaluable insights into how ancient wisdom traditions actually developed through dialogue, exchange, and mutual influence rather than isolation.
Who Is This For?
📖 Reading Level: Medium (200-400 pages) (~8 hours)
📄 Length: 280 pages
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore Religious Studies
- ✓ Explore yoga philosophy and practice
- ✓ Explore Religious aspects
- ✓ Understand Buddhist philosophy and practice
- ✓ Explore Early works to 1800
- ✓ Explore Theory and Method (Rel Studies)
- ✓ Understand Hindu philosophy and traditions
- ✓ Explore Metaphor
