Book outline:
Bellur Krishnamachar Sundararaja Iyengar or more conveniently called BKS Iyengar in America left a legacy of teachings about yoga and life. In this, one of his several books, he presents a magnificent and comprehensive treatise that educates and delights as it unfolds timeless wisdom of the connection of life and yoga, the passion and service of his life. This book connects the yogic practices, body, mind, energy, to the cosmic to project the powerful transformation that yoga can facilitate.
What’s the core message?
Yoga and its students are seekers and learners for life. Yoga is a force of movement – movement that includes the motion of the body, mind, and consciousness, that is carefully, mindfully, and deliberately guided for the purpose of studying one’s own self first. It is the first essential step in the ultimate inquiry and understanding of the purpose of life. When we connect ourselves with cosmic intelligence, we can learn how we can contribute to the whole, the universe, from which we have received all. Without a thorough understanding of ourselves and how our senses react, we cannot gain control let alone mastery over our life goals.
How do these concepts compare with points raised in other books?
Many authors and celebrity self-helpers write to motivate and uplift. Some authors are charismatic, others evangelists, and some like BKS are humble and wise sages, reflective and unassumingly charismatic even in their understated elegance they shine brilliantly. Iyengar himself has interpreted the wisdom of the centuries-old yoga practices in many books. Here he shines because he puts the focus on the philosophy of yoga. He does not pepper it with cleverly crafted history or illustrative stories. Instead, he shares insights from 70 years of his practicing, learning, teaching, and maturing in the life lived immersed in yoga. This is a book about the substance of yoga. Rich content, grounded knowledge, and luminous inspiration.
The yoga philosophies are the compilation of thousands of years of saints and brilliant minds. Timeless in their wisdom, it is remarkable that some contemporary writers and self-help celebrities use some of the same inspirations to motivate people without any of the groundings of the yoga values and priorities, tools and techniques, and reasons for solutions.
What the book does well.
This book ties the elements of yoga, the eight petals of the lotus to the practice of realizing the ultimate freedom to live a meaningful life. It discusses the hierarchy of yoga practice values, from building a beautiful body, sharpening the mind, and connecting to the cosmic intelligence – Koshas, Gunas, states of mind, breath control, senses control, and contemplative patterns that can build a deeply satisfying life. Most of all, it is an inspirational book about the tools and technologies for tuning the human senses to live well.
What could have made this book better?
Although the book repeatedly states that yoga is a philosophy to find fulfillment in life and it does not endorse one or another religion and indeed is a technology and not a religion in itself, BKS could have delved more to establish that differentiation. He is a champion devotee, student, and teacher of yoga. A longer discussion on this could have helped him open more hearts of people from different faiths to examine the tools and technologies to improve their own lives, which indeed was his own purpose.
Who would benefit from reading this book?
This book should be required reading in every school. It plants the seeds of self-discovery, becoming a learner and seeker of self-knowledge, and finding the relevance of cosmic or universal intelligence. The readers will find themselves becoming calm, balanced, and compassionate because they will have and understanding of the tools that can tame the senses that are the cause of the pain that comes from the attachment to the cycle of pain and pleasure and how to reshape life in the context of the cosmic universe. This is a book suited for all who want to explore how powerful they are and can be.
How it affected me
This book lays bare this beautiful reality that yogis walk on earth without knowing and unawares, that they are indeed highly accomplished yogis, for yoga has little to do with the making of fine body pretzel shapes in comparison to its holistic service of connecting humans to the universal/cosmic intelligence through the harnessing of our senses: body, mind, energy, and consciousness. Whether trained in meditation, body postures, breathing techniques, contemplative practices or not countless souls go about their lives serving others without dwelling on the past, envying others who have more in their lives, being exhibitionists, or escapists. They stay committed to goodness, compassion, and inspiration. Finally, this book enforced again, like almost every other yoga book, the value of looking inside us for what our life purpose should be. The essence of life is in action. This book inspired me to continue seeking the tools to apply in the attainment of my life goals – with clarity, compassion, and inspiration, to keep an open mind, and to keep my head down in my work and service.