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Yoga and the Dark Night of the Soul: The Soul's Journey to Sacred Love
Yoga and the Dark Night of the Soul is about the soul’s journey from fear, lamentation and confusion to sacred love. Based on the timeless teachings of the Bhagavad Gita, this contemporary guide to yoga’s ancient wisdom shows us how to overcome life’s greatest challenges, how to follow our life purpose, how to engage our heart in our yoga practice, and how to write our life story with love and compassion.
REVIEWS
“Simon Haas has done it again. With the clear perception of a sage, he has retold this ancient classic, the Bhagavad Gita, in a way everyone can understand.” – Dr. Richard A. Masla, founder of YogaVeda School of Yoga & Ayurveda
“From a little girl at Heathrow airport and a dog on the Yorkshire Moors, to holy men in crematoriums and Indian monkeys, we hear inspiring stories sure to open our hearts and minds in learning to appreciate the potential power in darkness to rewrite our own life stories from ones of fear and confusion into those of love and compassion.” – Catherine L. Schweig, chief editor of When She Rules (Golden Dragonfly Press, 2017) and author of over fifty articles on yoga and the Bhagavad Gita
“This is an authoritative, metaphysical book on yoga that takes one beyond the needs of the body and mind and situates one in spiritual luminescence. What more can a discerning reader ask for?” – Steven J. Rosen (Satyaraja Dasa), author of some thirty books on the Bhakti tradition and related subjects; senior editor of the Journal of Vaishnava Studies; and associate editor of Back to Godhead magazine
REVIEWS
“Simon Haas has done it again. With the clear perception of a sage, he has retold this ancient classic, the Bhagavad Gita, in a way everyone can understand.” – Dr. Richard A. Masla, founder of YogaVeda School of Yoga & Ayurveda
“From a little girl at Heathrow airport and a dog on the Yorkshire Moors, to holy men in crematoriums and Indian monkeys, we hear inspiring stories sure to open our hearts and minds in learning to appreciate the potential power in darkness to rewrite our own life stories from ones of fear and confusion into those of love and compassion.” – Catherine L. Schweig, chief editor of When She Rules (Golden Dragonfly Press, 2017) and author of over fifty articles on yoga and the Bhagavad Gita
“This is an authoritative, metaphysical book on yoga that takes one beyond the needs of the body and mind and situates one in spiritual luminescence. What more can a discerning reader ask for?” – Steven J. Rosen (Satyaraja Dasa), author of some thirty books on the Bhakti tradition and related subjects; senior editor of the Journal of Vaishnava Studies; and associate editor of Back to Godhead magazine
386 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 5, 2018
43 people are currently reading
158 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
May 10, 2018
Simon’s definition of "dark night of the soul" is unique and compelling and adds in significant ways to books about the dark night. In fact, I came away from this book with a new perspective, great hope, and increased awareness about the “dry” spells we all face.
He has first-hand experience of the dark night of the soul and he shares his insights and wisdom with such rich detail, compassion, and examples that I feel reinvigorated on my own journey! And, interestingly for me, Simon adds several dimensions to the Bhagavad Gita I hadn't considered, though I've been studying the text for more than forty years.
His four-part call to action to use during a dark night (or not) is spelled out with great storytelling, thought provoking examples, and fresh insights in Parts 2-5. The steps themselves are fascinating to explore:
"Set Out on the Journey of the Soul"
"Let Every Step Be Its Own Reward"
"Let Discernment be the Warrior's Sword"
"Let Sacred Love be your Only Goal"
There's much practical wisdom and suggestions backed by deep philosophy and his personal experience -- all explained in compelling language and with much heart. You can feel it when an author knows what they're talking about: lives what they're writing about. I've gained much from his book. In fact, I'm using it as a source text for some seminars on bhakti that I am writing. Thank you, Simon!
Each section has substantive notes at the end, but Yoga and the Dark Night isn’t an academic book. I felt like a modern, learned sage was calling me toward further self improvement and happiness.
He has first-hand experience of the dark night of the soul and he shares his insights and wisdom with such rich detail, compassion, and examples that I feel reinvigorated on my own journey! And, interestingly for me, Simon adds several dimensions to the Bhagavad Gita I hadn't considered, though I've been studying the text for more than forty years.
His four-part call to action to use during a dark night (or not) is spelled out with great storytelling, thought provoking examples, and fresh insights in Parts 2-5. The steps themselves are fascinating to explore:
"Set Out on the Journey of the Soul"
"Let Every Step Be Its Own Reward"
"Let Discernment be the Warrior's Sword"
"Let Sacred Love be your Only Goal"
There's much practical wisdom and suggestions backed by deep philosophy and his personal experience -- all explained in compelling language and with much heart. You can feel it when an author knows what they're talking about: lives what they're writing about. I've gained much from his book. In fact, I'm using it as a source text for some seminars on bhakti that I am writing. Thank you, Simon!
Each section has substantive notes at the end, but Yoga and the Dark Night isn’t an academic book. I felt like a modern, learned sage was calling me toward further self improvement and happiness.
April 27, 2018
Through gently weaving together poignant modern vignettes with ancient yoga philosophy, Simon Hass reveals in Yoga and the Dark Night of the Soul that our darkest hours can effectively shed light on the very depths of our souls. Offering helpful guidelines for identifying and reframing personal crisis as opportunities for spiritual growth, Hass draws generously from the Bhagavad Gita and other classical yoga texts, alongside colorful narratives from his own spiritual journey and travels. From a little girl in Heathrow airport and a dog on the Yorkshire Moors, to holy men in crematoriums and Indian monkeys, we hear inspiring stories sure to open our hearts and minds in learning to appreciate the potential power in darkness to rewrite our own life-stories from ones of fear and confusion into those of love and compassion.
July 4, 2024
I highly recommend this book to anyone looking to continue their education around the Gita. Haas does an amazing job translating and weaving real life experiences to better understand the teachings written in the Gita. The Gita can be interpreted many ways. The way Haas unpacked certain quotes while helping me understand the necessary journey of the Dark Night of the Soul had me strongly reflecting. The pages are filled with highlighter. I will forever reference this book as I continue my Svādhyāya self-study.
March 29, 2023
“Am I acting from a place of love and kindness, or from a place of competition and fear?”
October 31, 2024
A gem for anyone wanting to explore why or how things happen for, not to, us.
Simon communicates ancient spiritual wisdom practically and elegantly to shed light on how our most trying times are our biggest teachers (if we let them).
Early into reading I already knew I would be returning to this book many times.
Simon communicates ancient spiritual wisdom practically and elegantly to shed light on how our most trying times are our biggest teachers (if we let them).
Early into reading I already knew I would be returning to this book many times.
April 30, 2018
YOGA AND THE DARK NIGHT OF THE SOUL is a true gem! As a yoga teacher, I found this book enthralling and deeply relevant and helpful for my own practice and for my teaching. If you've never tried yoga, this beautiful book of wisdom will be equally helpful and moving.
In the West, most people come to yoga through yoga poses. While these are especially helpful on many levels, there is, of course, so much more to yoga, as most teachers of yoga are well aware. Yoga and the Dark Night of the Soul makes the ancestral teachings of yoga, especially the teachings on sacred love, easily accessible and entirely relevant to everyday life. In the Bhagavad Gita, a classic on yoga, Krishna explains that ultimately the purpose of yoga is to develop deeply fulfilling love beyond the temporary, small human stories we create and live out in the world. How often do we hear that in our yoga class?
Yoga and the Dark Night of the Soul uncovers the yoga teachings of the Bhagavad Gita, making them easy to understand and apply. This book is an eye-opener and a much-needed contribution to the yoga community.
In the West, most people come to yoga through yoga poses. While these are especially helpful on many levels, there is, of course, so much more to yoga, as most teachers of yoga are well aware. Yoga and the Dark Night of the Soul makes the ancestral teachings of yoga, especially the teachings on sacred love, easily accessible and entirely relevant to everyday life. In the Bhagavad Gita, a classic on yoga, Krishna explains that ultimately the purpose of yoga is to develop deeply fulfilling love beyond the temporary, small human stories we create and live out in the world. How often do we hear that in our yoga class?
Yoga and the Dark Night of the Soul uncovers the yoga teachings of the Bhagavad Gita, making them easy to understand and apply. This book is an eye-opener and a much-needed contribution to the yoga community.
November 3, 2022
This book is life-changing. As a yoga teacher and compassionate person in search of spiritual awareness, I’d say it’s an absolutely essential piece of work to read for anyone on a journey of conscious spiritual growth.
In some ways, it’s a personal commentary on The Bhagavad Gita but also much more. Haas relates the stories of his own life and the people he has connected with through the narrative of Arjuna and Krishna and with the magic of his own depth and experience, he weaves a deep and meaningful message - we all go through the dark night of the soul in our lives - we all experience deep and prolonged suffering and existential crisis or collapse at least once… but we can all come through the other side, again and again.
A wonderful book and one I know I’ll be often referring back to.
In some ways, it’s a personal commentary on The Bhagavad Gita but also much more. Haas relates the stories of his own life and the people he has connected with through the narrative of Arjuna and Krishna and with the magic of his own depth and experience, he weaves a deep and meaningful message - we all go through the dark night of the soul in our lives - we all experience deep and prolonged suffering and existential crisis or collapse at least once… but we can all come through the other side, again and again.
A wonderful book and one I know I’ll be often referring back to.
April 28, 2018
YOGA AND THE DARK NIGHT OF THE SOUL explores personal crisis and how we can emerge from such experiences with renewed meaning, purpose and depth of soul. Based on the timeless yoga teachings of the Bhagavad Gita, this book is a treasure trove of wisdom with the capacity to transform lives and reshape destinies.
The author, Simon Haas, apprenticed for 16 years with an elderly master practitioner from an ancient lineage in India, studying the Bhagavad Gita and other yoga texts under his tutelage. Haas now shares the practical wisdom he has learned, using personal stories, fascinating allegories and ancestral tales full of meaning that at once capture the imagination, enchant the heart and feed the soul.
The author, Simon Haas, apprenticed for 16 years with an elderly master practitioner from an ancient lineage in India, studying the Bhagavad Gita and other yoga texts under his tutelage. Haas now shares the practical wisdom he has learned, using personal stories, fascinating allegories and ancestral tales full of meaning that at once capture the imagination, enchant the heart and feed the soul.
May 19, 2018
This is a very interesting book. It’s a spiritual biography, it’s a book about practical philosophy, it’s a book about connecting with God, it’s a self help book and it’s a travel book.
It is also a book about the Bhagavad Gita.
There is not too much fussing around before the book starts, which I like, and the author stays fast to the premise of the book.
The dark night of the soul is has a river running through it, that river is deep flowing stream of ancient spiritual truth taught to him by his spiritual teacher who comes from a long unbroken ancient lineage.
This book is filled with powerful life changing insights.
This is a great book, however if you are suffering serious psychological difficulty please get help from professionals.
It is also a book about the Bhagavad Gita.
There is not too much fussing around before the book starts, which I like, and the author stays fast to the premise of the book.
The dark night of the soul is has a river running through it, that river is deep flowing stream of ancient spiritual truth taught to him by his spiritual teacher who comes from a long unbroken ancient lineage.
This book is filled with powerful life changing insights.
This is a great book, however if you are suffering serious psychological difficulty please get help from professionals.
January 6, 2019
An interesting and easily digested book. With current eye problems the text was big enough to be comfortable but not so large as you felt you had slipped into LARGE PRINT mode. I would have given this book 5 as it did have a lot to say, and with reference to the Gita some very profound and philosophical areas were dealt with beautifully. It was not so deep as to drown someone possibly new to the subject. Here, of course, we are not talking about physical yoga ... Karma and Bhakti yoga are the backbone of this book. Yes, it would have been 5 had it not been for the sometimes disjointed feel, where the author has skipped from one narrative to another. Sometime this method worked but sometimes it affected the flow. Still a book I would recommend.
April 30, 2018
This is a great book! It is full of depth and insight, using illustrative stories and Indian wisdom to show us how we can maneuver through our limiting self-beliefs to gain a clearer vision of our truer selves. It grants a much needed perspective to help dismantle blockages and move us into stronger, more loving connections with others and with our own soul. It's a smooth read too, very digestible and its guidance will stick with you long after you've put it down.
December 2, 2018
A+ One of the best spirituality books. You know how when things really suck, as in, REALLY REALLY SUCK, it is horrible and you grow, and afterwards, you realize how much that horrible time pushed you to your most intense growth? Well, yeah, that. Amazing read and comforting to read in those times of suck. I wish I had owned this book four years ago.
May 30, 2019
This is an excellent book on the teachings of The Bhagavad Gita - all of us experience our dark nights of the soul, but Mr Haas explains how yoga can help us move from a helpless and defeated state to one that grows our spiritual practice.
February 18, 2020
Very enjoyable read - on one hand, I always felt its written with that easy, straightforward, unpretentious language, a bit as an expanded school project or creative writing course assignment.. on the other hand, the directness of insights was truly resonating.
August 23, 2021
Absolutely amazing... such a great book and a fantastic use of the timeless wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita to help the modern mind.
December 25, 2024
The Gita, while full of insight, is difficult to read. Haas does a wonderful job of breaking down the Gita into bite sized chunks that are easy to understand. For anyone who wants to learn more about yoga philosophy, deepen their practice or understand some of the spiritual aspects of yoga, The Dark Side of the Soul is a compelling read.
March 12, 2018
Simon Haas’s latest book is a beautiful union between the potent and relatable idea of St John of Cross’s ‘dark night of the soul’ and the ancient and timeless teachings of the Bhagavad-gita, which, in his unique marriage of the two, are made all the more relevant to the soul-searching and existentialism of today’s world. Speaking to the intrinsic need for growth and transformation, to a needful release from stagnation and closed-circuit perceptions, Haas coaches the unwriting and the writing of the self, encouraging an optimistic utilisation of life’s inevitable adversities and the discovery of latent yet hidden beauty, dedication and satisfaction. This re-reading of the Bhagavad-gita, drawn from the revelatory wisdom of both contemporary and historic sages, is a delightful and profound addition to the bookshelves of any being remotely interested in an exploration of the self and soul through the reality of our lived experiences.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews