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Freeing the Body, Freeing the Mind: Writings on the Connections between Yoga and Buddhism

Michael Stone (Editor),

Robert A.F. Thurman (Goodreads Author) (Foreword)

4.02 · Rating details · 54 ratings · 7 reviews

In this collection of provocative essays by prominent teachers of Yoga and Buddhism, the common ground of these two ancient traditions becomes clear. Michael Stone has brought together a group of intriguing voices to show how Buddhism and Yoga share the same roots, the same values, and the same spiritual goals. The themes addressed here are rich and varied, yet the essays ...more

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Paperback, 304 pages

Published August 17th 2010 by Shambhala

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Sep 26, 2011 Frank Jude rated it really liked it

Shelves: buddhism, philosophy-spirituality, yoga, tantra

This anthology, edited by Michael Stone, is an important contribution to the dialogue between (classical) yoga and buddhism which had been derailed for a couple of centuries, but is now going at full-tilt in the west. In fact, this renewed dialogue may be one of the greatest contributions the west is making to these two yogic cultures!

In the interest of full disclosure, I have a chapter in this anthology, and know several of the other contributors, including Chip Hartranft, Jill Satterfield, Sar This anthology, edited by Michael Stone, is an important contribution to the dialogue between (classical) yoga and buddhism which had been derailed for a couple of centuries, but is now going at full-tilt in the west. In fact, this renewed dialogue may be one of the greatest contributions the west is making to these two yogic cultures!

In the interest of full disclosure, I have a chapter in this anthology, and know several of the other contributors, including Chip Hartranft, Jill Satterfield, Sarah Powers, and Michael Stone. Thankfully, I can with full integrity say that these are among the better contributions, along with excellent essays from Ajahn Amaro, Ari Goldfield and Rose Taylor, and Roshi Pat Enkyo O'Hara.

I am a fan of Daniel Odier's Desire as well as his other work on tantra, so I was fairly disappointed with his short and superficial contribution. Shosan Victoria Austin, a soto zen priest and Iyengar-yoga teacher, offers a highly uneven essay, with too many broad strokes, historical and philosophical errors (regarding both Patanjali and buddhism, and some inconsistency in her use of terms that undermine much of the good material found in her essay.

Sadly, the zen contributors ended up the weakest (outside of Roshi O'Hara) because Eido Shimano Roshi's short piece seems a bit of a throwaway. Christopher Key Chapple's contribution on the brahma-viharas is quite good, but I was disappointed to see him take a more classical yoga approach to them, without at all addressing the buddhist approach, which casts them as 'the immeasurables' by expanding their reach to all beings equally.

Mu Soeng offers a strong essay, with a bit of provocation (that I was glad to see) around the concepts of restraint and renunciation. Finally, I will say that I am happy with my contribution, which, in many ways, condenses my book, Mindfulness Yoga: The Awakened Union of Breath, Body and Mind into roughly 7,000 words!

For further commentary on each of the chapters in this important work, please visit: http://www.mindfulness-yoga.blogspot.... where I have been holding a 'virtual book club' since last September. You'll find my posts in the archives. ...more

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Oct 25, 2010 Unit of Raine rated it it was ok

Eh. I mean, it's interesting to read formal essays on Buddhist and yogic theory, dogma, practice, etc. But I don't think I'm there. I'm not *that* interested in the theory, history, original texts, etc.

And I can't believe that it's a SHOCKING REVALATION that Buddha was a yogi first before reaching enlightenment and founding Buddhism. The two belief structures are so similar: definition of suffering, goals, steps, practices, etc.

On the plus side, between the book and the Kandmpa classes, I now ...more

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Sep 16, 2019 Duncan Reed rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2019, spirituality

Well worth reading, but a bit of a mixed bag. Some of the chapters did not resonate with me at all, but the chapters by Chip Hartranft, Chris Chapple, Jill Satterfield and Ajahn Amaro were worth the price of the book as they were excellent. Some very interesting points of just how close Patanjali's 8 limbs are to the Buddhas 4 Noble Truths and 8 Fold Path. ...more

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Dec 30, 2015 Jayney rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2016, yoga

I have always been curious about the connections between Yoga and Buddhism. Where I am currently living (Chichester, West Sussex) yoga classes are very focused on the body and the most accessible classes are the fashionable hot yoga classes. There's no Ashtanga or Inyengar classes for about 50 miles. (& with the bottle neck road conditions and dire public transport system in the UK that's really far!) As a consequence I have turned to buddhism to deepen my self reflection, meditation and to reci ...more

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Jun 01, 2012 Jayme rated it it was ok

This book is a collection of articles from Buddhist/Yoga Practitioners. I found it hit-and-miss and felt that there was a grating lack of coherence in the book. I skimmed through most of it, enjoyed some chapters (Sarah Powers, in particular, was a highlight) but parts of this book were so very dry and academic that they left no impression.

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