Every yogi has their favorite scripture, texts, and manuals. From the Yoga Sūtras to the Bhagavad Gītā and more, there is no lack of information out there for the modern yogi to discover.
The one book all yogis agree upon as fundamental to the practice, no matter the path – is the Yoga Sūtras of Patanjali. Bryant’s version is the one I have used the most. It is thorough and detailed as well as easy to use. I highly recommend picking up a copy. This academic piece is an introduction to meditation and a MANUAL for practice. Not to be confused with scripture, manuals are great – especially for the beginning practitioner, but let’s not stop there…
The Bhagavad Gītā (a different kind of text) is considered SCRIPTURE. Its long story details the “human catastrophe” (as I like to put it) with the narrative taking readers through ethical confrontations and moral conundrums to a place of personal reflection. The Mahabarata, from which the Gītā is taken, is the larger story around the heart of the Gītā ‘s teachings – and is also considered scripture. Although the Gītā has always been one of my personal favorites, not everyone enjoys this bloody and descript tale – so prepare yourself!
While the Sūtra is a manual, the Gītā is considered scripture. What’s the difference between a manual and a scripture? Manuals and scripture can sometimes be hard to distinguish between. Although most scripture comes in the form of verse and poem, manuals such as the Yoga Sūtras can be written in this style as well. Whereas a manual describes the HOW, a scripture reveals the WHY. Both are important in navigating our spiritual experience and so BOTH are recommended for the devoted yogi.
Manuals and other yogic texts do not teach the spiritual/religious components and are therefore not sufficient as a sole means of self-study among practitioners. Yoga always includes reverence for the divine. And so, scripture in one form or another is usually introduced. One thing is clear about scripture – it ALWAYS expresses the basic TRUTHS held by ALL religions ON EARTH:
- peace/non-violence
- all of humanity is united
- morals
- compassion
- spiritual knowledge is within humanity’s reach
- I AM as the name for GOD
- God resides within us
- God is always light
- God is omnipresent
- God is One
So here’s the game!! Good luck!!
Try to guess which of the following is a MANUAL, SCRIPTURE, or some other form of yogic TEXT:
- Bhagavad Gita
- Yoga Sutras
- Hatha Yoga Pradipika
- Sadhana Guidelines
- Kama Sutra
- Light on Yoga
- Dhammadpada
- Guru Granth Sahib