Massive detailed  verse by verse comparison between yoga and the New Testament
582531
I had seen this book before so knew what it was before the purchase.  Written by a God-Realized yogi,  and you can't find a more authentic author than that.  However, unless this is a subject of considerable interest to the reader, it could be tedious.  Can also be used as an encyclopedia to look up just particular  NT verses of isolated interest.
4081231
Doesn't have the sanskrit parts like most Bhagavad Gita versions do, but it makes the read go fast and straight to the dialogues. It's a wonderful introduction to hindu texts and I highly recommend to those new to yoga.
1522081
I first read Bivin's and Blizzard's book just over 10 years ago. I know this for a fact, because I found a card in my copy of the book from a course I had taken in March 1999. What rekindled my interest in the book was an email exchange I had recently with someone who met Dr. Blizzard 30 years ago or more. The mention of Dr. Blizzard's name stirred my vague memories of his book (I remembered I thought it was good but couldn't recall the exact content) and I realized that it was time to read it again. I'm glad I did. In the past 10 years, I've been progressing with my studies and my spiritual growth, and I am now able to see this text in a more "mature" light. Reading the book again made me realize that this text has something to say both to the mature Messianic believer and to someone just starting down this path.

The book's subtitle "New Insights from a Hebraic Perspective" certainly reveals the core intent of Bivin and Blizzard in writing this book. The "difficult words of Jesus" are only difficult if taken out of their 1st Century Hebrew language (and thought) context. As I'm sure most people reading this article know, the Gospels and Epistles were originally written in Koine Greek, or the "common man's" form of the Greek language used during the day of the Apostles. These works written in Koine Greek would reach the largest audience in the then-civilized world. However, it wasn't necessarily the ideal language for expressing the thoughts, ideas, and observations of the writers of the Synoptic Gospels, who were all Jewish and all native Hebrew speakers.

Yes, all of the Synoptic Gospels were very likely dictated to native Greek speaking scribes, but the Jewish Israeli people dictating (or perhaps writing the originals in Hebrew and having them then translated into Greek) were using words, syntax, and idiom that were completely 1st Century Hebrew. That is the point of the authors of this book. The message they deliver is that, when we read our English Bibles, we are reading text that was translated from 1st Century Koine Greek into 21st Century English, as if the Gospel writers were native 1st Century Greek speakers. Without taking into account that the Gospels are (in essence) translated from Hebrew to Greek and then from Greek into English (or sometimes from Hebrew to Greek to Latin to English), we are going to misunderstand what the Gospel writers are trying to communicate and worse, what Jesus (Yeshua) was/is trying to communicate. This isn't a casual point for believers who hinge their understanding of their faith on their understanding of their Messiah and Savior.

[...]
1308680
D.A. Carson and Douglas Moo join together to write this introductory text to the New Testament. The authors take a book-by-book approach to breaking down the New Testament. Each chapter is a stand-alone study of a book or books of the Bible.

Every chapter examines a particular book based on content, author, audience, date written, reason for the book, adoption into canon, recent studies, contribution and more. The authors make an in-depth examination of each book. They investigate and analyze each letter methodically. Carson and Moo do a balanced job and include the major dissenting opinions and the views of detractors.

While the bulk of the book is theological in nature it includes scrutiny from historical, sociological, linguistic, and anthropological perspectives. The authors are brilliant at contextualizing the writers, recipients and settings for the original letters. There is a detailed picture painted explaining why each letter was written.

Carson and Moo address historical and modern controversies within each letter. Liberal, conservative and outlandish viewpoints are represented. The authors critique the major positions and offer solid scrutiny to benefit the reader.

This book is written at an academic level, but it is certainly practical for casual readers. The high level analysis within this book lends itself nicely to both individual reading and group studies. The novice theologian and the scholar will find this as beneficial read. Without a doubt, this is a superb introductory overview of the books of the New Testament.
3923331
If you are a Buddhist who does not really enjoy reading sutras, please do not stop reading them but put this Shurangama Sutra on your list. This important text is complex, but inspiring and might differ from what you have read so far. This very copy (ISBN 0-88139-940-X) contains the complete text of the Shurangama Sutra. For a detailed interlinear commentary, see Shurangama Sutra volumes 1 through 8 (whole set: ISBN 0-88139-949-3). These English volumes were translated from Chinese into English over a period of several years by the monks and nuns of the Buddhist Text Translation Society ([...]).
See also my favorite translation by Charles Luk:<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/The-Surangama-Sutra-Leng-Yen-Ching-Chinese-Rendering-by-Master-Paramiti-of-Central-North-India-at-Chih-Chih-Monastery-Canton-China-Ad-705/dp/8121510023/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">The Surangama Sutra (Leng Yen Ching: Chinese Rendering by Master Paramiti of Central North India at Chih Chih Monastery, Canton, China, Ad 705</a>.

PS In 2009 the BTS published a new translation<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/The-Surangama-Sutra-A-New-Translation-with-Excerpts-from-the-Commentary-by-the-Venerable-Master-Hsuan-Hua/dp/0881399620/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">The Surangama Sutra - A New Translation with Excerpts from the Commentary by the Venerable Master Hsuan Hua</a>&nbsp;with excerpts from the commentary by the Ven. Master Hsan Hua.
2811555
As always, Yogananda makes the spiritual metaphors in scripture easier to understand. It is not as difficult to read (so far) as The Second Coming of Christ, but I'm only through the first couple of chapters. I highly recommend all of his works!
1111992
This is the second set of these NT recordings that I have purchased. The first, for myself, is a wonderful way to learn the Scriptures. I listen to the CD's while I'm traveling in my car. I use them to help with classes. I took a class on the Book of Acts. The recording for this book made it come alive. The voices are professional, with appropriate sound effects and dramatization. The Book of Acts came alive! I am starting a class on Revelation, and have already listened to the recording for that book. It is very well done! I highly recommend these recordings for anyone who wants to learn more of Scripture.
17660
This book is a classic yoga manual. If you are very serious about yoga this is a must for your bookshelf. There is a long introduction that goes into great detail about the philosophy and goals of yoga. Yoga is much more than just asana practice, and if you are unfamiliar with this concept this part should help you to understand it.

Each pose has the real (Sanskrit) name, a photo or group of photos, and a detailed description of step by step how to properly practice the pose. The only thing is that the photos are small, and a little bit grainy (you can tell that they were taken a log time ago). But they are enough to see the correct form. Iyengar is a true yoga master. I have also enjoyed his book "Light on Life." The book also includes instructions for pranayama.

The poses go in order from beginner to advanced, and the advanced ones seem VERY advanced. At the end are recommendations for asana practices, and asanas for specific medical conditions.
3603378
For many who practice yoga the go-to book on this subject is Patanjalis Yoga Surtra. Compiled about 2600 years ago, and encapsulated in 196 short verses, it is the first written record of yoga and meditative ideas, which up until then, had been known and handed down orally by Hindus for centuries.

And like any sacred text written for people of its time, some of what was commonly known back then may not be so easily translated into todays terminology, especially in terms understood by the Western mind.

What is great about what Neil has done with his version of this popular ancient text is translate it in simple English words that are as close to Patanjalis Sanskrit words as possible, without any secondary interpretation or drift from their original meaning. Plus, he has added illustrations that highlight each verses main point. A must read! Highly recommended for those wanting to understand the core of yoga and meditation- as it was originally intended.
3365727
Editor Hal Taussig is a founding member of the Jesus Seminar who currently teaches at Union Theological Seminary and the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College.
In 2012 Taussig convened a council of scholars for the purpose of reconsidering which books belonged in the New Testament.
 The end result is a book that integrates ten new texts into the traditional New Testament. These ten are not a collection of a single early Jesus movement, but important texts from a number of movements.
 The Prayer of Thanksgiving is an introduction to A New New Testament (hereafter ANNT).
 The Gospel of Thomas is included with the Gospel of Matthew, the Gospel of Mark, and the Gospel of Luke and The Acts of the Apostles in a section of texts which feature the teachings of Jesus.
 The Gospel of John is found in the midst of a third section called "Gospels, Poems, and Songs Between Heaven and Earth." Also in this section are four of the ten added texts: The First Book of the Odes of Solomon, The Thunder: Perfect Mind, the Gospel of Mary, and the Gospel of Truth.
 The fourth section of ANNT is the writings of Paul (the seven traditional texts) to which is added an introductory text, the Prayer of the Apostle Paul.
 Next comes "Literature in the Tradition of Paul." The Second Book of the Odes of Solomon and the Acts of Paul and Thecla have been added to this section.
 "Diverse Letters" is the sixth section of ANNT. This section includes the Letter to the Hebrews and the letters of Peter, James, and Jude. The Third Book of the Odes of Solomon and the Letter of Peter to Philip have been added.
 The last section, "Literature in the Tradition of John," concludes ANNT. The three letters of John and the Revelation to John are grouped together with the Fourth Book of the Odes of Solomon and the Secret Revelation of John.
 According to the blurb on the back cover, it is hoped that by reading these ten new texts alongside the traditional ones that the "exciting possibility" of better under-standing both the old and new may occur.
 In my case, I first read all ten of the new texts years ago so there is little new in the idea of comparing canonical to non canonical texts. One might even like to try a different line of tack than used by Taussig and try Documents for the Study of the Gospels by Cartlidge and Dungan, a favorite book of mine.
 I have also had the chance to help work on The New Testament: a New Translation and Redaction by Dr Norman Beck. While Beck includes just the canonical texts, he arranges them from earliest written to latest written.
 So Taussig's book is just of mild interest to me because there is not much that is new about it.
1903762
I was first introduced to this book through workshops with the author in yoga studios, in which he explained how yoga was more than postures and breathing techniques, and introduced us to the true meanings of the word, emphasizing the meaning of yoga in times of personal crisis. Beautifully written, this books takes the reader by the hand through the various paths of yoga explained in the ancient Vedic text, the Bhagavad-gita. It does so almost taking the shape of a novel, explaining the author's own journey of understanding of these paths. Unlike other books of this genre, the author takes pains to properly reference his assertions and he also makes it clear from the beginning that his interpretation of the Vedic texts is not fruit of his own speculation or some academic course. Rather, what I personally find more compelling about this work, as it is the case of Haas' previous work, The Book of Dharma, is that he makes it clear from the beginning that he is relating the teachings of the Bhagavad-gita just as his enlightened master taught them to him while he lived in India. This gives us a unique and authentic view of the Bhagavad-gita as interpreted in the bhakti-yoga tradition. The Gita thus becomes a living text of contemporary relevance, and its intricate Sanskrit aphorisms are unfolded and explained in a manner that is accessible to a larger audience.
3040805
This is a terrific book in that it is very succinct and subtle at the same time.  What I mean by pre work is yoga and awareness as well as many other more entry level books were required for me.  I read this some time ago as well as the lotus sutra from sidhartha Gautama after hearing they were the ultimate teachings. Only to soon realize I may as well be reading German because the terms didn't mean anything to me.  The Indian language and culture was difficult to understand and the spiritual terms need a degree of study as well.  It's not that its hard it just takes continued effort and a strong desire to understand.  Anyway, after a few years and much sadhanna this book is very profound for my progress.  Thank you and well wishes.
3609367
There is a lot to like about this new translation of the Bhagavad Gita.  As a reader with not a bit of Sanskrit I can't really judge the quality of the translation.  But it is apparent that Feuerstein is emphasizing verbal accuracy.  And I find that any translation with a parallel original text acts as a spur to pick up at least a few elements of the original.

In comparing this translation with those I already owned, of Edwin Arnold and Barbara Stoler Miller, I can appreciate the value of these different approaches.  Arnold is quite consciously poetic and "Oriental."  Miller displays a freer, more contemporary American style.  In, for example, omitting almost all of the epithets for Krishna and Arjuna, Miller makes the text run swifter and smoother, but loses much of the richness (the same thing happens with translations of Homer).

With substantial introductory material, and frequent footnoting, this is a version that encourages close and careful reading.  Though a Westerner, Feuerstein appears to rely as much on Indian as Western scholarship.  And though he does have a particular approach as an exponent of Yoga,  I don't perceive that this edition is excessively "sectarian."
1016352
New Testament Greek dictionaries come in two very different flavors. On the one hand, there are the huge, multi-volume theological dictionaries, generally translated from German, the language of the very largest community of New Testament scholars. On the other, there is the thin, almost pocket-sized dictionary of only those Greek words which appeared in the New Testament, with only the scantest lexicological information. I have used two of these. First, the lovely leather-bound dictionary by Barclay M. Newman, Jr. and published by the United Bible Societies. The second, slightly larger volume published by the Cambridge University Press, is prepared by Warren C. Trenchard.
Both books are dedicated exclusively to Greek to English, giving all Greek words in the original Greek script we encountered when we studied college math. As someone with aging eyes, I can say that both are easy to read without extra magnification. If I were to give the edge to either, I suspect the slimmer Newman dictionary may be infinitesimally clearer.
Both books have virtually identical coverage of words, with Trenchard having more words on a page and fewer pages, while Newman's pages are thinner, with a correspondingly higher risk of skipping over or tearing pages. The lexical information provided on all words is very similar; however Trenchard gives better information on the parts of speech and tenses of verb forms.
Neither book offers any assistance with Greek grammar. I am quite surprised also that neither book even has a copy of the Greek alphabet in the book. Both books also offer occasional references to passages in the NT to help understand a word's context, but this is only with about 20% of the words in Newman and about 35% of the words in Trenchard.
The one great difference between the two dictionaries lies in Trenchard's providing a count of the number of times each word appears in the NT. This is a small but valuable asset, as when I tried to find a word in one of the mammoth theological dictionaries, and discovered that it occurs but twice in the NT, giving me some reassurance that in the greater scheme of things, this word is relatively unimportant. So, if I were going on a trip, I would pack the attractive and thin Newman, but use the more informative Trenchard for day to day work.
3414293
I would definitely  recommend  this to any serious student of Yoga or Hinduism. It is very much like the Rule of St. Benedict. A guide to monastic living yet easily applicable to one's life. This is a heavy and dense read, Swami Chinmayananda  was a man of great intelligenc and this commentary proves it. Adi Shankaracharya was a genius, and highly prolific. This will help you round off the edges to your life.
2721970
Anatomy and Asana is quite an accomplishment.  I took a university course on yoga, and recommended that this text be added to the required reading.  Any serious student of yoga, and all instructors, should have this book as a resource.  The information is clearly and concisely presented, with illustrations and brief meditative quotes throughout.  I agree with the reader below that it complements Coulter's much larger book "The Anatomy of Hatha Yoga" well, and would add, that if you found his text daunting, start here.  What makes "Anatomy and Asana" more accessible is that it was created to accompany a live workshop, and has more of a "workbook/presentation" feel.  That said, it's amazing how much information is on these pages.  You will refer to this yoga resource for years to come.
2588910
If you're looking for a book on yoga that will plant you firmly at the feet of a guru and introduce you to all the Hindu theosophical accretions that have built up around the asanas over the last two or three millennia, start with Iyengar's _Light on Yoga_. This book isn't it.

But if you're interested in yoga as a form of physical exercise that will help you to inhabit your body (and this planet) comfortably and perhaps occasionally even with a modicum of grace, and you want a no-nonsense book that will show you how to do it without requiring you to do obeisance to a guru full of Profound Insights, look no further. This book _is_ it.

The latter paragraph describes me. In traditional Hindu terms, I'm most definitely a jnana kind of guy (and a pretty iconoclastic one at that). Intellectually, Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan's _An Idealist View of Life_ comes close to capturing my philosophical outlook (which in my case owes as much to Royce and Bradley as to Shankara). I can muster up some reverence when it's absolutely necessary, but in general I'm about as inclined toward bhakti as your cat.

And I certainly don't have much patience for the sort of stuff Frank Zappa memorably described as "Cosmik Debris"; the little reverence I _do_ have, I reserve exclusively for the Absolute, not for His/Her/Its self-appointed earthly representatives.

Nevertheless, for the reasons to which I briefly alluded above, I've been practicing yoga, at least on and off, for something over twenty years. And I like this book.

Now, I'm not knocking gurus; if you want one, go get one. (Just please, for your own sake, check them out carefully and stick to the real ones, like Sri Ramana Maharshi. And Iyengar's books are very good if you want that sort of thing.) I'm just saying that if you're like me, this is the yoga book you want. It sets out the asanas in anatomical detail, with photos of not only the right way but also several common _wrong_ ways of doing them. The descriptions are very good and very clear. And if you don't think you can do the "hard" ones right away, don't worry; simpler variants are included.

This is not, in short, a yoga book that will make you feel like a spiritual quitter or a fraud or something if you're just doing it for exercise. You can do as much or as little as you want, and this book will be right there to help you. (There's helpful information on diet and such too, but here again, you can take the parts you can use and leave the rest.)

Andre van Lysebeth wasn't looking for devoted chelas when he wrote this helpful guide. It was first published in the 1970s and it's stood the test of the intervening decades. I'm delighted to find that it's back in print so that I can get a replacement copy.