Why We Recommend This Book
I’ve consulted more than 20 books on The Yoga Sutras to create teaching tools and I’ve found this one to be a key resource. The commentary is deep and uniquely clear. It’s not surprising to learn that the author, Reverend Jaganath Carrera, is a direct disciple of Sri Swami Satchidananda and has been teaching the Yoga Sutras for over four decades. – Shelly
Book Quote
If we wish to realize the infinite Self as our True Identity, we need to transcend the limitation that is the ego. The problem is that efforts to transcend the ego often cause it to reassert itself emphatically as the fear that we will cease to exist if we proceed. Surrender to Ishwara is the easiest way to overcome this obstacle because it is not based on having the will power to overcome the threat of annihilation in order to transcend the ego. Instead, the ego becomes absorbed in loving reverence and willingly moves toward union with the beloved Divine.
Why We Recommend This Book
I’m awed by the unique power in this accessible, little book. Alan Finger has done a tremendous service by interpreting the Sutras from a tantric lens. As you might know, the focus of the Sutras (and the Samkya philosophy from which it draws) is discrimination between spirit and substance, while the focus of Tantra is on realizing through experience our connection with the Divine. These philosophies work well together as evidenced by the many people who are adherents of both the Eight Limbs of Yoga and practices such as chakra meditation, for example. However, rarely do we see the underlying philosophies weaved together and presented accessibly. I love this book and I think many others will, too! – Shelly
Book Quote
As yoga practitioners, reading the Sutras through this Tantric lens helps to put us back into an active and direct relationship with the possibility of experiencing samadhi right now, in this lifetime. The real gift of the yogic process is graceful transformation, which is the result of the spiral of understanding ever more deeply who we already are. This Tantric interpretation of yoga’s most revered literary work is humbly offered to all practitioners from every lineage in hopes of broadening access to this precious wisdom.
Why We Recommend This Book
No matter which Yoga Sutra translations you’ve read, you haven’t read one quite as valuable as this one. I feel like I’m safe in making such a sweeping statement because, despite consulting more than 20 translations, this one stands out as having the most accessible — while also comprehensive — insights from traditional commentaries. Another way it stands out is in the amount of context it provides regarding the time The Sutras were written and how the philosophy relates and contrasts to major schools of thought at the time, particularly Samkhya and Buddhist philosophy. This is a wonderful text that you don’t want to miss! – Shelly
Book Quote
The commentator Vacaspati Misra traces the etymology of yoga to one of the meanings of the root yuj, to contemplate, which, he points out, is the correct etymology here. The more established etymology from the perspective of modern historical linguistics is, of course, derived from the same Indo-European root as the English word, “yoke” … While this translation of the term is popularly found (and may be apt in other contexts such as the Gita, IX.34), it is best avoided in the context of the Yoga Sutras, since… the goal of yoga is not to join, but the opposite: to unjoin, that is, to disconnect purusa from prakrti. If the term is to mean “yoke,” it entails yoking the mind on an object of concentration without deviation.
While we have highlighted a few outstanding books, there are many wonderful books and we encourage you to peruse the entire list. Any one of these may be just what you need!
- Adele, Deborah — The Yamas & Niyamas: Exploring Yoga’s Ethical Practice link
- Bachman, Nicolai — The Path of the Yoga Sutras: A Practical Guide to the Core of Yoga link
- Bouanchaud, Bernard — The Essence of Yoga ; Reflections on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali link
- Bryant, Edwin F. — The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali link
- Carrera, Jaganath — Inside the Yoga Sutras by Jaganath Carrera link
- Desikachar, T.K.V. — The Heart of Yoga: Developing a Personal Practice link
- Devi, Nischala Joy — The Secret Power of Yoga: A Woman’s Guide to the Heart and Spirit of the Yoga Sutras link
- Finger, Alan & Wendy Newton — Tantra of the Yoga Sutras: Essential Wisdom for Living with Awareness and Grace link
- Feuerstein, Georg — The Yoga-Sutra of Patañjali: A New Translation and Commentary link
- Iyengar, B.K.S. — Light on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali link
- Lee, Jennie — True Yoga: Practicing With the Yoga Sutras for Happiness & Spiritual Fulfillment link
- Mehrotra, Anand — This is That: Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras Padas 1 and 2 link
- Miller, Barbara Stoler — Yoga: Discipline of Freedom: The Yoga Sutra Attributed to Patanjali link
- Remski, Matthew — Threads of Yoga: a Remix of Patanjali’s Sutras, with Commentary and Reverie link
- Roach, Geshe Michael & Christie McNally — The Essential Yoga Sutra: Ancient Wisdom for Your Yoga link
- Saraswati, Swami Satyananda — Four Chapters on Freedom: Commentary on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali link
- Satchidananda, Sri Swami — The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali link
- Shearer, Alistair — The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali link
- Taimni, I.K. — The Science of Yoga link
- Tigunait, Pandit Rajmani PhD — The Secret of the Yoga Sutra: Samadhi Pada link
- Villoldo, Alberto — Yoga, Power & Spirit: Patanjali the Shaman link
- Bonnici, Peter (Yoga International) — Sanskrit: Insights into the Bhagavad Gita link
- Cope, Stephen — The Great Work of Your Life: A Guide for the Journey to Your True Calling link
- Dass, Ram — Paths to God: Living the Bhagavad Gita link
- Desai, Mahadev — The Bhagavad Gita According to Gandhi link
- Dubrovsky, Anna (Yoga International) — Bhagavad Gita: Star of Film and Stage link
- Easwaran, Eknath — The Bhagavad Gita link
- Eliade, Mircea — Yoga: Immortality and Freedom link
- Fowler, Jeaneane D. — The Bhagavad Gita: A Text and Commentary for Students link
- Freeman, Richard & Mary Taylor — When Love Comes to Light: Bringing Wisdom from the Bhagavad Gita into Modern life link
- Feuerstein, Georg — The Bhagavad-Gita: A New Translation link
- Feuerstein, Georg — The Yoga Tradition: Its History, Literature, Philosophy and Practice link
- Fowler, Jeaneane D. — The Bhagavad Gita: A Text and Commentary for Students link
- Gandhi, Mohandas K. — The Bhagavad Gita According to Gandhi link
- Hawley, Jack — The Bhagavad Gita: A Walkthrough for Westerners link
- Lal, P. — The Bhagavad Gita link
- Miller, Barbara Stoler — The Bhagavad-Gita : Krishna’s Counsel in Time of War link
- Miller, Barbara Stoler (Yoga International) — Why Did Thoreau Take the Bhagavad Gita to Walden Pond? link
- Mitchell, Stephen — Bhagavad Gita: A New Translation link
- Prabhupada, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami — Bhagavad-Gita As It Is link
- Rama, Swami — Perennial Psychology of the Bhagavad-Gita link
- Rutt, Rev. Stephanie — An Ordinary Life Transformed link
- Satchidananda, Sri Swami — The Living Gita: The Complete Bhagavad Gita – A Commentary for Modern Readers link
- Schweig, Graham M. — Bhagavad Gita: The Beloved Lord’s Secret Love Song link
- Sivananda, Swami — The Bhagavad Gita link
- Sovik, Rolf (Yoga International) — Teachings and Mythology of the Bhagavad Gita Part I (7 minute video) link
- Sovik, Rolf (Yoga International) — Teachings and Mythology of the Bhagavad Gita Part 2 (6 minute video) link
- Yogananda, Paramahansa — God Talks with Arjuna: The Bhagavad Gitalink
- Zaehner, Robert Charles — The Bhagavad-Gita link
- Connolly, Peter — A Student’s Guide to the History and Philosophy of Yoga link
- Eliade, Mircea — Yoga: Immortality and Freedom link
- Feuerstein, Georg PhD — The Yoga Tradition: Its History, Literature, Philosophy and Practice link
- Feuerstein, Georg PhD & Jeanine Miller — The Essence of Yoga: Essays on the Development of Yogic Philosophy from the Vedas to Modern Times link
- Sarbacker, Stuart Ray— Tracing the Path of Yoga link
- Simpson, Daniel — The Truth of Yoga link (book review here)
- Singleton, Mark — Yoga Body: The Origins of Modern Posture Practice link (book review here)
- ingleton, Mark & Jean Byrne — Yoga in the Modern World: Contemporary Perspectives link
- Syman, Stefanie — The Story of Yoga in America: The Subtle Body link
- Ashley-Farrand, Thomas — Shakti Mantras: Tapping into the Great Goddess Energy Within link
- Clark, Bernie — From the Gita to the Grail: Exploring Yoga Stories & Western Myth link
- Dharma, Krishna — Beauty, Power and Grace: The Book of Hindu Goddesses link
- Kaivalya, Alanna & Van der Kooij, Arjuna — Myths of the Asanas: The Ancient Origins of Yoga link
- Kempton, Sally — Awakening Shakti: The Transformative Power of the Goddesses of Yoga link
- Lalitananda, Swami — The Inner Life of Asanas: The Best of Hidden Language Hatha Yoga from Ascent Magazine link
- Newell Zo — Downward Dogs and Warriors: Wisdom Tales for Modern Yogis link
- Patel, Sanjay — The Little Book of Hindu Deities: From the Goddess of Wealth to the Sacred Cow link
- Radha, Swami Sivananda — Hatha Yoga: The Hidden Language, Symbols, Secrets & Metaphors link
- Roach, Geshe Michael and McNally, Christie — How Yoga Works link
- Anantananda, Swami — What’s on My Mind?: Becoming Inspired with New Perception link
- Bell, Charlotte — Mindful Yoga, Mindful Life: A Guide for Everyday Practice link
- Butera, Robert PhD — The Pure Heart of Yoga: Ten Essential Steps for Personal Transformation link
- Chidvilasananda, Gurumayi — The Yoga of Discipline link
- Chopra, Deepak & David Simon — The Seven Spiritual Laws of Yoga: A Practical Guide to Healing Body, Mind, and Spirit link
- Cope, Stephen — Yoga and the Quest for the True Self link
- Farhi, Donna — Bringing Yoga to Life: The Everyday Practice of Enlightened Living link
- Farhi, Donna — Yoga Mind, Body & Spirit: A Return to Wholeness link
- Feuerstein, Georg PhD — The Path of Yoga: An Essential Guide to Its Principles and Practices link
- Feuerstein, Georg PhD — The Psychology of Yoga: Integrating Eastern and Western Approaches for Understanding the Mind link
- Feuerstein, Georg PhD — Tantra: Path of Ecstasy link
- Frawley, Dr. David — Tantric Yoga and the Wisdom Goddesses (Spiritual Secrets of Ayurveda) link
- Freeman, Richard — The Mirror of Yoga: Awakening the Intelligence of Body and Mind link
- Gates, Rolf & Kenison, Katrina — Meditations from the Mat: Daily Reflections on the Path of Yoga link
- Isherwood, Christoper & Swami Prabhavananda — How to Know God: The Yoga Aphorisms of Patanjali link
- Iyengar, B.K.S. — Light on Life: The Yoga Journey to Wholeness, Inner Peace, and Ultimate Freedom link
- Iyengar, Prashant — Chittavijnana of Yogasanas
- Lasater, Judith — Living Your Yoga: Finding the Spiritual in Everyday Life link
- Mane, Sarah — Conscious Confidence: Use the Wisdom of Sanskrit to Find Clarity and Success link
- Mohan, A.G. — Yoga Yajnavalkya link
- Osho — Yoga: The Science of the Soul link
- Palkhivala, Aadil — Fire of Love for Students of Life for Teachers of Yoga link
- Stone, Michael — The Inner Tradition of Yoga: A Guide to Yoga Philosophy for the Contemporary Practitioner link
- Vivekananda,Swami / DeLuca, Dave — Pathways to Joy: The Master Vivekananda on the Four Yoga Paths to God link
- Whitwell, Mark — Yoga of Heart: The Healing Power of Intimate Connection link
Our goal in providing book lists with quick links is to make it easy for you to get a sense for the variety of possible resources and to access them easily.
We receive no compensation of any sort for any recommendations or mentions. We are simply offering information as we feel called to do so.
Most of our book links use Amazon Associates, which pays a tiny commission on purchases made through those links (80 cents on a $20 book, for example). On average, we receive less than $15 per month from Amazon.
