BUDDHIST YOGA

Thomas Cleary, trans., Buddhist Yoga: A Comprehensive Course (Boston & London: Shambhala, 1995) ("The word yoga has many meanings, including the ideas of union, method, effort, and meditation. The elaborate physical exercise routines of Hindu Yoga are familiar to Westerners, but the subtle metaphysical and refined methods of spiritual development characteristic of Buddhist Yoga are not well known." "This volume presents a translation of the Sandhinirmochana-sutra, 'Scripture Unlocking the Mysteries,' a complete classical sourcebook of Buddhist Yoga. This is one of the main texts of that stream of Buddhist tradition known as Vijnanavada, 'The Doctrine of Consciousness,' or Yogachara,' The Practice of Yoga.'" "This sutra, or scripture, provides a remarkably detailed course in the philosophical and pragmatic basis of Buddhist Yoga. This is a text that is meant to be read and reread many times as essential preparation by those who are thinking of undertaking meditation exercises of any sort. This procedure was the classical way, and many of the shortcomings and aberrations of modern Western meditation cults can be traced to abandonment of this tradition." Id. at vii.).