Edwin Bryant - Isvara in the Yoga Sutras and Bhagavad Gita
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- čas přidán 4. 07. 2023
- Taken from a Zoom workshop Edwin Bryant discusses Isvara in the Yoga Sutra and Bhagavad Gita
Edwin Bryant received his Ph.D in Indic languages and Cultures from Columbia University, where his thesis culminated in his first book: The Quest for the Origins of Vedic Culture (Oxford University Press, 2001). He taught Hinduism at Harvard University for three years, and is presently the professor of Hinduism at Rutgers University where he teaches courses on Hindu philosophy and religion. He has published eight books, and authored a number of articles on the earliest origins of the Vedic culture, yoga philosophy, and the Krishna tradition. These include a Penguin World Classics translation of the story of Krishna’s incarnation, from its traditional source the Śrīmad Bhāgavata Purāṇa.
As a personal practitioner of bhakti yoga for over 45 years, a number of them spent in India studying with traditional teachers, where he returns yearly, Edwin strives to combine academic scholarship and rigor with appreciation towards traditional knowledge systems. His teaching method is to allow the ancient texts to speak in their own voice and through their own terms and categories. In addition to his academic course load, Edwin currently teaches weekend workshops on the Yoga Sūtras, Bhagavad Gītā, and Hindu Philosophy at yoga studios and teacher training courses throughout the country.
Edwin’s translation of and commentary on the Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2009) is specifically dedicated to contributing to the growing body of literature on yoga by providing insights from the major pre-modern commentaries on the text with a view to grounding the teachings in their traditional context. Edwin’s most recent published work is a sequel to this by the same publisher entitled Bhakti Yoga: Tales and Teachings from the Bhāgavata Purāṇa (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2017). This work, too, seeks to ground the practices of bhakti in the traditional Krishna-centered framework of the Vrindavan devotional traditions.
Edwin is presently working on a translation of the Bhagavad Gītā with a commentary based on the insights of the principle traditional commentators (viz, in the same vein as theYoga Sūtras commentary). The Gītā‘s teachings in many ways serve as a link between those of theYoga Sūtras and those of the Bhāgavata Purāṇa in the Bhakti Yoga volume, and upon completion will conclude Edwin’s vision of a Trilogy of Yoga texts offered to scholars, students, practitioners, and the intellectually curious.
He is also co-authoring a book entitled ‘In Defense of a God with Form,’ and working with his sister on translating his Penguin translation of the 10th book of the Bhāgavata Purāṇa into Italian (their mother language).
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I have been listening to this lecture while working from home this morning. It had been suggested by CZcams yesterday, I had saved it in a Watch Later playlist which is over 2,000 videos long. This morning, I couldn't decide what to watch, so I hit "shuffle" on the playlist and this video was automatically chosen, and I started doing boring work at the computer while listening. Before reaching the halfway point, there have been several junctures where I started spontaneously weeping with great catharsis, and I am not exactly sure why. I had never heard Prof Edwin Bryant before (though now I recall that I own his Patanjali commentary on Kindle, I wasn't aware of that when watching the video). While the Bhagavad Gita, Yoga Sutras, and most recently Isvara Gita are spiritual texts I have found most helpful throughout 43 years of incarnation, and the fact that I have been going through a period of sustained stress and anxiety, I am not exactly sure I why I keep spontaneously weeping while watching this video. The feeling inside when it happens is that of relief, and deep, non-specific love. I suspect it may be related to the conviction with which Edwin explains these concepts, that it validates my own beliefs and hope, or maybe it is some form of energy coming through from the depth of his practice, but I also note it is when the word "Isvara" is spoken. I wanted to drop a comment of gratitude, and also hope Prof Edwin Bryant sees it someday. Thank you.
thanks for your comment. I understand where you are coming from. I have had similar feelings when listening to Edwin talk on spiritual matters. It brings a kind of hope and, albeit temporarily, peace. I’m really pleased you got to listen. We have more with Edwin on youtube also so check out those too. Thanks for getting in touch with a most touching comment. I will surely relay it back to Edwin. 🙏
this man is brilliant... I can't get enough of his talks...
Yes, I agree! He really can keep an audience for hours..
I had never heard the term Isvara or read the Bhagavad Gita, let along Patangali. Yet, at the age of 16, following around 3 years of daily meditation (circa late 60's, early 70's) using a mantra to still the mind, repeating a phrase I learned from Alan Watts (I am that), and doing what I now know to be "inquiry" and some earnest "Bhakti", in the course of a massive kundalini awakening, I met a being of blazing white light who answered when I asked his (yes, his) name, 'Ishwar'. He seemed overjoyed to meet me and in turn, I was overwhelmed by his loving presence and entirely bright white appearance. Incredibly bright, sparkling white light streaming from up and back from his head gave the appearance of massive, elongated headpiece streaming into sparks of what I perceived as 'intelligence'. He was dressed much like a Sufi dancer and wore sandals. With my Christian upbringing, I looked for scars on his hands and feet but saw none. Friendly as he was, I asked "What's running the show?" meaning this world of appearance, to which he replied, "The three gunas and the 5 elements" and promptly revealed the gunas (another term I had never read before) as three conjoined rectangles of energy, one in a numbing pitch black, another in a bright, electrifying red, and one in a bright white, like light. While there was much more to the awakening, it was an experience I had to keep to myself lest I be committed to an asylum. Only in my 60s did I venture into the subject of meditation again and on CZcams stumbled upon Vedanta and the term Ishwara. I was blown away to learn that he was what Christians refer to as God, although seems open to interpretation. And yes, I realized my eternal nature beyond thought and that all is a manifestation of what we call Brahman, Purusha, or whatever you like, but NOT separately from an energy, or what might be called shakti. The two, if you will, are one.
The beauty of swādhyāya🙏🏻 The sweetness of Satsang🙏🏻 The power of Sangha🙏🏻
Gosh it's good to laugh and to applaud the Brilliance of Edwin Bryant .!🤗 Thank you Adam 😍
This is an epic talk, such a rich treasure of gyan(knowledge) by the brilliant guru Prof Edwin Bryant, thank you.
Glad you enjoyed it too, Edwin is a gem.
Professor Bryant has amazing knowledge of both Eastern and Western philosophy-theology.
Yes, I’ve been very privileged to have these discussions with him!
Thanks Adam, for inviting him back again.
I’ve sussed out why I can’t stop listening to him. He continuously questions his own thoughts, and that wakes up my lazy mind, which is far too keen to stop it’s fluctuations in the belief that it’s getting somewhere.😵💫
I am indian who loves krishna and also krishna said in bhagwad geeta one should make his own path according to his ability and quality for their own life or spiritual life. that is why hinduism have so many philosophy and we should extract things from Philosophies which suits us and make our spiritual life easier. People are trying to copy their guru or someone to know the truth but its not real way of doing everyone should use gurus teachings as guide because he is guiding not teaching. hinduism, bhuddhism, jainism, sikkhism philosophy is different in living aspect but basic structure is same like dharma, karma, meditation, mokhsha etc. Sanatan dhrma is like a Constitution where you cant amend basic structure. 🙏
Radhe Radhe🙏🏼
What a gem❤than so much for this sharing. Its in perfect timing for my studies on the Vita and the Sutras. My deepest gratitude to you both🌞
I've reached a stage in my spiritual journey where I no longer approach shastras with a sense of sacred awe. I've been connected to Gaudiya Vaishnavism since 2013.
I've evolved beyond all types of sampradayic Hinduism and now view things only through an academic lens. However, I do realize it's very important for your spiritual journey (or you'll be stuck forever).
I must admit that Edwin Bryant has an academic mind and a heart of a sampradayic teacher.
His lectures still make a hell of a lot of sense to me, even in the absence of the sacred awe I used to feel.
I think that the path demands a faith that we usually develop in the early stages - before we find a more practical approach of our own qualified by direct experience, by, as you say, a sacred awe. But, at the end of the day, all paths are leading back to the Self which is our very own nature. I think Edwin toss the line nicely - being an academic as well as a dedicated vajshnite Bhaktin. Thank you for listening and taking time to comment.
@@keenonyogawho founded yoga, was it Patanjali?
Thank u so much adam for the upload , namaste for all this light edwin❤
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for listening and will pass on your thanks to Edwin.
Love your humor!! It keeps it real❤
thanks! not everyone sees it that way! 😂
holy 3hrs!! blessed!!
Putting all processing power on mantra it's quite hard the mind will act like a crazy horse long time.
Jai Sri Krishna 🙏🏼
Thank you so much for this! Hare Krishna!!
It's my pleasure. 🙏
lit comes from the root ‘Is’ to hold or have power … 🙏🙏
Thank you for uploading this. Thanks a lot
you’re welcome! thanks for listening and i’m glad you liked it! 🙏
Finding you and your lectures is BIG score! Where on east coast? Great work! Thanks,
🙏🏼
Somewhere in update NY I believe..
stoping grounds of my yoot. ❤
shows on wiki he is or was at Rutgers which is JerZ, which is hOMe!
love that this dudes teaching jerZ folks about yoga ❤
even cooler, just learned from my teacher, Sarahjoy, that Edwin's TA from years ago also studied with SJ. small world. Bryant is a SOURCE!
Brilliant
❤
where can the texts for the lecture be found?
If you check out Edwin’s website he has a lot of resources there. Otherwise, perhaps read his book on the Yoga Sutras or his more recent one on Bhakti Yoga in the Puranas.
At last.
Isvara to the Saiva Hindu Guru was if course Siva. Non Hindus love to distort and pilfer from the Hindu/Yoga Dharma.
What about the deep wisdom of Islam like when the Prophet tells us we can clean ourselves with 3 black stones after going to the bathroom if water is not available?
2:00:42, I think you want to refer to Panthiests. God of Spinoza..
I shan't play this further. I think he's a reall;y good man, knows "my" approach but does not "known" Bhagawan Soaham, but defends Anne Brewster position and she was slight;y insane, and had done it before. She is now a fellow academic associate professor. Everything she did in terms of property involved organised crime. This professor defends her though and so he must. My thought was she was :infantile" a black magician doing a black mass, had no manners or knew how to be human to human. Loved herself as if she was God or Jesus and he followers, movie called True Grit, anne brewster/rooster, would literally kill anyone to ensure her success, as what? a promiscuous academic with no love in her mind or brain. Just a curious girl who needed to know why and who had tgargetted her. state police would kill for her as they did. females who think they are Jesus, blood of Christ etc. Gun running heroin dealers mate. Jay Jagat Jay Soaham.
Only male brahmanas had access to Sanskrit - provide evidence.
Was Krishna a brahman?
And he's "Mostly" right.
First, i think he meant Brahmins Not Brahman/God.
And second he is using " Brahmin " as in those who studied vedas and orally transfered it. Anyone who did that was initially known as Brahmin/rishi/muni/sant/mahakavi/vyas etc. It was mostly male..we do get some example of females eg gargi rishi.
This Later became a caste. As in son of a brahmin becomes a brahmin.
Jati and varn became synonyms.
Lord Krishna was kshatriya varn(Devaki-Vasudev) by "birth"? Lol
He was also yadav/cowherd boy as Yashoda-Nand were yadav.
Later he also played role of dwarkadhish(king- kshatriya again.)
@@medman195 Rubbish again.