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These lectures [Delivered at the 32nd Anniversary of the Theosophical Society held at Benares, on Dec. 27th, 28th, 29th, and 30th, 1907.] are intended to give an outline of Yoga, in order to prepare the student to take up, for practical purposes, the Yoga sutras of Patanjali, the chief treatise on Yoga. I have on hand, with my friend Bhagavan Das as collaborateur, a translation of these Sutras, with Vyasa’s commentary, and a further commentary and elucidation written in the light of Theosophy. [These have never been finished or printed.] To prepare the student for the mastering of that more difficult task, these lectures were designed; hence the many references to Patanjali. They may, however, also serve to give to the ordinary lay reader some idea of the Science of sciences, and perhaps to allure a few towards its study.

Who is the intended reader?

The Amazon description says the lectures may also give the ordinary lay reader some idea of the “Science of sciences”.

What is the lecture series meant to prepare you for?

It says the lectures give an outline of yoga to prepare the student for the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, which it calls the chief treatise on yoga. That is why they refer to Patanjali often.

What is this book about?

According to the description, the book collects lectures delivered at the 32nd Anniversary of the Theosophical Society, held at Benares on 27 to 30 December 1907.

This summary is based on the book description on the Amazon page.

What was the Theosophical Society, and why does context matter?

The lectures in this volume date from 1907 and were given at a Theosophical Society meeting. According to the description, they were delivered at the Society’s anniversary meeting in Benares and meant to prepare students for the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, so they reflect that setting. They are historical documents, valuable for seeing how yoga was explained to a Western-influenced audience more than a century ago.

The NCCIH page on yoga describes yoga as an ancient practice rooted in Indian philosophy that began as a spiritual practice. A modern reader can use that as a baseline: early twentieth-century lectures sit between the original traditions and today’s fitness classes, and each layer adds its own interpretation.

Treat any exercise or breathing instruction in an old text with care, and learn physical practices from a qualified teacher. Anyone with health conditions should speak with a doctor first.

Related on this blog: Where Did Yoga Come From? Its Meaning, Early Texts and What Scholars Can Say and Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras: The Eight Limbs of Yoga Explained

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