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Published by Mandala Publishing
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About The Book

In this sutra-by-sutra translation and study of the Yoga Sutras, Hindu Studies scholar Nicholas Sutton offers an accessible guide to the complex philosophical ideas on which the ancient practice of Yoga is based, illuminating the meaning of Patañjali’s seminal Yoga treatise and the manner in which it seeks to integrate Yoga into life as a whole.

The Yoga Sutras, composed by Patañjali nearly two millenia ago, is foundational to the Yoga systems, and widely regarded as a seminal text for students and practitioners of Yoga alike. While Patañjali’s work is centrally concerned with the exposition of a practice aimed at self-realisation, it is as much interested in the philosophical ideas that underpin the forms of practice it advocates.

In Exploring the Yoga Sutras, Nicholas Sutton offers a new translation of the text accompanied by a systematic examination of its ideas, with reference to some of the principal traditional commentaries. Unpacking the layers of meaning embedded in the text, Sutton demonstrates how the Yoga Sutras weaves the philosophy and practice of Yoga together in a subtle blend that provides a framework for understanding the position of the embodied living being within this world and the means by which the world may be transcended.

Discussing each sutra, both individually and in the context of different passages, Exploring the Yoga Sutras strives to make the complex ideas of this Yoga classic accessible to the modern reader who may not have a prior grounding in the study of Indian philosophy.

OXFORD CENTRE SERIES: The Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies Publishing Series offers authoritative yet accessible introductions to a wide range of subjects in Hindu Studies. Each book in the series aims to present its subject matter in a form that is engaging and readily comprehensible to persons of all backgrounds – academic or otherwise – without compromising scholarly rigour. The series thus bridges the divide between academic and popular writing by preserving and utilising the best elements of both. Other books in the series include The Bhagavad Gita: A New Translation and Study Guide; The Hindu Temple and Its Sacred Landscape; and Women in the Hindu World.

EXPERT AUTHOR: Nicholas Sutton is the Director of the Continuing Education Department of the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies, an academy for the study of Hindu cultures, societies, philosophies, religions, and languages. He received his PhD from Lancaster University, writing his doctoral dissertation on the Mahabharata, and currently develops and tutors online courses on Hindu religious traditions.

EDUCATION AID: This book serves as a comprehensive resource for both classwork and independent study. With the integration of suggested further reading, and glossary of Sanskrit terms, and images throughout, Exploring the Yoga Sutras offers an accessible introduction to a foundational Yoga classic.

About The Author

Nicholas Sutton is the Director of the Continuing Education Department of the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies, an academy for the study of Hindu cultures, societies, philosophies, religions, and languages. He received his PhD from Lancaster University, writing his doctoral dissertation on the Mahabharata, and currently writes and tutors online courses on Hindu religious traditions. He is also the author of The Bhagavad Gita: A New Translation and Study Guide (Mandala Publishing, 2019) and Religious Doctrines in the Mahabharata (Motilal Banarsidass Publishers, 2000).

Product Details

  • Publisher: Mandala Publishing (January 7, 2025)
  • Length: 360 pages
  • ISBN13: 9798887620800

Raves and Reviews

Exploring the Yoga Sutras is an invaluable resource for both scholars and practitioners of Yoga—and everyone in between. It is clearly written, concise, and offers excellent historical perspective and philosophical insight on Patanjali’s root text. Highly recommended!”

– Stuart Ray Sarbacker, professor of comparative religion and Indian philosophy, Oregon State University

“Nicholas Sutton adroitly translates Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras and summarises the commentaries by Vyasa, Sankara, Vacaspati Misra, and Vijnana Bhiksu. By placing this work solidly within the discourse of Samkhya, this book helps the reader understand the complexity and simplicity of the Yoga path, a journey that leads through layers of narrative history to a place of silence and freedom.”

– Christopher Key Chapple, Doshi Professor of Indic and comparative theology, Loyola Marymount University

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More books in this series: The Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies Mandala Publishing Series