From the Gita to the Grail : Exploring Yoga Stories and Western Myths

This is the story of the Iraqi war written by one of the only people in Iraq without a minder. It is based on the author's own personal insights as an Assyrian Christian over a period of several years, which were drawn from meetings with the Iraqi Prime Minister, President, Foreign Minister, top US and international officials, and the Iraqi people themselves. It reveals what happened to the weapons of mass destruction, and it tells of the horrors experienced by those who worked for the Iraqi government and what life was like under Saddam. It describes the days leading up to the war, the first.;From the Gita to the Grail; Title Page; Copyright; Dedication; Table of Contents; Preface; A Note on Mythology; An Introduction to Myths, Maps and Models; The Cosmological Function; Chapter 1: The Creation of All Things; Chapter 2: The Magic of Myth; The Cosmological Function of Mythology: Summary; The Sociological Function; Chapter 3: Living in Accord with Our Neighbors; Chapter 4: The Great Cycles; Chapter 5: Varna, Dharma and Karma; Chapter 6: Boundaries; The Sociological Function of Mythology: Summary; The Psychological Function; Chapter 7: The Arc of Aging; Chapter 8: The Goals of Life What is the meaning of Shiva dancing on a dwarf named Avidya? Why does Vishnu sleep upon an endless snake? To what did the Buddha awaken? What do we mean by soul? The practice of Yoga has become quite common and popular in the West; however, the stories of Yoga are still strange to Western ears. What do these ancient symbols mean, what are they trying to teach us, and how should we incorporate the knowledge skillfully into our Western lifestyle? By looking at the myths of Yoga along with the stories that have influenced Western culture, we are presented with opportunities to select the best of both worlds, and create new maps to help guide us through the uncertainties of modern living. Stories are fun! Important stories guide us and educate us; they create mental models which work at an unconscious level to help us navigate through our modern society and govern our reactions to the ups-and¬downs of life; they provide meaning and purpose for our life; and our stories entertain and entrance us. In this book, Bernie Clark looks at the spiritual stories found in the West that create a base map for our lives and then looks at the stories found in the East to see how they could improve our base maps. The stories offered are mix of light¬hearted and enjoyable, and deep and profound. The importance of stories East and West are illustrated through the model proposed by the great 20th century mythologist, Joseph Campbell: myths, or stories, serve four great functions - the mystical, the cosmological, the sociological and the psychological function. The stories chosen illustrate these four functions of mythology and show how we can take these stories into ourselves to create a deeper experience of life.