The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali (Sacred Teachings)

Memorial services are not so much rites for the dead as celebrations by the living and for the living of the lives of those who have died. Such ceremonies are an important way of saying good-bye, yet most people are not sure exactly what to do when the task of arranging one falls to them. Here is a practical and supportive guide, explaining how to cope with all the details when efficiency is furthest from your mind: Timing, place, and who should participate Selecting a minister or spiritual leader Choosing the right words and music Writing a eulogy Setting the scene with flowers, photos, and mementos Bringing closure by providing food, drink, and companionship afterward In addition to two sample memorial services, an annotated bibliography and discography, and a listing of memorial societies throughout the country, Rob Baker offers helpful information and advice on funerals, cremation, undertakers (including where to look on the Web to evaluate what they have to offer), donating the body or its organs for medical purposes, as well as a brief history of funerary traditions. “A wonderful translation, full of contemporary insight yet luminous with eternal truth.”—Jacob Needleman The Yoga Sutras were cast in their present form in India around the third century b.c. Yoga is from the Sanskrit root meaning “union,” and a sutra is a thread or aphoristic verse. The basic questions “Who am I?” “Where am I going?” “What is the purpose of life?” are asked by each new generation, and Patanjali’s answers form one of the oldest and most vibrant spiritual texts in the world. He explains what yoga is, how it works, and exactly how to purify the mind and let it settle into absolute stillness. This stillness is our own Self. It is the indispensable ground for Enlightenment, which is the ultimate goal of all our aspirations. Alistair Shearer’s lucid introduction and superb translation, fully preserving Patanjali’s jewel-like style, bring these ancient but vital teachings to those who seek the path of self-knowledge today. Bell Tower’s series, Sacred Teachings, offers essential spiritual classics from all traditions. May each book become a trusted companion on the way of truth, encouraging readers to study the wisdom of the ages and put it into practice each day. "The Yoga Sutras were cast in their present form in India around the third century B.C. Yoga is from the Sanskrit root meaning "union," and a sutra is a thread or aphoristic verse. The basic questions "Who am I?" "Where am I going?" "What is the purpose of life?" are asked by each new generation, and Patanjali's answers form one of the oldest and most vibrant spiritual texts in the world. He explains what yoga is, how it works, and exactly how to purify the mind and let it settle into absolute stillness. This stillness is our own Self. It is the indispensable ground for Enlightenment, which is the ultimate goal of all our aspirations." "Alistair Shearer's introduction and translation, fully preserving Patanjali's style, bring these ancient but vital teachings to those who seek the path of self-knowledge today."--Jacket