Yoga in the West is widely associated with a secular, bodily posture practice. The recent decade or so of scholarship in Yoga Studies has widely worked to bridge the gap between modern postural yoga, western esotericism, colonial influences, and Hindu roots for understanding the origins and future potentials of Yoga philosophy. Still, as with the study of Tantra, Yoga Studies is a pan-Indic phenomenon with influences emerging from and upon several diverse traditions. In this panel, we explore the interfaith and intertextual nature of yoga as it appears across the four Dharmic traditions. Each panelist engages with Yoga in specific contexts, terms, and practices as they relate to Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, and Hinduism in ways that are both historical and constructive, working towards an interreligious study of Yoga philosophy that can support individuals to navigate conflict, chaos, and spiritual development skillfully.
Taking an integrated approach of text, theory, and practice, this paper considers apramāda (heedfulness, conscientiousness) in the context of yoga in dharmic traditions. The variably translated term implies a carefulness that is crucial to being diligent on one’s path. This paper will initially compare yogic usage of apramāda in Hindu texts with Yogācāra texts. It will also consider how yoga theory in Mahāyāna Buddhism extends into Tibetan Vajrayāna Buddhism. This paper primarily advances two claims: 1) that the concept apramāda demonstrates intertextuality between yogic disciplines in dharmic traditions, and 2) that for Mahāyāna and Vajrayāna Buddhism it has a technical understanding that implies a crucial role for attention in the ethical cultivation of an embodied subject. In a “mad world,” apramāda as a yogic concept in dharmic traditions offers a way to think about navigating conflict and chaos.
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This presentation explores the rich landscape of Jain yoga texts from the 2nd millennium, unveiling the significant yet underexplored contributions of Jainism to the broader field of yoga studies. By examining texts such as the Yogapradīpa and newly discovered manuscripts, this research highlights the diversity of Jain yoga practices, their philosophical underpinnings, and their interactions with contemporaneous religious traditions. My presentation will demonstrate how specific concepts (i.e. the approach to physicality and the adaptation of certain meditation practices) were actively discussed and seamlessly traversed across different sectarian boundaries. This analysis not only broadens our understanding of yoga's historical development but also underscores the importance of inclusive studies that recognize the contributions of all traditions to the complex panorama of yoga's evolution.
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