Yoga and the Quest for the True Self

By: Stephen Cope

Narrated by: Paul Brion

Length: 12 hrs and 45 mins

Publisher's summary

Millions of Americans know yoga as a superb form of exercise and as a potent source of calm in the midst of our stress-filled lives. Far fewer are aware of the full promise of yoga as "the way of the fully alive human being" - a 4,000-year-old practical path of liberation that fits the needs of modern Western seekers with startling precision.

Now Stephen Cope, a Western-trained psychotherapist who has lived and taught for more than 10 years at the largest yoga center in America, offers this marvelously lively and irreverent "pilgrim's progress" for today's world. He demystifies the philosophy, psychology, and practice of yoga, and shows how it applies to our most human dilemmas: from loss, disappointment, and addiction, to the eternal conflicts around sex and relationship. And he shows us that in yoga, "liberation" does not require us to leave our everyday lives for some transcendent spiritual plane - life itself is the path.

Above all, Cope shows how yoga can heal the suffering of self-estrangement that pervades our society, leading us to a new sense of purpose and to a deeper, more satisfying life in the world.

©1999 Stephen Cope (P)2021 Tantor

The meaning found at the end requires the slow release.

It’s definitely a bit slower paced but the underlying message is clear and impactful. Take small bites and you’ll enjoy the meal.

Very well done

Stephen Cope helped me to understand the yoga practice through his own story of discovery. I appreciate his honesty and his desire to find truth inside the surface distortions that we humans are prone to embrace. I am new to the practice of yoga and I this book inspired me to go deeper with my practice. I’m seeing yoga as an ancient universal practice -a wine skin if you will- that can be filled with any tradition of spirituality. Stephen mentions that he came from a background of Christian theology and that there were truths he found in “Eastern” religion, practice and dogma that were absent in the Christian tradition. I’m finding that much of these deep transforming truths are being re-discovered by many Christian authors such as Richard Rohr, Wm Paul Young, Baxter Kruger, Bradley Jersak and others. Where I find Eastern religion or philosophy lacking and Christian theology more fulfilling is its core Truth of redemption, reconciliation, atonement, restoration in the person and work of Christ. Thank you Stephen for opening a door of deeper understanding which I believe will be helpful in my journey toward love, healing, joy and fruitfulness in this world.

thoughtful and enlightening, (no pun intended)

As a new student of yoga, I find Mr Cope's book to be a valuable resource. The Author's candid descriptions of his own experiences, paired with his background as a psychotherapist, bring a unique and refreshing light on the yogic experience.

One of the valuable lessons I pulled from this book is: contentment without complacency is achievable.

At the conclusion of this book, I realized that I felt that the author had invited me to simply embrace my own experiences.

One who teaches others to assimilate wisdom and information from those with more experience, without forsaking their true self, is a great teacher indeed.

relatable

This was a great insight on personal experience and informational understanding of yoga and yogic practices. Highly recommend

Thanks

the narration was great. I Definitely learned from this book and will l I step to it again.

Has helped with my next steps in healing

Regardless of the readers voice (I didn’t find a problem with it) the information is life changing if you allow it. Thank you for this book

Interesting, detailed.

Excellent overview of yoga and author’s memoir. I’ll listen again. Recommend for info and insight, no matter your tradition.

Awful narration

I really wanted to like this book. However, ironically it sounds like Patrick Bateman is narrating it. This makes the book almost comical at times but then I remember that I wasted my money on it.

Worst monotone narrator-

The content itself is worth reading, but my God, the narrator destroys the spirit of the book. He is completely monotone and I found myself skipping back and trying not to dose off. I ended up purchasing and reading this book. It’s a shame they didn’t choose a more enthusiastic narrator.

Evangelical Yoga

This is what happens when Western Psychology/Theology appropriates selective elements of ancient yoga to create a competitive form of yoga that requires conversion, submission and many rules of orthodoxy.