Book-Review by B. Zeiger (Editor of the Veda Science Magazine)

Book (in German):

"Der Kern des Yoga bin ich Selbst - Wenn das Machen aufhört"
by Daniela Pickhardt und Joachim Pfahl


ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 3347461320
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-3347461321

tredition publisher (2022)


The theme of the book is a developmental leap in the global reception of yoga at the beginning of the 21st century. At least since the United Nations, in 2015, established the tradition of World Yoga Day, it is clear from the large number of yoga practitioners present in every country that yoga has become a part of modern civilization. Yoga exercises help to balance the consequences of one-sided life routine due to industry, economy and technology. Often overlooked is the fact that resilience to external influences is controlled by the inner psychological and mental state. The book presented here closes this gap in understanding. The holistic meaning of yoga as "unitifying quality of intelligence" (Samadhi) becomes the focus of attention. Already in the ancient yoga scriptures, optimal mind-body coordination is a central theme. By supplementing the body-related yoga exercises (asanas) with mental yoga techniques (meditation), a qualitative development takes place parallel to the quantitative expansion. Body and mind are immediately coordinated when the effortless interaction of observer., perceptual process and the object perceived taking place in the conciousness of every human being guides action and thought. Effort-based, wear-and-tear patterns of behavior are replaced by new more effective modes of living. The cultivation of effortless, soft thinking through meditation leads to harmonious interaction with nature and the environment. By discussing such fundamental questions, the book illustrates the importance of the path that leads through Yoga and Meditation to complete knowledge – Veda. Complete, because it expresses the entire potential of human consciousness, his innermost Self. As a reservoir of energy and intelligence, it is the basis of orderly development and coherent interactions. The contemporary and life-relevant guide to this is offered by Daniela Pickhardt and Joachim Pfahl (2022).