Hi Everyone,
First of all, a huge "thank you" to all those who contributed since our last post. We're bowled over by the generosity of the yoga community, and so excited that we're on our way to being able to start work on the book. With only four days to go, though, we're 2/3 of the way to our target, so we need a really big last push. As you know, if we don't make full funding, we don't see *any* of the money.
We'd like to ask you once again to put out word on your networks: tell your friends why this is a worthwhile project. Encourage them to have a look at the kickstarter site and to donate if they feel so moved. Announce the project at your local yoga studio and ask your fellow students and teachers to spread the word. Anything you can think of! We're very close: there is often a surge of interest and donations at the tail end of a kickstarter campaign, and we're really hoping this one is going to follow that pattern. So any help you all can offer at this stage will be vital. Here's the link to the kickstarter page: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/36604121/the-roots-of-yoga-a-sourcebook-from-the-indian-tra
And here's Yoga Journal's coverage of the campaign: http://blogs.yogajournal.com/yogabuzz/2012/07/yoga-scholars-reach-out-to-community.html
Lastly, here's a snippet from Jim's translation of the Dattatreya Yoga Shastra, a text which describes the yoga teachings of the sage Dattatreya to his student Sāṃkṛti. The full translation of this text is one of the kickstarter rewards:
"If diligent, everyone, even the young or the old or the diseased, gradually obtains success in yoga through practice. Whether brahmin, ascetic, Buddhist, Jain, Skullbearer or materialist, the wise man endowed with faith who is constantly devoted to his practice obtains complete success. Success happens for he who performs the practices - how could it happen for one who does not? Success does not arise in any form merely by reading the scriptures. Shaven-headed, bearing a staff or wearing ochre robes; saying “Nārāyaṇa”, having matted hair, smearing oneself with ash, saying “namaḥ Śivāya”, or worshipping external images; marking oneself in the twelve places, or adorning oneself with lots of rosaries: if one does not practice or is cruel, how is one to get success? The wearing of religious garb does not bring success, nor does talking about it. Practice alone is the cause of success: this is indeed true, Sāṃkṛti. It is a well known fact that men who wear religious garb but undertake no religious practices deceive people by talking of yoga for purposes of lust and gluttony. Crafty men try various deceits; declaring “we are yogins” they are fools, intent on nothing but their own satisfaction. Gradually coming to realise that men like that do not practise yoga, but attain their ends through words alone, one should shun those who wear religious garb."
With warm wishes,
Mark and Jim
