Some sad news to report. Yoga scholar and author Georg Feuerstein died yesterday, August 25th, at the age of 65. The German-Canadian praised Indologist wrote more than 30 books including The Yoga Tradition: Its History, Literature, Philosophy and Practice and The Deeper Dimension of Yoga: Theory and Practice, and others focusing on Yoga, mysticism, Tantra, Hinduism and Buddhism.
Feuerstein came to be known as an authority on classical yoga, contributing translations and interpretations of texts like the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali and the Bhagavad Gita, and of course co-authoring the “reference for the rest of us” Yoga for Dummies.
His wife Brenda L. Feuerstein announced his passing via their Traditional Yoga Studies facebook page:
It is with great sadness that I announce that my husband and spiritual partner, Georg Feuerstein, Ph.D., left his body on August 25, 2012 at 9:10 PM.
At this time, I would like to request prayers from the worldwide community for Georg’s transition through the afterlife states and for a swift rebirth.
In lieu of flowers and gifts, Georg had requested a scholarship fund be set up to enable incarcerated people the opportunity to participate in our distance learning courses. More information about the fund will be available this week.
If you would like to contact me directly, please do so at bfeuerstein@gmail.com AND cc georg.a.feuerstein@gmail.com
According to their facebook page: “Traditional Yoga Studies (TYS) is dedicated to promoting authentic yogic teachings based on scriptural and oral transmission, as well as solid research, and to bringing out their relevance at the present time of severe environmental and social crisis.”
There are no details on the cause of death at this time. Dr. Feuerstein died the same day as the first man on the moon, astronaut Neil Armstrong. Coincidence? Or some highly classified quest to explore the universe and co-author a book on their findings?
We think this too calls for a Beatles blast across the universe.
Our gratitude and condolences.
Via the TYS website:
Tread lightly on this Earth. Be kind to all creatures.
Live simply. Consume less. Avoid air travel. Find alternatives to car travel.
Delight in a vegetarian diet. Grow your own food if possible.
Use water sparingly. Lobby for a saner, healthier world.—Georg and Brenda Feuerstein
Thanks to our friend Sarah Bell for alerting us to this quote:
“Yoga is like an ancient river with countless rapids, eddies, loops, tributaries, and backwaters, extending over a vast, colourful terrain of many different habitats. So, when we speak of Yoga, we speak of a multitude of paths and orientations with contrasting theoretical frameworks and occasionally incompatible goals.”
—Georg Feuerstein, Ph.D., March/April 1990 Yoga Journal.
photo credit LA Yoga Mag
——
Earlier…
This brings much sadness and gratitude. Truly an inspired soul.
SONO UN UMILE RAGAZZO ITALIANO CHE STUDIA E PRATICA TANTRA DA 23 ANNI
HO LETTO UN LIBRO DI GEORG E STUDIATO MOLTI ANNI FA
SUL TANTRA IO TI RINGRAZIO DI CUORE DI CIO’ CHE HAI FATTO IN QUESTO MONDO UN ABBRACCIO A BRENDA CHE AVUTO LA FORTUNA DI VIVERE CON UN ESSERE MERAVIGLIOSO .
NAMASKAR
I spent a weekend with Georg (and others) at a retreat about 10 years ago and had the opportunity to do a little walking and talking with him. I have never, ever met such a delightful, brilliant, generous, kind person.
First and only time in my life I wanted to drop everything and follow a “teacher” anywhere. There was no place to “follow” him to, but I wanted to anyway. 🙂
Godspeed, Georg. And my heartfelt condolences to his wife, Brenda.
Wishing him eternal peace………Aum……….Aum……….Aum.
Truly one of the great teachers of our age. He will be missed. May his teachings live on through his works! ॐ शान्ति शान्ति शान्तिः Om Shanti Shanti Shantihi.
Thankyou Georg for your luminosity and clarity
Good guy !
Great scholar.
Lived true to his teachings.
Didn’t shy away from stating, in so many words, that Yoga demands Vegetarianism.
His Aatma, most surely, graduated to a higher state of consciousness, during his most recent stay on earth, just like it’s meant to.
Feuerstein accomplished a rare trick: He was at the top of his field in scholarship as well as in the popular press. Many blessings on his life and work!
He was so young! What was the cause of death?