I was shocked to see this item being reported by Yoga Journal today. Â Georg was only 65.
From Yoga Journal: “Yoga scholar Georg Feuerstein died Saturday at the age of 65….Feuerstein was one of the most highly regarded scholars on Hinduism in the West. He authored more than 45 books about yoga including The Yoga Tradition: Its History, Literature, Philosophy, and Practice (2001), The Deeper Dimension of Yoga: Theory and Practice (2003), The Shambhala Guide to Yoga (1996), and The Shambhala Encyclopedia of Yoga (1997).”
In the early days of e-Sutra I had the pleasure of exchanging ideas with Georg, most notably in the classic thread from June, 2000: “Are We Still Belittling Yoga?”
He left us way too soon, and his scholarship and commitment will be sorely missed. Â Please feel free to use comments to add any personal recollections or thoughts.
Comments (21)
Thank you for sharing this sad news Leslie. Georg was a thinker, a scholar and a passionate teacher. I had the pleasure of talking with him nearly a decade ago, and I read The Yoga Tradition tome from cover to cover at a difficult time in my life. My condolences to his wife and his colleagues, friends and students. His passing marks the end of an era.
I didn’t know Georg but he was a teacher to many of my teachers. He will be missed. He was an inspiration and a source of knowledge for so many people.
Georg Feuerstein was a leading figure in shaping yoga research and legitimization of in the west, and many times I drew from his bibliographies in my personal studies. I have great respect and gratitude for his immense accomplishments in this area. My prayers go out to his family and loved ones.
Thank you for posting this, Leslie. I know have reading to catch up on and can honor the man who authored so much. R.I.P., Georg
GEORG FEUERSTEIN
As many of you now know my dear friend and brother Georg Feuerstein left his body recently. He is survived by his wife Brenda who was kind enough to let me know before it happened and passed on to him personally my last goodbye and words of gratitude.
Georg gave me my start in the media by accepting me as his writing partner
for the international best seller “Yoga for Dummies” 1st and 2nd editions. I hosted him at the Samata Yoga studio several times and learned so much from him. I was also on the board of his Yoga Research foundation when he was kind enough to take over the International Association of Yoga Therapists and champion its journal for several years before turning it back over to its modern form. I believe that the link below to the article in the Elephant Journal is a good way to learn more about this great man and his legacy. Good bye for now dear friend. I will see you on other other side.
Love
Larry
http://www.elephantjournal.com/2011/08/the-real-titans-of-yoga-georg-brenda-feuerstein-the-elephant-interview/
But, what did he pass away from?
Like all of us, I was so saddened to hear that we had lost Georg. He was undoubtedly a scholar of yoga par excellence. I was lucky enough to take ruthless advantage of this many times. But what always astounded me was that when I would email him with my petty questions about an aspect of the Yoga Sutra or other philosophical inquiry, he would respond almost immediately. Not only did he respond, his thoughtful response made me feel that answering my question right then was very important to him. While I remember Georg’s obvious erudition, I equally remember his kindness and compassion. I will miss him and his many contributions to this world, chief among them his kind heart and giving nature. My condolences to all who loved him.
I was saddened to hear of Georg’s passing two nights ago. He was a beloved friend and spiritual brother whom I enjoyed and loved dearly. I served on Georg’s board of YREC and was fortunate to interview him on several occasions (http://www.bodhitree.com/lectures/Georg_Feuerstein_Yoga_Tradition_interview_by_Richard_Miller.html). Georg left us much too early and his presence and commentary on yoga will be sorely missed. He was often a voice in the wilderness speaking out for holding the integrity of yoga as it grew roots into the West. I join with my beloved friend, Larry Payne, in saying to Georg…”see you on the other side.” —richard
Thank you for asking this natural and honest question. I was wondering why there is no mention of the cause of death.
At day’s end I’m still absorbing the early morning news that the great yoga scholar Georg Feuerstein has left his mortal body. Over the years I had some illuminating exchanges with him. Of all his books the one that struck me as the most urgent was the slim volume entitled Green Yoga —Georg connected yoga philosophy to living sustainably. It encouraged me to know that someone of his caliber supported all the environmental causes I was involved in. His death is yet another reminder how quickly Life passes.
I think he would like it if I posted the link to my Green Yoga Review here on ESutra: http://www.amazon.com/review/R1KQQAY9SC9QFE
My understanding is that it was complications from diabetes.
Yoga with capital Y for George, may he RIP
I personally didn’t know Georg Feuerstein, but I admire his teachings, I respectfully think he was a great soul who accomplished his true mission on this earth serving as a light for the true teachings of yoga, his presence and wise words will surely be missed. A great teacher who reached his Mahasamadhi, my prayers goes to you brother yogi, and my condolences to everyone who loved him.
Thank you, Leslie.
It makes me sad to know that he has left us. In my next moments of meditation I will send him my love, peace thoughts, and thank him for all his teaching and dedication to yoga.
I am saddened to hear of the untimely loss of this great man. I had the fortunate opportunity to meet him over 15 years ago at a small group lecture for teachers at YogaPlace (now YogaWorks). I could not believe my incredible luck at the time, and have
quoted him many times over the years, as he left quite an imprint on my new teacher brain at the time. I will continue to be inspired by his teachings, despite his physical loss. My best wishes to his family and those of you who had a personal realtionship with this fine man.
The passing away of Georg Feuerstein is a big loss to entire yoga fraternity. I am an Indian yoga student who benefited tremendously from his scholarship while doing my PhD on the Yoga Sutra and Integral Yoga of Sri Aurobindo. My thesis did not adhere to the dominant ideas prevalent in the Indian University understanding of this subject. It was thanks to the innovative and original ideas of the great Feuerstein that I was able to defend my thesis. I successfully completed by PhD in Yoga Philosophy from the University of Bombay in 2009. On the sad demise of this great scholar, I bow down at his lotus feet and commit myself to carry out high scholarship in yoga to honor his legacy
I encountered Georg when we both in our early years. Always a smile, a twinkle in his eyes and a charm that hid a prodigious mind. I am very saddened to hear of his passing.
It is late to say this, as I was writing, thinking of Georg and wanted to look up something about him… And was shocked to read of his passing forward. Oh my. I knew him from early pioneering yoga conferences and yoga work in USA. The days when things in our art where shifting. And he certainly was a mover of the boundaries in US. Once he told me I had to write an essay about Naughty yoga teachers and he smiled. I have photos of us in front of his statue of Patanjali at what was once his headquarters on YR&E in N California.
One of a kind, brilliant and kind. Shalom
I read the above comments with great interest. But here, now, is mine, after a hiatus, because when Georg died, I was engaged with writing since my own husband Francis, died in 2010. Many years ago, Francis and I heard Georg speak at a venue in Cambridge, MA organized by Patricia Walden. I’ll never forget a comment Georg made during the question and answer period – about the fact (in referring to people who had died) that the very room we were in was full of presences.
Does anyone remember his saying something like this? Or, do any of you know where in his writings he may have touched on this? . . . Since Francis died, I have been writing as you can see, on my website. My current book in progress will be entitled “COMMUNING WITH THE ANCESTORS – A Widow Reflects. Thank you! Elaine
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