Obituary: Georg Feuerstein
We are sad to belatedly announce another immense loss to the scholarly community…
Noted Indologist, author and self-described “champion of traditional yoga,” Georg Feuerstein has died.
His wife and teaching partner, Brenda L. Feuerstein, made the following announcement on the 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.”
The cause of death has not been publicly announced at this time.
Georg Feuerstein made an immense contribution to the understanding and transmission of yoga in the West. His thorough and well-researched books, including The Yoga Tradition, The Deeper Dimension of Yoga and The Bhagavad Gita: A New Translation (among many, many others), are required reading for yoga teacher training programs around the world.
In recent years, Feuerstein has worked to promote the “authentic yogic teachings” by offering distance learning courses – including an 800-hour course on the history, literature and philosophy of yoga – and mentorships. Earlier this month, he appointed his wife as the chief tutor for all his distance learning programs.
Sincerest condolences to Feuerstein’s family and students during this difficult time.
Source: IAYB
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From Georg’s website:
Georg Feuerstein, Ph.D. became interested in Yoga in his early teens and has increasingly studied Yoga philosophy and history since then. He did his postgraduate studies in England and has authored over 50 books—not all on Yoga and including a couple of poetic titles. His major works are The Encyclopedia of Yoga and Tantra (Shambhala 2011), The Yoga Tradition (Hohm Press 2008), Yoga Morality (Hohm Press, 2007), The Deeper Dimension of Yoga (Shambhala) and The Bhagavad-Gītā: A New Translation(Shambhala 2011).
Georg created several distance learning courses, which are made available through TYS, his wife’s Canadian educational company. He officially went into semiretirement in 2004. But in 2011, he agreed to make himself available in a TYS mentorship program to encourage those who are seriously interested in digging deeper into Yoga philosophy. In 2012, Georg nominated his wife, Brenda, as the tutor for all TYS courses and assistant for the mentorship program.
Georg A. Feuerstein lived a profoundly productive life of humble service and made a peaceful, conscious exit from this world on Saturday, August 25, 2012 near his home in Southern Saskatchewan, due to complications from diabetes. His final transition occurred after a 9-day journey of loving resolution in which he was surrounded and supported by his wife Brenda and many spiritual friends.
His legacy of scholarly contribution to the global Yoga community is vast and awe inspiring, to which we all owe a huge debt of gratitude. His work will be lovingly continued and directed by his Beloved partner, lover, friend and wife, Brenda Feuerstein.
Georg and Brenda chose to reside in the prairies in a retreat-like setting along the Frenchman River where their practices and productivity flourished. ”In 9 years I accomplished more work…in less time…than any other time of my life. My inspiration? This prairie landscape and Brenda.”, stated Georg.
For those who ask what they can do to honor Georg, the request is a simple one: put into practice the teachings of Yoga that Georg spent his life exploring and interpreting for our benefit and understanding.
In ancient times, the yogin looked to natural world and within themselves to cultivate understanding in their goal of self realization; today, we have the benefit of books that transmit the teachings, channeled through brilliant minds such as Georg’s. When you pick up such a book…say a prayer of gratitude for the life and time of Georg that lives on through his publishings.
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Feuerstein is known in our department for his contributions to consciousness studies. His book Structures of Consciousness: The Genius of Jean Gebser: An Introduction and Critique was widely influential in informing consciousness and the evolutionary theories. Wilber borrowed much of Feuerstein’s expanded vision of Gebser’s theories.
