КУЛЬТУРНАЯ РЕЦЕПЦИЯ АНТРОПОЛОГИИ ЙОГИ В РОССИИ НАЧАЛА ХХ В.

Abstract

The research examines the specifics of reception of Yoga anthropology in Russia and its dissemination paths. The end of 19th – early 20th century was marked by the appearance of Russian translations of the academic research, in which Yoga was viewed as one of the Indian philosophical schools. In the same time, the West was witnessing an onset of popularization of Yoga by representatives of Neo-Vedanta, whose writings were also translated into Russian. Those writings were of a popular nature, since their authors sought to make Yoga understandable for Western readers. For the Occult community, the practical aspect of Yoga was the most attractive one. Occultists regarded Yoga as a method of anthropological perfection – both spiritual and physical – and eventual attainment of superhuman powers. Yoga popularization in Russia was to a considerable extent promoted by theosophists, who built their interpretations on contrasting Hatha Yoga and Raja Yoga. In the writings of theosophists, Yoga was presented as a path to attaining arcane knowledge. Russian Occultists created their original interpretations of Yoga. Christian theosophist M.V. Lodyzhensky, despite of considering Yoga as a path to attaining the Superconscious, gave it less appreciation compared to Christian heritage, thus emphasizing the supremacy of Christian tradition. P.D. Uspensky viewed Yoga through the lens of his concept of the Superman, and believed that Yoga practice is a way to achieve an overhuman condition, which the entire humanity will ultimately reach. The interest of Russian community to Yoga should be considered in the context of interest towards the Eastern culture and the belief in the possibility of upcoming transformation of the human nature that were common with the European society of that age