[Buddha-l] yoga(TM)

[Stuart Ray Sarbacker]

>---------------------------------------------------
>
>Message: 1
>Date: Mon, 10 Oct 2005 09:48:36 +0200
>From: Erik Hoogcarspel <jehms at xs4all.nl>
>Subject: [Buddha-l] yoga(TM)
>To: Buddhist discussion forum <buddha-l at mailman.swcp.com>
>Message-ID: <434A1CD4.3040405 at xs4all.nl>
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed
>
>The madness of capitalism: shortly people will have to buy the right to
>do a form of meditation or a sadhana to patentholders.
>
>http://www.adnki.com/index_2Level.php?cat=Trends&loid=8.0.215680098&par=0
>
>--
>
>Erik
>
>www.xs4all.nl/~jehms

Erik,
I apologize if someone has already addressed this, but I have also 
read that this is being interpreted as an attempt to prevent 
particular teachers (esp. Bikram Choudhury, "hot yoga") from 
patenting postures/sequences. There have been a number of articles 
about Bikram's approach to his form as "intellectual property" and 
the ramifications that it would have for that industry. There is so 
much to be said about this and yoga and meditation as 
cultural/economic capital, I don't know where to begin! "Intellectual 
Property" in and of itself is a fascinating and complex concept 
itself, arguably present in myriad forms throughout cultural and 
religious histories (Buddhism of course not excluded). One aspect of 
this is the replication of "initiatory" schema, which requires in 
some cases significant economic expense, see, for example, 
contemporary "yoga teacher trainings" and the various "empowerments" 
in contemporary Tibetan traditions. There are interesting parallels 
with the past, but also a phenomenon that is thoroughly novel in 
other ways. In any case, thanks for passing this along.
Best Wishes,
Stuart

-- 
Dr. Stuart Sarbacker
Lecturer in Religion
Director of Undergraduate Studies
Department of Religion
Northwestern University
http://www.religion.northwestern.edu/faculty/sarbacker.html