What does it mean to be free? One of the earliest overviews of yogic ideas is the Mahābhārata, whose epic stories include extensive teachings on philosophy and practice. These are detailed in a section called the Mokṣadharma-parvan, whose primary focus is liberating insight.

James Fitzgerald has been working on this text for half a century. He recently published a full translation as part of a series begun by his mentor, Johannes van Buitenen. His work explores the Mahābhārata from multiple angles – as religious, philosophical and political literature, with a particular historical context.

Our conversation reflects on how yoga relates to the battle at the heart of the narrative. This clash is preceded by the Bhagavad-gītā and followed by the twelfth book on peace (the Śānti-parvan), which contains the Mokṣadharma and echoes the Gītā’s principal themes, including devotion – here to Viṣṇu-Nārāyaṇa.

It’s structured as a dialogue between Bhīṣma, the dying patriarch, and the new king Yudhiṣṭhira, who abhors the messy business of ruling and wants to renounce it. To persuade him to shoulder his duty for the greater good, Bhīṣma tells stories about yogic wisdom, which highlight the virtue of inner detachment.

In the process, renunciate teachings – from Sāṃkhya philosophy to meditative practice and the precept of non-harming – are explained in depth. That raises the question of whether worldly action or turning inward is the highest objective. The result is a Brahmin synthesis that counters a challenge from Buddhists and Jains.

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To what extent is yoga compatible with drama? Performance is in some ways the opposite of inward focus, yet it might still be enhanced by yogic practices.

Sergei Tcherkasski is a theatre director and teacher of acting at the Russian State Institute of Performing Arts. He is also the author of Stanislavsky and Yoga, which explores a key influence on the Russian pioneer of modern acting techniques.

Konstantin Stanislavsky’s system helped actors tap into their inner experiences, enabling them to embody a fictional character and perform more believably. This inspired what American followers such as Lee Strasberg called “method acting” and shaped what’s taught in drama schools all over the world.

As Sergei explains, about a third of the first-year acting curriculum is influenced by yoga, which Stanislavsky learned in the early 20th century. He did so not by visiting India but from reading translated books by an American attorney who wrote under the pseudonym “Yogi Ramacharaka”.

We talk about the hybrid ideas that Ramacharaka presented, and why their worldly emphasis might be more helpful than traditional teachings on transcendence – as argued by the Polish director Jerzy Grotowski. We also consider which modern schools of yoga might be best suited to training actors.

Among other names we discuss are Stella Adler and Sanford Meisner, two other influential American acting coaches. Plus Sergei highlights the term perezhivanie (переживание), which translates as “emotional experience”. He once made a film about Stanislavsky and yoga, which is available on YouTube.

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What distinguishes self-centredness from care for oneself? To what extent is emotional healing a spiritual practice? How might an inner sense of safety and connection fuel better relationships and more sustainable ways of living?

Justin Michelson is a meditation teacher, author and wilderness guide. His recent book The Dharma of Healing is billed by its publisher as: “A handbook for spiritual freedom in an age of global crisis”. Its focus is on changing responses to difficult feelings, which otherwise block the development of wisdom and compassion.

Our conversation explores Justin’s fusion of Buddhist perspectives with modern psychology. We discuss what it means to heal personal wounds, as well as how that relates to taking better care of each other and the world. We also reflect on a tension between accepting what is and facilitating change.

Justin’s book provides a practical guide to the transformative power of self-compassion. It’s accompanied by guided meditations, available here.

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