What is the meaning of Shiva dancing on a dwarf named Avidya? Why does Vishnu sleep upon an endless snake? To what did the Buddha awaken? What do we mean by soul? Is the emotion of love different in the East from the experienced in the West? Did the West's prototypical lovers Tristan and Isolde feel the same kind of rapture that Radha and Krishna reveled in? And what are the proper roles for women today according the stories found East and West?

Despite the popularity of Yoga, the stories from its land of birth are very strange to Western ears. What do these ancient symbols mean, what are they trying to teach us, and how should we incorporate this knowledge into our Western lifestyle? Every myth is a map to some deep cultural and personal landscape. By looking at the myths of the East along with the stories that people in the West grew up with, we are given opportunities to select the best maps available, or to create new ones to help guide us through the uncertainties of modern living. By exploring myths East and West, this book shine a light on the landscapes within and allows us to choose the appropriate map we want to follow.

"In his insightful... book, Bernie reminds us that we have a choice in how we live our lives; we can hold tight to our beliefs, allowing them to dictate our reality, or we can invite every story (or even encounter) to be a gateway into the poetic, multifaceted dimensions of truth, and the fluid nature of reality." –Sarah Powers, author of Insight Yoga and founder of the Insight Yoga Institute

"By contrasting the metaphorical maps of different cultures we become aware of our own unquestioned assumptions. Bernie Clark's book does this in a wonderfully entertaining way. It reflects his years of practice and teaching." –Paul Grilley, author of Yin Yoga

"If you could record Joseph Campbell and Carl Jung's conversation over a game of chess, it might sound something like this." –Daniel Clement, founder of Open Source Yoga