The Philosophy of Yoga in Octavio Paz's Poem Blanco

Book excerpt: Mexican poet Paz (1914-98) wrote Blanco in Delhi while he was ambassador to India. Callan (emeritus, Spanish and humanities, U. of New Hampshire) argues that the poet intentionally and in great detail translated into his own metaphoric language the ancient practice of Yoga, especially as found in Tantric literature and developed in the Mahayana Buddhism of Tibet. Assuming that readers are not necessarily familiar with Tantric yoga, he sets out its precepts before showing how Paz incorporated them. He discusses Blanco's physical layout and yogic fundamentals, channels and centers in the two bodies of yoga and in the poem, preliminary details on the subtle body in the poem, Paz on the word and language, and other topics. Quotations from the poem are in English and Spanish. Annotation : 2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com).