Theos Casimir Bernard
Encyclopedia
Theos Casimir Bernard was an explorer, and author
, known for his work on yoga
and religious studies, particularly in Tibetan Buddhism
.
in 1931 and embarking on an internship in 1932, but decided instead to pursue an advanced degree at Columbia University
. There, according to 2010's The Madman's Middle Way, Bernard, who described himself as "the first white lama
", became the first American to write a dissertation on the subject of Tibetan Buddhism.
In 1936, he toured India and Tibet with his wife, Viola, studying Tantric Yoga in an effort to master its fundamental principles. On his return to the United States in 1937, his experiences were published across the country over several weeks by the North American Newspaper Alliance
and Bell Syndicate
. This was followed by a series of lectures and radio appearances in 1939 and by the publication of the memoir
Penthouse of the Gods. Bernard was also featured in popular magazines, including a cover story in Family Circle
in 1939, followed shortly by his second book, Heaven Lies Within Us, which explored Hatha Yoga
under the guise of an auto-biography. According to 2008's Barbarian Lands, many of the experiences Bernard describes in his books have recently been discovered to have been fabricated, based on the experiences of his father. In 1939, Bernard opened the American Institute of Yoga and the Pierre Health Studios.
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
, known for his work on yoga
Yoga
Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual discipline, originating in ancient India. The goal of yoga, or of the person practicing yoga, is the attainment of a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility while meditating on Supersoul...
and religious studies, particularly in Tibetan Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism is the body of Buddhist religious doctrine and institutions characteristic of Tibet and certain regions of the Himalayas, including northern Nepal, Bhutan, and India . It is the state religion of Bhutan...
.
Career
Bernard first trained in law, obtaining a bachelor's degreeBachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in 1931 and embarking on an internship in 1932, but decided instead to pursue an advanced degree at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
. There, according to 2010's The Madman's Middle Way, Bernard, who described himself as "the first white lama
Lama
Lama is a title for a Tibetan teacher of the Dharma. The name is similar to the Sanskrit term guru .Historically, the term was used for venerated spiritual masters or heads of monasteries...
", became the first American to write a dissertation on the subject of Tibetan Buddhism.
In 1936, he toured India and Tibet with his wife, Viola, studying Tantric Yoga in an effort to master its fundamental principles. On his return to the United States in 1937, his experiences were published across the country over several weeks by the North American Newspaper Alliance
North American Newspaper Alliance
The North American Newspaper Alliance was a large newspaper syndicate that flourished between 1922 and 1980.Founded by John Neville Wheeler, NANA employed some of the most noted writing talents of its time, including Grantland Rice, Joseph Alsop, Michael Stern, Lothrop Stoddard, Dorothy Thompson,...
and Bell Syndicate
Bell Syndicate
The Bell Syndicate, launched in 1916 by editor-publisher John Neville Wheeler, was an American syndicate which distributed columns, fiction, feature articles and comic strips to newspapers for decades...
. This was followed by a series of lectures and radio appearances in 1939 and by the publication of the memoir
Memoir
A memoir , is a literary genre, forming a subclass of autobiography – although the terms 'memoir' and 'autobiography' are almost interchangeable. Memoir is autobiographical writing, but not all autobiographical writing follows the criteria for memoir set out below...
Penthouse of the Gods. Bernard was also featured in popular magazines, including a cover story in Family Circle
Family Circle
Family Circle is an American women's magazine published 15 times a year by Meredith Corporation. It began publication in 1932 as a magazine distributed at supermarkets such as Piggly Wiggly and Safeway. Cowles Magazines and Broadcasting bought the magazine in 1962. The New York Times Company bought...
in 1939, followed shortly by his second book, Heaven Lies Within Us, which explored Hatha Yoga
Hatha yoga
Hatha yoga , also called hatha vidya , is a system of yoga introduced by Yogi Swatmarama, a Hindu sage of 15th century India, and compiler of the Hatha Yoga Pradipika....
under the guise of an auto-biography. According to 2008's Barbarian Lands, many of the experiences Bernard describes in his books have recently been discovered to have been fabricated, based on the experiences of his father. In 1939, Bernard opened the American Institute of Yoga and the Pierre Health Studios.