(1817–1862) American
writer and philosopher who, according to his own account, was profoundly
influenced by the Hindu religious text known as the Bhagavad Gita, particularly
the text's instruction to perform one's duties selflessly for the good of In
both Walden and A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers, Thoreau mentions
this work, and in letters to his friends, Thoreau expresses his wish to
practice yoga.