Yoga is a discipline that leads to spiritual enlightenment. It's also one of the most important practices shared across Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. In this post we'll look at what an Indian sage, Patanjali, wrote about yoga over 2000 years ago and how the text can guide us today.
The word "yoga" means union. Yoga is the union of mind and body, of individual consciousness with universal consciousness, and finally, of individual soul with universal soul.
The Yoga Sutras are a guide to follow whilst in pursuit of this state of being. The text itself is divided into four chapters for the reader 1) Samadhi Pada 2) Sadhana Pada 3) Kaivalya Pada 4) Vibhuti Pada.
The first two chapters are the core of the work, and form a practical guide to yoga. The third chapter deals with various stages of enlightenment, while the fourth chapter describes some other benefits and experiences that come from dedication to the 8 limbs.
The Sutras map the mental condition of human beings. It discusses fluctuations of consciousness and labels the five modifiers of the mind. These are the 5 things which change our mind. They are: correct knowledge, misconception, verbal delusion, sleep and memory. Correct knowledge is when the Seer (us) is not affected by the other 4 modifiers, or they are absent from the seer's experience.
During the third chapter, Patanjali says that the Seer will be able to abide in its own true nature through following the 8 limbs of Yoga. This results the practitioner experience the correct knowledge of self and freedom from any given state of mind.
The words "state of mind" is often used in translations of the Yoga Sutras. It is used to describe the temporary and changing manifestations of the Seer. It's not permanent, and it doesn't last forever. For example, you might be feeling angry right now because someone else did something that made you mad. This is your current state, but it's not permanent (and likely won't last too long). The person who made you angry may have been in a different state when they did what they did; perhaps they were tired or stressed out or sick and just wanted some peace and quiet. Their mind is being effected by one or more of the 4 modifiers for a short period of time.
It's important to note here that there are many different states of mind (such as happy, sad or frustrated), and these states are not totally separate from our true nature. They are part of who we are as human beings, with all of lives ups-and-downs. They are not however our totality.
Correct knowledge is the first of these states, and it is an indication that you have come into contact with your true nature through meditation or yoga practice. The first of the following four modifiers which will steer us away from this truth is misconception. This means that you have lost touch with your true nature and what you see as real is not real at all, it's an illusion created by your mind.
The next modifier is verbal delusion, which happens when we say things like "I am angry" or "I am sad" without realizing the inaccuracy of this statements, because our words can never fully describe who we really are as beings with infinite potentials who exist beyond our current emotion.
Then there's the modifier of sleep. Whilst falling asleep the seer must maintain a clear mind and careful not let thoughts enter into one's head while resting or it can affect our subconscious mind. The Yoga Sutra of Patanjali also includes a discussion on memory. The discussion is brief and does not provide a comprehensive explanation of the subject but serves as an introduction to the subject. In this section, Patanjali writes:
"Memory is the source of all learning and it is through memory that we learn what we have already learnt in this life."
In the Sutras, Patanjali's teaching on memory follows immediately after his discussion on meditation. He notes that meditation leads to concentration, which develops our capacity to remember and learn.
When correct knowledge manifests, the other four modifiers are absent. The first point to understand about correct knowledge, is that correct knowledge is not a thought. It's not an idea, or even an intuition. Correct knowledge is a direct experience of the Self as pure consciousness, without any distortion or conditioning.
Correct knowledge does not come from reading books or listening to others talk about their experiences; it can only be attained through direct experience of one's own true nature (the Self). This state cannot be attained through intellectual study alone; rather it often requires meditation and devotion, until we finally realize who we are - that which cannot be described or defined by words or concepts. That which has no beginning nor end in time but remains always present in each moment of now regardless of what is happens around us externally during our lifetime.
Patanjali details guidance for people wishing to attain, or move towards, enlightenment and freedom. The first limb concerns "Yamas" which means "Restraint." It involves five important principles:
Ahimsa (nonviolence)
Satya (truthfulness)
Asteya (nonstealing)
Brahmacarya (continence)
Aparighara (Non greed/non hoarding)
In addition, there are four more restraints that apply specifically to your mind and emotions, they are:
Saucha (Cleansliness)
Santosha (Contentment)
Tapas (Discipline, austerity or enthusiasm)
Svadhyaya (Self study)
Isvara Pranidhana (Surrender)
The Yoga Sutras say that you must be pure in order for your practice to be effective: "One should perform cleansing practices, such as taking a bath or showering, brushing teeth, washing hands with soap before doing yoga. This means that if we want your yoga practice to have a positive effect on your body or mind, we start by making sure we are as clean before starting a yoga class. This isn't just about being physically clean; it also means being mentally free from negative thoughts and emotions like anger or resentment toward others; these things can make our bodies unhealthy by causing stress hormones like cortisol (the stress hormone) production increase significantly overtime until eventually reaching toxic levels which can lead many serious health problems including heart attacks/strokes among other things so it's important not only physically but mentally too. Patanjali details how our speech is the best way to improve our mental cleanliness, by restraining from speaking unkindly of others or using self deprecating speech we can help to improve our wellbeing, and that of those around us.
Posture should be steady and comfortable. As we practice, our bodies will become more flexible and able to assume various positions without strain or discomfort. When we first beginning yoga practice, we might want to consider using of a chair, cushions or straps for support in various ways. As we continue to practice we might need our props less often, until rarely at all. Some disciplines of yoga refrain from using props at all.
Breath control is an integral part of yoga practice. It should be practiced before meditation, but not during it. Breath control is the regulation of breathing, which means that one must learn how to breathe in a way that brings about calmness and tranquillity in both body and mind. Breath control consists of regulating inhalation and exhalation in a way which is right for your constitution (body type).
The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali can be considered as one of the most influential texts in the history of Indian philosophy and spirituality. It has been translated into many languages, including English, Persian and Arabic. The Sutras have timeless wisdom about the condition of human beings, our welfare and how we can find inner peace. There are many translations and interpretations of the Sutras to choose from. There is some politicisation of those translations, as they took place within the dynamics of commodifying the wisdom of Patanjali, and people seeking to make profit. However, much of the wisdom is simple, accessible and we can use it within our own practices easily.
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