The root of Yoga - The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali - a very brief introductionsteemCreated with Sketch.

in yoga •  8 years ago 

A very brief introduction to the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali.

If you wish to practice authentic Yoga, and derive the full benefits thereof, an understanding of the Yoga Sutras is indispensible.

History

The Yoga Sutras are widely acknowledged to be the core text of modern Yoga.
This wonderful work, central to all Yoga, is known as Classical, or Raja/Royal, Yoga.
All present-day Yoga practice has its roots in the Yoga Sutras/Raja Yoga (although this may not always be apparent).

Scholars differ on many details of the origin of the sutras but we can be reasonably sure about some aspects, although specifics can be sometimes fuzzy.

Laid down, in Sanskrit, by a seer/rishi called Patanjali (or possibly a group of seers) around 2-2,500 years ago it was the first time the knowledge of Yoga was written down, having always been taught orally, via chanting, prior to this.
A student would have had to learn the chants, by heart, before he (there was no Yoga for women back then) was accepted to be taught any actual techniques.

The text

The text defines Yoga, what it is, what it is intended to achieve, how to approach practice, what will happen when practised.
Consisting of 196 short, poetic verses/phrases (sutra means 'thread') dense with wisdom, the text weaves together immense, ancient knowledge and experience to give us a map to guide us on our journey through life and in our spiritual practice.

The text is divided into four chapters.
Each chapter addresses a specific aspect of the Yoga/spiritual path.

  • Chapter 1 - Samadhi
    Discusses the state of clarity/mastery of mind to which a Yogi aspires.
  • Chapter 2 - Sadhana
    Discusses the various aspects of actual practice and principles to support it.
  • Chapter 3 - Vibhuti
    Discusses the results of Yoga practice and the strengths/powers/gifts therein.
  • Chapter 4 - Kaivalyam
    Discusses the state of absolute Freedom that a yogi can achieve.

How to explore the sutras in more detail

The original is, of course, in sanskrit.
Non-sanskrit speakers, like me, are therefore dependent on commentaries and translations.

There are many many books to choose from and I have not of course read anywhere near all of these.
I would suggest that exploring at least a few is likely to afford a better understanding.
Personally, I particularly value Alistair Shearer's version for it's simplicity and poetic feel, it also includes a great overview of the history of Yoga.
I also like translations/commentaries by Pandit Rajmani Tigunait and Bernard Bouanchaud.

Chanting of the sutras is a very beneficial practice.
It focuses the mind (a primary Raja Yoga goal) and supports us in enhancing our knowledge and our practice.
The sutras can be heard and learned via CDs/audio files.
I like Sonia Nelson's, and Nitya Mohan's versions, if you can get hold of them.

There are many insights into and explorations of the Yoga Sutras on Youtube.

I would suggest exploring the various options, and find what resonates with you.

I'll be writing more about the principles detailed in the Yoga Sutras in future articles.

Conclusion

Patanjali gave us Yoga, yet he does not tell us how to practice specific techniques.
He does not address the details of posture practice or of pranayama, for example, rather, the text gives us broad principles to work with.

The Yoga Sutras contain very powerful, and enormously practical, knowledge.
They give us solid, foundational, time-proven, base-line axioms to work with using our own choice of the many ways of employing the techniques and tools which have developed down the years.
In absorbing the sutras, Yoga practice can be experienced more as a spiritually-based life-path, and not as a specific set of techniques, and especially not as mere physical exercise.
Thus, Yoga can be understood in a much wider context than is often the case.


Authors get paid when people like you upvote their post.
If you enjoyed what you read here, create your account today and start earning FREE STEEM!
Sort Order:  

I'm pleased that you're still around @richhorn. I've always enjoyed reading your material.

You provide the right kind of education - the type that really needs to be learned by all alike. We'd all be a lot better off if this were the case.

Well, @jamesbrown, thank you most kindly, sir,
:)
Your kind words are genuinely appreciated and very encouraging.

I'm still around .. glad to see that you are too.
I see you have been busy in my absence.
I look forward to going through your recent posts.
I've been going through a challenging patch energetically and have not felt the creative drive for a while.
I feel my inspiration returning.
It's all good ... all part of walking the path ... no-one said it was going to be easy!
:D

Steemit seems to be going through some growing pains .. but I believe its a fantastic platform with great potential.
Problems are gifts in disguise, eh?
I look forward to developments.

Best wishes, bro,
Love & Peace & Freedom.

Thanks. Yes, I'm very familiar with the flow of creative spark...especially the lack thereof part :0 (I don't really take it so seriously as to allow it to upset me, though)

I, myself, have lacked the motivation to proceed with my prior plan here on Steemit and, quite frankly, have lacked any real direction in how I treat my time here.

Regardless, I've enjoyed the experience for the most part and I, like you, see great potential in Steemit, and that's part of what draws me to it. The bigger attraction, however, is the diverse number of adept writers on this platform (usually on their own niche topics, like you with your yoga articles) whom continue to put out original and high quality content.

I see it as a far healthier and productive use of my time compared to, say, watching a television show, at least in terms of intellectual stimulation.

And I particularly enjoy reading over your materials because they remind me that life isn't all about seeking out stimulation (pleasure/pain response) - they tend to slow me down a bit and ground me in a more open (relaxed/ expanded) awareness/ acceptance.

It brings me back home, to the place where all my fondest memories reside and the re-acquaintance with the only real mental clarity that I know, happens. To this, I am grateful.

Yes, I noticed looking through your blog that all I could see recently were resteems.
I look forward to any more that you will write - I have enjoyed your crypto analyses (I'm fascinated by the potential with all this) and particularly recall an article you wrote on spirituality and life which was very insightful.

I see it as a far healthier and productive use of my time compared to, say, watching a television show, at least in terms of intellectual stimulation.

Amen to that!

And thank you again for your generous words.
These are so much more valuable than steem to me.

Love & Peace & Freedom