Chapter 1 – Concentration/Samadhi Pada – Part 6 Types of Concentration – Sutras (1.17 – 1.18) These two Yoga Sutras describe the entire process of Samadhi, the higher tool of meditation. Therefore, the whole process of yoga is summarized in these two and the preceding sutras. It reviews how the meditator systematically moves inward. First …
Chapter 1 – Concentration/Samadhi Pada – Part 5 Practice & Non-Attachment, cont. – Yoga Sutras (1.15 thru 1.16) These two sutras cover non-attachment and supreme non-attachment. While the principle applies to all the gross and subtle levels, a gross level example will help. A good example of this is two smokers … Imagine two people …
Chapter 1 – Concentration/Samadhi Pada – Part 4 Practice & Non-Attachment – Yoga Sutras (1.12 thru 1.14) Practice (abhyasa) and non-attachment (vairagya) are the two foundational principles on which the entire system of Yoga rests. Through the cultivation of these two principles, all other Yoga practices evolve and eventually mastery over the mind field (chitta/citta) …
Chapter 1 – Concentration/Samadhi Pada – Part 3 Un-coloring your thoughts, cont. – Yoga Sutras (1.6 – 1.11) Witnessing the five types of thoughts, along with practice, non-attachment are more covered in the next 6 sutras Yoga Sutra (1.6) – pramana viparyaya vikalpa nidra smritayah. The five types of thought patterns to witness are: Correct …
Chapter 1 – Concentration/Samadhi Pada – Part 2 Un-coloring Your Thoughts – (Sutra 1.5) Part 1 in this series ended with the forth Yoga Sutra (1.4) – vritti sarupyam itaratra, which says: “At other times, when one is not in self-realization, the Seer appears to take on the form of the modifications of the mind …
Chapter 1 – Concentration/Samadhi Pada – Part 1 Defining – What is Yoga? – (Yoga Sutras 1.1 thru 1.4) To sincerely begin the pursuit of Self-realization is a most significant step in life. When the highest goal of life is taken on as number one on your list of things to do the student must …
Introduction to the Yoga Sutras (Part 2) The concept of yoga being a path toward discovering the Light of the Soul may be difficult to grasp at first. Patanjali says that the path of yoga can help us to realize that creative force that keeps the universe humming. This behind the scenes energy is identical …
Introduction to the Yoga Sutras (Part 1) Most students of yoga have heard of Patanjali, but if they haven’t, then it’s only a matter of time before they do. Patanjali was an Indian sage who distilled the essence of India’s spiritual/philosophical traditions, which included centuries of philosophies and practices, and condensed this knowledge into 196 …
Life is a flow of inhalations and exhalations; it is a journey. It comes with its joys and sorrows, its ups and downs. Finding happiness and peace within every situation is our challenge. Our work is how to navigate and enjoy the ups, the in-betweens, and the downs without creating any aversion to them. We …
Being in the now – the only thing we have is now. The only thing we know for sure in life is we will all meet death. How fragile life is. So why not focus on living each day as a gift? Live with a sense of humbleness, admiration, and gratitude? Why not befriend death? …