THE YOGA
SUTRA 28 👀
YOGA-ANGA-ANUSTHANAD ASUDDHI-KSAYE JNANA-DIPTIR-
AVIVEKA-KHYATEH
BY PRACTICING THE EIGHT LIMBS OF YOGA (LISTED BELOW IN THE DESCRIPTION OF SUTRA 29) IMPURITY IS DESTROYED, AND THE LIGHT OF WISDOM LEADS TO DISCRIMINATIVE DISCERNMENT.
SUTRA 29 👀
YAMA-NIYAMA-ASANA-PRANAYAMA-PRATYAHARA-
DHARANA-DHYANA-SAMADHAYO-ASTAV-ANGANI
RESTRAINTS, OBSERVANCES, POSTURE, CONTROL OF BREATH, WITHDRAWING THE SENSES, HOLDING ATTENTION, MEDITATION, ABSORPTION - THE STATE OF AWARENESS. THESE ARE THE EIGHT LIMBS.
SUTRA 30 👀
AHIMSA-SATYA-ASTEYA BRAHMACARYA-APARIGRAHAH
YAMAH
THE YAMAS ARE NON-VIOLENCE, TRUTHFULNESS, NON-STEALING, SEXUAL CONTROL AND RENUNCIATION OF NON-ESSENTIAL OR NON-POSSESSION.
NON-VIOLENCE EVENTUALLY LEADS TO A STAGE WHERE ONE GRADUALLY LOSES THE DESIRE TO KILL OR INJURE. FOR THE YOGI WHO FINDS JOY WITHIN, IT MAKES NO SENSE TO LIVE A LIFE AND DECEIT AND TO TRY TO REACH THE "TRUTH" A LYING MIND IS NEVER A TRANQUIL MIND.
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SEXUAL CONTROL NEED NOT BE TOTAL CELIBACY. IT MEANS ALL ACTIONS THAT LEAD TO THE BRAHMAN. BASICALLY, IT KEEPS THE SENSE ORGANS, ESPECIALLY THE SEX ORGANS DISCIPLINED, SO THAT ALL THE ENERGY OF YOUR LIFE IS NOT SPENT IN SEXUAL PURSUIT.
LIBIDO HAS TREMENDOUS ENERGY AND IS A CREATIVE FORCE THAT CREATES THAT A NEW HUMAN BEGIN, WHICH IS THE RESULT OF THE CONSUMMATION OF THE SEXUAL ACT.
IF THIS ENERGY CAN BE BROUGHT UNDER CONTROL TO A GREAT EXTENT AND SUBLIMATED TO REACH HIGHER AND SUBTLER EMOTIONS, THEN THE AWARENESS TRAVELS FROM THE GROSS TO THE SUBTLE AND FINALLY TO THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE, IN WHICH THE HUMAN IS TRANSFORMED INTO A DIVINE BEING. THIS IS THE WHOLE POINT OF PRACTICING THE RAISING OF THE KUNDALINI - THE DIVINE, FEMININE PARA SHAKTI THAT RESTS AT THE BASE OF THE SPINE AND IS RAISED BY THE YOGI THROUGH THE FIVE CHAKRAS, TILL IT REACHES THE SEVENTH CHAKRA INSIDE THE BRAIN, THE SAHASRARA. THE YOGI THEN EXPERIENCES THE THOUSAND-FOLD SPIRITUAL ORGASM, WHEREIN ALL THE CONDITIONINGS ARE DESTROYED AND THERE IS ULTIMATE SOLITUDE AND TOTAL FREEDOM.
NON-POSSESSION OR WHAT CAN ALSO BE DEFINED AS GIVING UP OF NON-ESSENTIAL IS INTERPRETED AS :
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1. SIMPLIFYING LIFE SO THAT YOU DON'T HAVE POSSESSIONS TO WORRY ABOUT.
2. THE GRADUAL UNDERSTANDING THAT EVEN THOUGH WE SURROUND OURSELVES WITH PEOPLE AND THINGS, NOTHING REALLY BELONGS TO US. ALL OF US WILL DIE AND LEAVE THEM BEHIND. SO BY DEVELOPING THE ATTITUDE OF NOT DEPENDING ON THEM, WHEN THE TIME TO ABANDON THEM ARRIVES, WHEN DEATH IS IMMINENT, WE WON'T GRIEVE FOR THEM.
WE SHOULD ALSO UNDERSTANDING THAT EVERYTHING REALLY BELONGS TO THE WHOLE WORLD AND WE ARE IN CHARGE OF ONLY A PART OF IT.
AS THE ISAVASYA UPANISHAD SAYS, "MA GRIDHA KASYA SVIDDHANAM (WHOSE WEALTH IS THIS ANYWAY)
SUTRA 31 👀
JATI-DESA-KALA-SAMAYA-ANAVACHINNAH SARVA-BHAUMA-
MAHAVRATAM
ON ALL OCCASIONS, UNDER ALL CIRCUMSTANCES OF BIRTH, PLACE OR TIME, WHEN PRACTICES, THEN IT IS TERMED THE GREAT VOW (MAHA VRATA)
NO MATTER WHERE AND WHICH FAMILY ONE IS BORN INTO OR WHICH PLACE OR THE PERIOD OF TIME ONE LIVES IN, ON ALL OCCASIONS AND CIRCUMSTANCES WHEN IT BECOMES HABITUAL TO PRACTICE THE ABOVE RESTRAINTS, THEN ONE IS SUCCESSFULLY PRACTICING THE MAHA VRATA.
SUTRA 32 👀
SAUCA-SAMTOSA-TAPAH-SVADHYAYA-ISWARA-
PRANIDHANANI NIYAMAH
OBSERVANCES INCLUDE CLEANLINESS, PURITY, COMMITMENT, AUSTERITY, SELF-STUDY AND DEDICATION TO ISHWARA.
(FOR THE DISCUSSION AND MEANING OF ISHWARA, REFER TO SECTION 1 OF SAMADHI PADA, SUTRA 23, THE INTRODUCTION)