THE YOGA SUTRAS (FROM 50 TO 55)

 

                                  THE YOGA ASANAS

                                                   👇

             SUTRA 50 ❤

                                                                   👀

                       BAHYA-ABHYANTARA-STHAMBHA VRTTIH DESA-KALA-

                       SANKHYABHIH PARIDRSTO DIRGHA-SUKSMAH

                        THE FLUCTUATIONS - EXTERNAL, INTERNAL, SUPPRESSED, AND ACCORDING TO TIME, PLACE AND THE NUMBER OF TIMES THIS IS DONE- AFTER PRACTICE EVENTUALLY BECOMES LONG AND SUBTLE.

                        WITH PRACTICE OF PRANAYAMA, THE BREATH BECOMES LONG AND SUBTLE UNTIL IT'S ALMOST IMPERCEPTIBLE.

                      SUTRA 51 ❤

                                                                  👀

                        BAHYA- ABHYANTARA VISAYA-AKSEPI CATURTHAH

                    THE FOURTH IS WITHDRAWAL FROM THE EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL STATE (OF THE BREATH)

                     WHILE THE BREATH SLOWS DOWN AND BECOMES SUBTLE, THE MIND WITHDRAWS FROM THE ACTIVITY OF PHYSICAL BREATHING. IT SAVES THE ENERGY NORMALLY DISSIPATED IN HEAVY BREATHING AND TURNS IT INWARD.

                SUTRA 52 ❤

                                                                   👀

                   TATAH KSIYATE PRAKASA-AVARANAM

               THEN THE COVERING (THAT COVERS CLARITY) IS DIMINISHED (DISSOLVED)

                      WHEN THE MIND'S IMBALANCES, DISTRACTIONS AND RESULTING CONFUSION ARE REMOVED BY BALANCING THE PRANA, ALL THE COVERINGS ARE REMOVED AND THE TRANQUIL MIND SHINES FORTH.

                        SUTRA 53 ❤

                                                                     👀

                           DARANASU CA YOGYATA MANASAH

                   AND THE MIND BECOMES FIT FOR (ONE-POINTED) ATTENTION. 

                   SUTRA 54 ❤

                                                                       👀

                          SVA-VISAYA-ASAMPRAYOGE CITTASYA SVA-RUP-ANUKARA-

                          -IVA- INDRIYANAM PRATYAHARAH

                 SENSE WITHDRAWAL TAKES PLACE WHEN THE SENSES IN IMITATION OF THE MIND, WHICH HAS BECOME DIS-ATTACHED, REST IN THEIR OWN STATE OF QUIETNESS.

                       HERE, PRATYAHARA OR SENSE WITHDRAWEL FROM THE OBJECT OF THE WORLD IS GIVEN A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE FROM WHAT IS USUALLY UNDERSTOOD, IT IS NOT AS IF THE SENSE ORGANS ARE FIRST WITHDRAWN FROM THE OBJECT. LEADING TO THE MIND GETTING DETACHED. THIS SUTRA SAYS THAT WHEN THE MIND UNDERSTANDS THE FUTILITY OF ENGAGING WITH SENSE OBJECTS, IT RESTS IN ITS OWN QUIETNESS, AND THE  SENSE ORGANS IMITATING THIS, LEARN TO WITHDRAW SPONTANEOUSLY, ON THEIR OWN.

                   SUTRA 55 ❤

                                                                         👀

                          TATAH PARAMA-VASYATA INDRIYANAM

                        THEN FOLLOWS COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE SENSES.

THE YOGA (SUTRAS FROM 44 TO 49)

   

                               THE YOGA ASANAS

                      SUTRA 44 ❤

                                                   👇

                       SVADHYAYAD-ISTA-DEVATA SAMPRAYOGAH

                 FROM SELF-STUDY (ARISES) UNION WITH THE INTENDED DEITY.

                       THROUGH SELF-STUDY, AND I WOULD ALSO SAY, STUDY OF THE SELF, ONE REACHES UNION WITH THE SOUGHT AFTER DEITY. ISHTA DEVATA IS GENERALLY EXPLAINED AS YOUR FAVOURITE DEITY, BUT IN THE YOGIC CONTEXT, THE WORD "ISTA" COULD MEAN YOUR SOUGHT AFTER DEITY, ISHWARA.

               SUTRA 45 ❤

                                                👇

                          SAMADHI-SIDDHIR-ISWARA-PRANIDHANAT

                       PERFECTION IN SAMADHI (ABSORPTION) COMES FROM DEDECATION ONE-POINTEDLY TO ISHWARA.

                      SUTRA 46 ❤

                                                 👇

                           STHIRA-SUKHAM-ASANAM

                        ASANA IS (SITTING) WITH STEADINESS AND COMFORT.

 

                               IN THE UPANISHADIC CONTEXT, ASANA IS SHAD IS SHAD OR TO SIT DOWN WHERE NOT ONLY THE BODY BUT ALSO THE MIND SETTLES DOWN WITH NO DISTRACTION AND IS AT EASE.

                  SINCE STHIRA COMES FROM THE ROOT STHA (STAND), IT COULD MEAN THAT STEADINESS IS EXPECTED NOT ONLY WHEN YOU SIT, BUT ALSO WHEN YOU STAND.

                                 BASED ON THIS, A NUMBER OF POSTURES HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED SINCE ANCIENT TIMES, SOME SITTING POSTURES FOR MEDITATION AND SOME NON-SITTING ONES THAT AIM TO BRING ABOUT PROPER COORDINATION OF BLOOD CIRCULATION, BREATH, MUSCLES, INNER ENERGY CHANNELS CALLED NADIS AND THE CHAKRAS WHICH CORRESPOND WITH THE PLEXUSES.

                   HORMONAL IMBALANCES, WHICH DESTABILISE THE MIND, PHYSICAL ILL-HEALTH AND IMPROPER POSTURE, ARE SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT ARE DEALT WITH BY THE PRACTICE OF THE ASANAS.

                           FOR A STANDARD LIST OF ASANAS, PLEASE REFER TO THE YOGA PRADIPIKA OF SWATMARAMA. ANY ASANAS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS LIST ARE OF DOUBTFUL ORIGIN, SOMETIMES PERHAPS GYMNASTICS WHICH HAVE BEEN ADDED ON.

                        I HAVE LISTED A FEW ESSENTIAL ASANAS IN APPENDIX A WITH PHOTOGRAPHS. ATTEMPT ONLY WHAT YOU CAN. THE SITTING ASANAS ARE FAIRLY SIMPLE. IF YOU NEED TO LEARN IN DETAIL, CONTACT A YOGA ASANA TEACHER. I WOULD RECOMMEND A COURSE AT THE KAIVALYADHAMA YOGA INSTITUTE AND RESEARCH CENTRE IN LONAVALA OR THE YOGA VEDANTA FOREST ACADEMY AT THE SIVANANDA ASHRAM IN RISHIKESH.

            DEPENDING ON AVAILABILITY OF TIME, I CAN ALSO TEACH ASANAS SINCE I HAVE BEEN PRACTISING THEM FOR MANY YEARS.

                         SUTRA 47 ❤

                                                                  👇

                     PRAYATANA-SAITHILYA-ANANTA-SAMAPATTI-BHYAM

                          FROM EFFORTLESS AND RELAXED POSTURE (WHICH COMES FROM STEADY AND CONSTANT PRACTICE) THE MIND EXPERIENCES ENDLESS UNITY (NON-CONFLICTED)

                        SUTRA 48 ❤

                                                          👇

                         TATO DVANDVA-ANABHIGHATAH

                   THUS (THE MIND) IS NOT ASAILED BY PAIRS OF OPPOSITES.

                  BECAUSE IT IS NO MORE CONFLICTED AND HAS LEARNT TO RELAX, THE TRANQUIL MIND IS NOT AFFECTED BY OPPOSITES THAT TEND TO PULL IT IN TWO DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS.

                SUTRA 49 ❤

                                                           👇

                    TASMIN SATI SVASA-PRASVASYOR-GATI-VICCHEDAH

                     PRANAYAMAH

                     IN THIS ABIDING THERE IS CONTROL OF BREATH, BREAKING AWAY FROM IN BREATH AND OUT BREATH

                      THERE IS DESCRIPTION OF PRANAYAMA. ABIDING BY THIS MEANS THAT WHEN ONE IS EFFORTLESS, RELAXED AND NOT ASSAILED BY OPPOSING THOUGHTS, THE BREATH BECOMES CALM AND ALMOST STILL AND THE IN-BREATH AND OUT-BREATH ARE IMPERCEPTIBLE. THIS IS CALLED KEVAL KUMBHAK, KUMBHAK WITHOUT ANY EFFORT.

                          HOWEVER, THE SCIENCE OF PRANAYAMA HAS SEVERAL BREATHING TECHNIQUE THAT ARE TO BE LEARNT FROM AN AUTHENTIC TEACHER WHO WILL TELL YOU HOW TO BALANCE THE PRANA AND APANA BREATHS, THE IDA AND PINGALA CHANNELS AND TO ACTIVATE THE SUSHUMNA. I ONCE AGAIN RECOMMEND THE YOGA PRADIPIKA FOR A COMPREHENSIVE THEORITICAL UNDERSTANDING OF PRANAYAMA.

                             THE AIM IS TO HELP YOU REACH A STAGE WHERE THERE IS NO NEED TO INHALE OR EXHALE OR TO HOLD YOUR BREATH FORCIBLY. HOLDING THE BREATH FORCEFULLY FOR AN INORDINATELY LONG TIME CAN CAUSE HAEMORRHAGE OF THE LUNGS

THE YOGA SUTRAS (FROM 33 TO 43)

 

                                  👀    THE YOGA  👀

                        SUTRA 33👇

                    VITARKA-BADHANE PRATIPRAKSA-BHAVANAM

                      FOR THE  BONDAGE OCCURING FROM DISCURSIVE THOUGHT, THE CULTIVATION OF THE OPPOSSITE IS LAID DOWN.

                    SUTRA 34 ONWARDS IS AN ELABORARATION OF SUTRA 33.

                    SUTRA 34👇

                  VITARKA HIMSA ADAYAH KRTA-KARITA-ANUMODITA LOBHA-

                   KRODHA-MOHA-PURVAKA MRDU-MADHYA ADHIMATRA

                  DUHKHA-AJNANA-ANANTA-PHALA ITI PRATIPRAKSHA-BHAVANAM

                VIOLENT THOUGHTS THAT ARE INIMICAL TO TRANQUILITY AND CAUSE HARM TO OTHERS, THAT ARE DONE, CAUSED OR APPROVED BY YOU, LUST, ANGER OR DELUSION, WHETHER MILD, MEDIUM OR INTENSE, WHICH RESULTS IN ENDLESS DISATISFACTION, AND SPRING FROM IGNORANCE, CAN BE NEUTRALISED BY DELIBERATE CULTIVATION OF OPPOSITES AS PRESCRIBED IN THE NEW FEW SUTRAS.

               SUTRA 35👇

                   AHIMSA-PRATISTHAYAM TAT-SANNIDHAU VAIRATYAGHA

                    WHEN IN THE PRESENCE  OF ONE ESTABLISHED IN NON-VIOLENCE, ONE GIVES UP HOSTILITY, GRADUALLY.

                        SUTRA 36👇

                     SATYA-PRATISTHAYAM KRIYA-PHALA-ASRAYATVAM

                      WHEN ONE IS ESTABLISHED IN TRUTHFULNESS, THEN THERE IS A CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN ACTION AND ITS RESULTS.

                 SUTRA 37👇

                    ASTEYA-PRATISTHAYAM SARVARATN-OPASTHANAM

                     WHEN ESTABLISHED IN NON-STEALING, ALL THAT IS PRESENT OR AVAILABLE IS LIKE JEWELS.

                                                                              ❤❤

                           THIS CAN BE EXPLAINED AS FOLLOWS:

                     WHEN ONE CEASES TO THINK OF STEALING OTHER PEOPLE'S POSSESSIONS, THE MIND IS NOT CEASELESSLY SCHEMING TO GET THEM. THE MIND THEN BECOMES TRANQUIL AND BEGINS TO SEE BEAUTY AND SATISFACTION IN THE LITTLE THINGS ONE HAS AND IN THE SURROUNDINGS. ONCE ESTABLISED IN NON-STEALING, ONE BECOMES FRIENDS WITH THE LITTLE SQUIRREL THAT COMES DAY OR THE BEAUTIFUL BIRD THAT SITS LOOKING OUT FROM THE BRANCHES OF THE DEODHAR TREE, JUST OUTSIDE ONE'S KUTIR IN THE MOUNTAINS. NO THIEF CAN STEAL THE TREASURES OF YOUR HEART.

                  SUTRA 38👇

                        BRAHMACARYA PRATISTHAYAM VIRYA-LABHAH

                           WHEN STEADY WITH THE PRACTISE OF SEXUAL CONTROL, VIGOUR IS OBTAINED.

                         THIS MEANS THAT IF ONE HAS A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF CONTROL OF ONE'S SEXUAL URGES AND INDULGENCE, THE TREMENDOUS POWER, WHICH IS OTHERWISE DISSIPATED, IS WITHHELD AND SUBLIMATED INTO PHYSICAL VIGOUR AND MENTAL CREATIVITY. THIS NEED NOT NECESSARILY MEAN TOTAL CELIBACY AS THERE HAVE BEEN GREAT YOGIS WHO WERE (GRIHASTAS) MARRIED MEN.

                  SUTRA 39👇

                 APARIGRAHA-STHAIRYE JANMA-KATHAMTA SAMBODHAH

                                                                            ❤❤

                      WHEN ESTABLISHED IN NON-POSSESSIONS, THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE HOW AND WHAT OF EXISTENCE IS BORN.

                        WHEN IT  IS CLEARLY UNDERSTOOD, BY THE BY, THAT NOTHING BELONGS TO ONE, SINCE ONE HAS TO LEAVE IT BEHIND AT SOME TIME AND THE MIND BEGINS TO EXTRICATE ITSELF FROM THE IMAGINARY WORLD OF THE IMAGES WE HAVE CREATED DEPENDING ON BIRTH, TITLES, AND POSSESSIONS, IT BEGINS TO SEE CLEARLY THAT PURE EXISTENCE DOES NOT DEPEND ON THE IMAGE - THE EGO. THEN, THE TRANQUIL MIND UNDERSTANDS WHAT TRUE EXISTENCE IS, STRIPPED OF ALL THE PARAPHERNALIA THAT HAD HITHERTO KEPT IT ENSLAVED.

                SUTRA 40👇

                 SAUCAT SVA-ANGA-JUGUPSA PARAIRA ASAMSARGAH

                      FROM CLEANLINESS / PURITY (MAINTAINING THE PURITY OF THE BODY) ONE DEVELOPS DISLIKE OVER ONE'S BODY AND ALSO OF OTHERS AND AVOIDS CONTACT WITH OTHERS.

                      SEEING THAT THE BODY NEEDS CONSTANT CLEANING TO PREVENT IT FROM THE BAD EFFECTS OF SWEAT, DIRT, EXCRETA, GLANDULAR DISCHARGE AND BAD BREATH, ONE DEVELOPS DETACHMENT FROM THE BODY THAT ONE LOVED SO MUCH BEFORE.

                    SEEING THAT OTHERS ARE IN THE SAME BOAT, ONE TEDS TO DETACH ONESELF FROM OTHERS AND KEEP CONTANT TO THE MINIMUM. TODAY, THIS IS SIMILAR TO THE STEPS THAT ARE BEING TAKEN DURING THE SPREAD OF THIS CURRENT DANGEROUS VIRAL PANDEMIC.

                     SUTRA  41👇

                       SATTVA-SUDDHIH-SAUMANASYA-EKA-AGRYA-INDRIYA-

                       JAYA-ATMA-DARSANA YOGYATVANI CA

                   AND THE FITNESS TO HAVE THE VISION OF THE SELF STEMS FROM A MIND THAT IS LIGHT (RESTING IN BEINGNESS), PURE (FREE OF ALL DISTRACTIONS AND THEREFORE), CONTENT AND CHEERFUL, WITH ONE-POINTED MASTERY OF THE SENSE (THAT OTHERWISE KEEP DISTRACTING AND CREATING CONFLICT).

                   SUTRA 42👇

                   SAMTOSAD ANUTTAMAH SUKHA LABHAH

                   FROM CONTENTMENT, JOY IS GAINED.

                    SUTRA 43👇

                  KAYA-INDRIYA-SIDDHIR-ASUDDHI-KSAYAT TAPASAH

                    FROM CONTENTMENT, JOY IS GAINED.

                      SUTRA 43👇

                    KAYA-INDRIYA-SIDDHIR-ASUDDHI-KSAYAT TAPASAH

                   FROM THE PRACTICE OF AUSTERITY (SUCH AS EXERCISE, YOGA, CONTROL OF EATING HABITS AND SEXUAL DISCIPLINE) THE DESTRUCTION OF IMPURITY TAKES PLACE AND THE PERFECTION OF THE BODY AND SENSES ARISES.

                    

THE YOGA SUTRAS (FROM 28 TO 32)

 

                                          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.

                                                                       👇

                        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 :

                                                                    ❤❤❤

                     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)

YOGA SUTRAS (FROM 18 TO 27)

 

                                  THE YOGA SUTRAS

                         SUTRA 18

                    PRAKASA-KRIYA-STHITI-SILAM BHUTENDRIYA-ATMAKAM

                    BHOGA-APAVARGA-ARTHAM DRSYAM

                         THE QUALITIES OF LIGHT, DARKNESS, ACTIVITY, INERTIA. THE MATERIAL ELEMENTS, THE SENSES, AND THE PURPOSE OF EXPERIENCING THE WORLD AND EVEN THE LONGING FOR LIBERATION ARE ONLY THE VRITTIS, THE AMBIT OF THE SEEN.

                  SUTRA 19

                      VISESA-AVISESA-LINGA-MATRA-ALINGANI GUNA-PARVANI

                     WHAT IS DISTINCT, THE ONE WHO FEELS BOTH, AND EVEN THE UNMANIFEST AKASA ARE DIVISIONS OF THE GUNAS.

                       THE COMMENTARIES OF VYASA SUM UP ALL THE ABOVE-MENTIONED QUALITIES AND ATTRIBUTES THEM AS STILL WITHIN THE AMBIT OF THE SEEN.

                      SUTRA 20

                      DRASTA DRSI-MATRAH SUDDHO PI PRATYAYA-ANUPASYAH

                     ALTHOUGH THE SEER ONLY SEES THE IS PURE SEEING, IT APPERS TO THE MIND TO BE INTENTIONAL.

                   SUTRA 21

                         TAD-ARTHA EVA DRSYASYA-ATMA

                THE NATURE OF THE SEEN IS ONLY FOR THE PURPOSE OF FINDING THE SEER, THE PURUSHA.

                    SUTRA 22

                        KRTA-ARTHAM PRATI NASTAM-APY-ANASTAM TADANYA

                       SADHARANATVAT

                   WHEN ITS PURPOSE IS OVER, THE SEEN DISAPPEARS, BUT DOESN'T DISAPPPEAR FOR THOSE WHOSE PURPOSE IS NOT OVER YET.

                      SUTRA 23

                   SVA-SVAMI-SAKTYOH SVA-RUPA UPLABDHI-HETUH SAMYOGAH

               SAMYOGA IS THE NON-DISTINGUISHING BETWEEN THE SEEN AND THE SEER AND SEEING, THEREIN THE MIXING UP OF THE OWNER (A SEER) AND THE OWNED (THE SEEN)

                  FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN I SAY "MY BODY" I AM DIFFERENT FROM MY BODY, WHICH BELONGS TO ME. THIS IS SIMILAR TO SAYING "MY CLOTHES', BECAUSE I AM DIFFERENT FROM THEM, BUT WHEN WORN BOTH SEEM TO BE ONE.

                  SUTRA 24

                          TASYA HETUR-AVIDYA

                        IGNORANCE IS THE ROOT OF CONFUSION.

 

                       SUTRA 25

                                       TAD-ABHAVAT-SAMYOGA-ABHAVO HANAM TAD-DRSEH

        

                          THIS MEANS OF ESCAPE IS CONSTANT DISCRIMINATION.

                 SUTRA 26

                                        VIVEKA-KHYATIR AVIPLAVA HANOPAYAH

                        THE MEANS OF ESCAPE IS CONSTANT DISCRIMINATION.

                    SUTRA 27

                       TASYA SAPTADHA PRANTA-BHUMIH PRAJNA

                  THE ACCOMPLISHED YOGIN IS NOW WISE IN SEVEN-FOLD UNDERSTANDING.

                            ACCORDING TO THE COMMENTARY OF VYASA, THE SEVEN-FOLD UNDERSTANDING IS:

                      1. THAT WHICH IS TO BE KNOWN IS KNOWN NOW.

                      2. THAT WHICH IS TO BE AVOIDED IS AVOIDED.

                      3. WHAT HAS TO BE ATTAINED IS ATTAINED.

                      4. THE ABILITY TO DISCRIMINATION AND DISCERN IS.

                      5. THE INTELLECT (BUDDHI) HAS REALISED, FINISHED ITS PURPOSE, FIRST BY PROVIDING EXPERIENCE AND THEN LIBERATION.

                      6. ALL THE FLUCTUATIONS CAUSED BY THE GUNAS HAVE CEASED.

                      7. THE PURUSHA, THE SEER ABIDES IS SPLENDID ALONENESS.

THE YOGA SUTRAS (SUTRAS FROM 6 TO 17)

 

                                  THE CONSCIOUS MIND

                 ❤   SUTRA 6  ❤

                        DRG-DARSANA-SAKTYOR-EKA ATMATA IVA ASMITA

                      THE SEER (THE CONSCIOUS SELF) AND THE WORLD SEEN THROUGH THE SENSES WHEN NOT DISTINGUISHED, GIVES RISE TO THE FEELINGS OF THE WRONG I AM-NESS OR EGO.

                ❤   SUTRA 7 ❤

                       SUKHA-ANUSAYI RAGAH

                  TO BE ATTRACTED IS TO CLING TO THE PLEASURABLE.

                    EVEN WHEN ONE IS OFTEN TIMES AWARE THAT THE PLEASURE IS FLEETING- AND IN THE END IS THE CAUSE FOR SORROW.

                      THE NEXT SUTRA LOOKS AT THE OTHER SIDE.

                ❤  SUTRA 8 ❤

                       DUHKHA-ANUSAYI DVESAH

                         AVERSION IS CLINGING TO SORROW.

                    THIS MEANS MOSTLY EXPERIENCING SORROW. THE MIND DEVELOPS THE HABIT OF ENJOYING THE FAMILIEAR PATTERN AND DEVELOPS AVERSION TO NO-SORROW, LIKE THE PIG THAT WALLOWS IN THE MUCK OF ITS STY DISLIKES CLEANLINESS. IN EXTREME CASES, LIKE THAT OF THE VOLUNTARY MARTYR, THE MIND IMAGINES EVEN THE PAIN OF DYING TO BE MORE PLEASURABLE THAN THE STATE OF LIVING.

                ❤  SUTRA 9 ❤

                       SVARAS VAHI VIDUSO-PI-TATHA RUDHO-BHINIVESAH

                           THE DESIRE FOR CONTINUITY WHICH EVEN THE WISE HAVE IS A BUILT-IN INSTINCT FOR SURVIVAL AND PLEASURE-SEEKING.

                         FROM THE CORONAVIRUS TO THE COMPLEX DEVELOPED HUMAN BEING, THE DESIRE TO NOT DIE BUT TO CONTINUE AND MULTIPLY IS INSTINCTUAL. IT IS LINKED TO THE IGNORANCE THAT PHYSICAL LIFE IS ETERNAL.

                         THE WILL LAST UNTIL THE CONSCIOUS-AWARENESS IS REALISED TO BE THE REAL SELF AND NOT THE BODY OR THE OUTSIDE WORLD, IN WHICH IT APPEARS ALMOST INEXTRICABLY ENMESHED.

                 ❤  SUTRA 10 ❤

                      TE PRATIPRASAVA-HEYAH SUKSMAH

                   THESE SUBTLE HANKERINGS ARE TO BE AVOIDED BY TRACING BACK TO THE ORIGIN.

                   THIS MEANS THAT FROM THE MULTIPLICITY OF THE WORLD, ONE HAS TO TRACE ONE'S AWARENESS TO THE UNITY OF THE PURE CONSCIOUS SELF.

                        ❤ SUTRA 11 ❤

                      DHYANA HEYAH TAD-VRTTAYAH

                     ALL THESE DISTRACTIONS AND FLUNTUATIONS CAN BE AVOIDED THROUGH DHYANA (MEDITATION).

                     ❤ SUTRA 12 ❤

                       KLESA-MULAH KARMA -ASAYO DRSTA-ADRSTA-JANMA-

                       VEDANIYAH

                       THE WHOLE OF EXISTENCE, SEEN OR UNSEEN, IS BECAUSE THE ROOTS OF AFFLICTION ARE THE RESIDUE TO KARMA- ACTION FROM THE PAST.

                     ❤  SUTRA 13 ❤

                    SATI MULE TAD-VIPAKO JATY-AYUR-BHOGAH

                      AS LONG AS THE ROOT EXISTS, IT BEARS FRUIT BEING BORN IN CERTAIN CONDITIONS, AS LIVING AND EXPERIENCE GENERATED IN LIFE.

                       ❤ SUTRA 14 ❤

                      TE HLADA PARITAPA-PHALAH PUNYA-APUNYA-HETUTVAT

                THESE FRUITS ARE JOYFUL OR PAINFUL, DEPENDING ON THE CAUSES, MERITORIOUS OR DEMERITORIUS.

                   ❤  SUTRA 15 ❤

                          PARINAMA TAPA SAMSKARA DUHKHAIH GUNA-VRTTI-

                          VIRODHACCA DUHKHAM-EVA SARVAM VIVEKINAH

                       TO THE ONE WHO CAN DISCRIMINATE, THE CONFLICTS, THE EXPECTATION AND THE REMITTENT SORROW, THE OPPOSITE OF PLEASURE AND PAIN, THE ANXIETY AND THE CONFLICT ASSOCIATED WITH THEM ARE ALL SUMMED UP BY ONE WORD- FLUCTUATIONS OF THE MIND-STUFF, VRITTIS.

                   ❤   SUTRA 16 ❤

                      HEYAM DUHKHAM-ANAGATAM

                   (SUCH A ONE) AVOIDS THE DISSATISFACTION YET TO COME.

                        ❤  SUTRA 17 ❤

                             DRASTR-DRSYAYOH SAMYOGO HEYAHETUH

                     ALL THIS CAN BE AVOIDED, IF ONE KNOWS THAT THE CAUSES OF ALL THESE AFFLICTIONS IS THE ILLUSION THAT THE SEER AND THE SEEN ARE ONE.

THE YOGA SUTRAS

 

                              

                                THE YOGA GODLESS

                                       THE SUTRAS

                 SAMADHI-BHAVANA-ARTHAH KLESA TANU-KARANA-ARTHAS-CA

                 SAMADHI 2

                     THE PURPOSE OF THE PRACTICE IS TO CULTIVATE SAMADHI AND WEAKENING OF AFFLICTIONS.

                    AT THIS POINT, IT IS RELEVANT TO TAKE NOTE OF THE FACT THAT TILL SUTRA 28, THE PRACTICE POPULARLY CALLED ASHTANGA YOGA OR THE YOGA OF EIGHT LIMBS IS NOT MENTIONED. IT IS ONLY FROM SUTRA 29 THAT THE PRACTICE OF ASHTANGA BEGINS. UNTIL THEN, THE TEACHING CENTRES AROUND UNDERSTANDING THE ROOT CAUSE OF AFFLICTIONS, SO THAT THEY MAY BE DEALT WITH.

                       SUTRAS 3 

                            AVIDYA-ASMITA-RAGA-DVESA-ABHINIVESAH KLESAH

                          THIS SUTRA DESCRIBES THE AFFLICTIONS THAT HAMPER THE TRANQUILITY OF MIND NEEDED TO TOUCH THE FREEDOM OF PURE CONSCIOUSNESS.

                        IGNORANCE, I-AM-NESS (EGO), ATTRACTION, AVERSION AND DESIRE FOR CONTINUITY - THE DESIRE TO LIVE FOREVER.

                      NOW THESE NEED TO BE STUDIED CAREFULLY, THE BRAHMA SUTRAS, UPANISHADS AND THE GITA, TOGETHER CALLED THE PRASTANA TRAYA, OFFER A GREAT DEAL IN THIS DIRECTION.

                       THE NEXT SUTRAS THAT FOLLOW TAKE UP EACH OF THESE WORDS AND EXPLAIN THEIR MEANING,

                          SUTRA 4

                   AVIDYA KSETRAM-UTTARESAM PRASUPTA-TANU-VICCHINNI-

                    UDARANAM AVIDYA

                           IGNORANCE IS THE ORIGIN OF FIELD OF ALL OTHER AFFLICTIONS, EITHER DORMANT OR INACTIVE, DIMISHED (DUE TO VARIOUS REASONS), OVERPOWERED BY OTHER CAUSES OR FULLY AROUSED.

                           THE NEXT SUTRAS ATTEMPT TO DEFINE THE WORD "IGNORANCE".

                SUTRA 5

                   ANITYA-ASUCI-DUHKHA-ANATMASU NITYA-SUCI-

                   SUKHA-ATMA- KHYATIR-AVIDYA

                      IGNORANCE IS SEEING THE NON-ETERNAL AS ETERNAL, THE NOT PURE AS PURE, SORROW PRODUCING FACTORS AS PLEASURABLE, AND THE NON-SELF AS SELF.

                           AS VEDANTA DECLARES, THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM IS THAT ONE CONSIDERS THE UNREAL, PHENOMENAL WORLD PERCEIVED BY THE SENSE ORGANS AS REAL AS OPPOSED TO THE REAL SELF, WHICH CANNOT BE RECOGNISED BY THEM. THE FAMOUS "ASSERTATION" OFTEN CONSIDERED A PRAYER, ASATOMA SADGAMAYA 'FROM THE UNREAL MAY I ASCEND TO THE REAL SUMS UP THIS IDEA.

                      WHAT THE VEDANTINS SAY IS WHAT SCIENTISTS, PARTICULARLY NEUROLOGISTS, HAVE BEGUN TO SAY TODAY, THAT WHAT WE PERCEIVE AND FEEL AS THE REAL WORLD, IS MERELY THE IMAGE OF THE WORLD PERCEIVED THROUGH OUR SENSE ORGANS WHICH THEMSELVES ARE INACCURATE INSTRUMENTS OF PERCEPTION, AND BASED ON WHICH, THE MIND CONSTRUTS IMAGES AND PRESENTS TO US AS "REAL".

                       DIFFERENT SETS OF SENSE ORGANS OR INSTRUMENTS OF PERCEPTION, LIKE THE COMPOUND EYE OF THE COMMON HOUSEFLY, CAN PROJECT AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT IMAGE OF THE SAME WORLD. THE QUESTION THAT ARISES IS, THEREFORE, WHAT IS THE REALITY OF EVEN THIS WORLD WE EXPERIENCE AND LIVE IN, EXCEPT WHAT THE MIND PROJECTS, WHICH IN ITSELF IS BASED ON THE ERRONEOUS DATA PROVIDED BY THE UNSTRUMENTS OF PERCEPTION. TO QUOTE THE POET ALEXANDER POPE, THE DIFFERENCE IS AS GREAT BETWEEN THE OPTICS SEEING, AS THE OBJECTS SEEN.