Narasimha on Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra

In India, many texts and knowledge systems, called Shastra (=complete).

Yoga Sutra of Patanjali is one Shastra. You have source, course and goal exposed.

First Pada: How to achieve Samadhi

Second Pada: How to practice that in life

Third Pada: What are the marks of the practice

Fourth Pada: What is the ultimate result?

Every time there’s a new term, Patanjali explains it and then goes further

Patanjali’s approach is from mind, psychological

200 years ago, the world was fait-orientated (religions). Then, science, the analytical took over and very little possibility of emotions or faith

The world has become mechanical, human being a machine

Patanjali’s system: balancing the rational and the emotional mind

The scientist way is reductionist: in the end, there’s nothing > < Patanjali’s system goes towards the Infinite

Nowadays science is measuring yoga and the philosophical systems too

In Sadhana Pada, first sutra Tapahsvadhyayeshvarapranidhanani kriyayogah,

TAPAH means penance, to go through a lot of troubles to modify yourself. You burn yourself in many ways to purify.

SVADHYAYA is self analysis and self-understanding where ‘I’ is not pure and how should I correct it. See how your practice which is a progress by tapah influences. Know your defects and study yourself. What is the measure? Only those who have gone the path before, know. Their information – the scriptures tell.

ISHVARA PRANIDHANA: https://annenuotio.wordpress.com/2013/11/05/narasimha-on-ishvara/

Different kind of yogas. Different yogis depending on how they feel and what they do. Unity of emotion and action:

Karma Yoga (Action)  – Tapas

Jnana Yoga (Knowledge) – Svadhyaya

Bhakti Yoga (Devotion) – Ishvara

Any action always creates some dirt.

Photo Bill Brundell