‘Religiousness in Yoga: Lectures on Theory and Practice’ by the University Press of America,
a transcript of recordings of a one month Yoga Programme in Colgate University in 1976, published in 1980.
Unlike the later redacted edition, re-published in 1995 as the ‘Heart of Yoga: Developing a Personal Practice’, it captures the evolution of the retreat with the days lectures and Q & A dialogues as they alternated between ‘lectures on the principles and purposes of Yoga and discussions related to the practice of Yoga with special reference to the postures and the breathing techniques’.
TKV Desikachar, in his forward to the original version wrote:
“These lectures and discussions, printed words put before persons I might never meet,
are but reflections of that deeper result that grew out of a living face-to-face encounter.
Coming to learn of Yoga only through reading leaves much to be desired.
Yet, something worthwhile about Yoga might be shared through the medium of the printed word.”
A chapter by chapter Study guide is offered below with added verse and word cross-references where possible to support a a deeper linking with the teachings within these lectures and Q & A sessions.
Chapter Six Theory: Puruṣa and Prakṛti – Pages 81-90
1. Review P81
- Avidyā – Yoga Sūtra II 5
- Duḥkha – Yoga Sūtra II 16
- Puruṣa – Yoga Sūtra II 20
- Prakṛti – Yoga Sūtra II 18
2. Question on Avidyā P81-82
- Duḥkha – Yoga Sūtra II 16
- Types of Duḥkha – Yoga Sūtra II 15
- Clarity – Yoga Sūtra II 26
3. Question on Clarity P82
- Stages of Clarity – Yoga Sūtra II 27
4. Question on Clarity and Duḥkha P82
- Duḥkha and Prajña – Yoga Sūtra II 27
5. Question on Duḥkha and Habit P82-83
- Develop Alternatives – Yoga Sūtra II 33
6. Puruṣa and Prakṛti P83
- Puruṣa and Avidyā – Yoga Sūtra II 6
- Draṣṭṛ or Seer – Yoga Sūtra I 3
- Dṛṣya or Seen – Yoga Sūtra II 18
7. Theory of Evolution P83-85
- 25 Sāṃkhya Tattva – Yoga Sūtra II 19
8. Relationship of Puruṣa and Prakṛti P85
- Draṣṭṛ Seer and Dṛṣya Seen – Yoga Sūtra IV 23
9. Question on Puruṣa and Mind P86
- Puruṣa and Observation – Yoga Sūtra II 20
- Saṃyoga of Puruṣa and Prakṛti – Yoga Sūtra II 17
10. Question on Puruṣa and Obsrvation P86-87
- Perception initiated by Puruṣa – Yoga Sūtra II 21
11. Question on Origin of relationship of Puruṣa and Prakṛti P87
- As difficult to explain as death
12. Question on Puruṣa and Death P87
- No death for Puruṣa because no change – Yoga Sūtra II 18
13. Question on Puruṣa and Action P87-88
- Puruṣa action is to see – Yoga Sūtra II 20
14. Question on Puruṣa and Decision Making P88
- Change in action is in the Mind – Yoga Sūtra IV 18
15. Question on Puruṣa and Reincarnation P88
- Quite a few theories
16. Question on Pariṇāma or Changes of Citta P88-89
- New Saṃskāra stronger than old – Yoga Sūtra I 50
17. Question on Puruṣa and Clarity P89-90
- Clarity needs a knower – Yoga Sūtra II 20
18. Question on Mind and Self-perception P90
- Mind cannot know itself – Yoga Sūtra IV 19
19. Question on Puruṣa always working through the Mind P90
- Puruṣa as an observer – Yoga Sūtra II 20
Follow this link for a Downloadable PDF version of the Chapter Six Study Guide
