‘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 15 Theory: The Antarāyāḥ, Obstacles to Progress, Techniques to Overcome them Pages 207-219
1. Any questions on Dhāraṇā, Dhyāna, Samādhi, Saṃyama Kaivalya P207
2. Question on Samādhi as the Seer, the Object and the Relationship between them P207
- They meet and communicate
3. Question on what happens to the Communication P207
- At this stage there is no thought
- Samādhi has different Stages
4. Introduction to how we become stuck and can’t progress P207-208
- The term Antarāyāḥ describes this situation – Yoga Sūtra I 30
- Let us consider how they arise and how to get rid of them
5. Presentation of Vyādhi or not being well P208
- If we are sick we must do something about it – Yoga Sūtra I 30
6. Discussion on Styāna P208
- We get moods – Yoga Sūtra I 30
7. Presentation of Saṃśaya P208
- Doubts always arise – Yoga Sūtra I 30
8. Presentation of Pramāda P208
- Sometimes we act with little deliberation – Yoga Sūtra I 30
9. Presentation of Ālasya P209
- A lack of enthusiasm – Yoga Sūtra I 30
10. Presentation of Avirati P209
- Our senses seem to take over – Yoga Sūtra I 30
11. Presentation of Bhrānti Darśana P209
- We think we have understood something and we haven’t – Yoga Sūtra I 30
12. Presentation of Alabdha Bhūmikatva P209-210
- A situation where we presume we have progressed a lot – Yoga Sūtra I 30
13. Presentation of Anavasthitatvāni P210
- We allow ourselves to slide back – Yoga Sūtra I 30
14. So also Yoga provides ways to surmount these Obstacles P210-212
- The most important is Īśvara Praṇidhānā – Yoga Sūtra I 23
- Definition of Īśvara – Yoga Sūtra I 24
- Qualities of Īśvara – Yoga Sūtra I 25
- Īśvara is the Guru who knows everything – Yoga Sūtra I 26
- Yoga does not describe Īśvara in a particular form – Yoga Sūtra I 27
- What is our relationship with Īśvara – Yoga Sūtra I 28
- Īśvara then is one of the alternatives for surmounting Obstacles – Yoga Sūtra I 29
15. Question on the relationship between Puruṣa and Īśvara P212
- Yoga attempts gradually to bring back our real nature, where Puruṣa is the master
15. Question on whether Puruṣa is meant to serve Īśvara P213
- In Yoga the question phrased this way does not arise – Yoga Sūtra I 29
17. Presentation on the reasons for the choice or use of OM P213-214
18. Reminder that Yoga does not insist that you accept Īśvara P214
19. Question on Chanting OM and Īśvara P214-215
- When we say OM the meaning must be Īśvara – Yoga Sūtra I 28
20. There are other alternatives that might help us to overcome obstacles P214-218
- One alternative is to find a means to sustain a particular direction – Yoga Sūtra I 32
- Prāṇāyāma is often mentioned as an alternate way – Yoga Sūtra I 34
- Investigation into the functioning of the senses – Yoga Sūtra I 35
- In the Heart region there is something called Puruṣa – Yoga Sūtra I 36
- The study of people who have overcome problems – Yoga Sūtra I 37
- Investigating Dreamless sleep might be helpful – Yoga Sūtra I 38
- Meditation that utilizes a visual object – Yoga Sūtra I 39
21. Question on what you meant by ‘give the mind some space” P218
- Space means freedom at the moment when we are stuck
22. Question on Īśvaraaiding the overall betterment of the individual P218-219
- Whether Īśvara is better than other alternatives depends on the individual
- We have to give a person what they are prepared to take, not what is necessarily best
Follow this link for a Downloadable PDF version of the Chapter Fifteen Study Guide
Follow this Link for Downloadable PDF’s of all the Previous Chapters
