‘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 16 Theory: A Session for Questions Pages 221-235

1. Question on when there is difficulty P221

• In Yoga terms if we have Duḥkha, something is behind it – Yoga Sūtra II 15
• I do something that will make the mind a little clearer
• Something that was acute might become less acute

2. Question on being hardest to sit or be quiet when in the grip of a problem P222

• In the beginning this is true
• We need both incidental solutions and continual progress
• From the perspective of Pariṇāma Vāda, of Yoga, the mind is always changing

3. Question on what it means to trace Avidyā back to its origin P223-224

• You never know when Avidyā might quickly arise – Yoga Sūtra II 4
• Resolving back to the origin means to be in a state where Avidyā is no longer effective – Yoga Sūtra II 10
• We never know when or how, so we must be cautious – Yoga Sūtra II 16
• We must keep on trying; this is what Abhyāsa is about – Yoga Sūtra I 13
• We must keep on developing this ever-present effort and attention – Yoga Sūtra I 14

4. Question around obstacles that get in the way P224

• What we need is greater effort to go in a particular direction – Yoga Sūtra I 14
• That’s why, once is a while, its good to go to our teachers
• Another solution is just to fully accept what happens
• I feel the first one is better than the second

5. Question on Īśvara and truth P224-225

• We must have some conviction about Īśvara – Yoga Sūtra I 23
• Three ways that lead us to the acceptance of Īśvara – Yoga Sūtra I 7
• Simply invoking Īśvara might not suffice; we have also to do something – Yoga Sūtra I 28

6. Question on Īśvara and control P225-226

• According to Yoga Īśvara knew, knows and will know – Yoga Sūtra I 25
• In Yoga, material is not from Īśvara, but intelligence is – Yoga Sūtra I 24

7. Question on creation as having three parts P226

• For any creation we need three Kāraṇa or means for something
• Upādāna, material; Nimitta, intelligence and Sahakāra, assistance
• Nimitta Kāraṇa is Īśvara

8. Question on Detachment P226-227

• Detachment is an effect, a consequence of another deeper action – Yoga Sūtra I 16
• Detachment can also be the absence of attachment towards the fruits of what we are doing at the moment

9. Question on Dhāraṇā on Īśvara P227-228

• Depending on the object of meditation, the state of mind changes – Yoga Sūtra I 39
• In this way the state of mind changes according to our concept of Īśvara – Yoga Sūtra I 24

10. Question on relationship of Dhāraṇā and Dhyāna P228-229

• Dhāraṇā comes when I orientate my mind towards one idea – Yoga Sūtra III 1
• When this happens Dhyāna should follow – Yoga Sūtra III 2
• In Dhāraṇā , we go in one direction – Yoga Sūtra III 1
• In Dhyāna, we communicate with the object – Yoga Sūtra III 2
• In Samādhi, we are there, we are with it – Yoga Sūtra III 3

11. Question on Dhāraṇā and Asmitā P229

• What else can there be in the beginning? – Yoga Sūtra II 6

12. Question on Dhyāna and Asmitā P229

• In Dhyāna it is Asmitā which is communicating – Yoga Sūtra II 6

13. Question on choosing an object of Meditation which doesn’t have mystery P229-231

• Mystery is always present
• It can be found in anything provided we seek it

14. Question on Dhāraṇā and Dhyāna just happening P231

• “Happens” does not infer that we simply do nothing
• We have to try. We must try

15. Question on scriptures saying sef-denial is good for us P231-233

• If we don’t eat meat and we don’t worry about it, it is alright
• But if we say I didn’t eat meat and it causes an even stronger feeling about the self
• Is it alright to follow a practice where we combine different convictions, principles and concepts?
• If a person has the capacity and means to integrate these things

16. Question on self-inquiry and “false self” P233-234

• The point of self-inquiry is to lead ourselves beyond the “I”
• How can we discriminate between the real and the non-real – Yoga Sūtra II 5

17. Question on what happens to the Puruṣa when the body dies P234

• We don’t have the answer in the Yoga Sūtra
• It does mention fear is present because man has died – Yoga Sūtra II 9
• I don’t know because I am answering your question without direct experience

18. Question on Dreams as a means of overcoming obstacles P234

• It is a mystery that we can attempt to explore – Yoga Sūtra I 38

Follow this link for a Downloadable PDF version of the Chapter Sixteen Study Guide

Follow this Link for Downloadable PDF’s of all the Previous Chapters