108 Sūtra Study Pointers – 46 – We look at the world through the eyes of……
We look at the world through the eyes of
our needs and expectations.
– Commentary around Yoga Sūtra Chapter Four verse 17
Posts archive: Collected Yoga Texts Posts
When the mind is not very clear……
“When the mind is not very clear,
you only get the message from the mind.”
– TKV Desikachar on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 4
When the mind is very clear……
“When the mind is very clear,
you get the message from deep inside.”
– TKV Desikachar on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 3
The Art of Sūtra Psychology – Personal Sādhana Study Modules 2019-2022
I was privileged to be able to study the Yoga Sūtra in its entirety over three times, word by word, Sūtra by Sūtra along with the commentaries of Krishnamacharya and Desikachar, within the intimacy and vitality of private lessons over 23 years of visits to Chennai.
“The beauty of the Sūtra is that they are only related to the mind.
Thus they stand above various religions and can be studied and
related to by all types of persons from all types of religions.”
– TKV Desikachar on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 1
Rooted through this traditional method of transmission the Yoga Sūtra have long been a support for my personal Yoga practice and study Sādhana. With this in mind I designed a range of Workshop and Course Modules with detailed Yoga Sūtra Workbooks to facilitate being able to offer these teachings to individuals and small study groups of five students for both a personal and professional pursuit.
The Art of Sūtra Psychology Module One Workshops
Offer a 2 day Module as an opportunity for a student from any Yoga background or style to have an in-depth introduction to the primary principles and teachings introducing and underpinning the Yoga Sūtra and how they can inspire and guide our personal Yoga practice and study Sādhana, either for personal development or, if relevant, professional skills.
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Module One – Yoga Sūtra Overview Chapters 1-4
Upcoming Dates for 2019 Module One Workshops – for groups of five students:
The Art of Sūtra Psychology – Module One Two Day Workshop March 9/10th 2019
The Art of Sūtra Psychology – Module One Two Day Workshop December 7/8th 2019
Upcoming Dates for 2020 Module One Workshops – for groups of five students:
The Art of Sūtra Psychology – Module One Two Day Workshop May 9/10th 2020
(Follow this link for details of Online Art of Sūtra Psychology 121 eStudy Module 1 options)
The Art of Sūtra Psychology Modules Two – Five Courses
108 Sūtra Study Pointers – 45 – One of the aims in Yoga is to yoke to…..
One of the aims in Yoga is to yoke to
the more discerning aspects of the psyche,
rather than to the more distracting aspects of the psyche.
– Commentary around Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 14
The idea is to bridge the gap that is between what exists and what is desired….
“The idea is to bridge the gap that is between what exists and what is desired.
This is what Abhyāsa refers to. This is not exactly practice.
1. We first require an appreciation of what we want to do or learn.
2. We then find out how to travel or go in that direction.
3. We then learn the techniques by which we travel.”
– TKV Desikachar on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 12
Online Art of Sūtra Psychology – 121 eStudy Module One
The Online Art of Sūtra Psychology – 121 eStudy Module One
Clear your Flow Exploring Awareness within Mind and Emotions
This particular eStudy Module One consists of nine 121 live video meetings to facilitate a personalised approach and in-depth transmission between teacher and student. It introduces the student, through an online teaching dialogue, to the primary principles and essential teachings from T Krishnamacharya and TKV Desikachar within the Yoga Sūtra.
It is open to all except complete beginners and offers an opportunity for any Yoga Student, teacher or trainee teacher from any Yoga background to develop and deepen their personal Yoga Sādhana.
Abhyāsa means constant effort and attention in order to continue in one direction……
“Abhyāsa means constant effort and attention
in order to continue in one direction.
We must never break this process because we
never really know in advance how things might change”
– TKV Desikachar ‘A Session for Questions’
Religiousness in Yoga Chapter Sixteen Page 223
108 Yoga Practice Pointers – 50 – Candra is that which can direct Prāṇa and Apāna in order to influence……
108 Sūtra Study Pointers – 44 – Yoga is about recognising change and……
Yoga is about recognising change and
recognising that which recognises change.
– Commentary around Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 16
In terms of Yoga, if we have Duḥkha, something is behind it……
“If we have a problem which persists,
It might be because we don’t know
what is the real basis or cause of the problem.
In terms of Yoga, if we have Duḥkha,
something is behind it.”
– TKV Desikachar ‘A Session for Questions’
Religiousness in Yoga Chapter Sixteen Page 221
I am going to explain you something else about the aphorisms…….
“I am going to explain you something else about the aphorisms, about their translation.
Many books or courses have been written about the treatise of Patañjali.
Some of them analyse the words one by one, trying to translate them separately,
dissecting the text. This way of proceeding may be interesting,
but unfortunately it can also confuse instead of helping understanding of the text.
Why?
Because literally translating the aphorisms is nothing but a series of words glued together,
in sentences that very often lack in consistency.
The ancient way of exposing was not translating them into a new language;
it was mainly making the student grasp the sense of the aphorism.
In this case, the Sanskrit text is just a reminder,
a mnemonic that the teacher is not going to translate textually.
They are going to use it to develop the idea or the sense of the aphorism.
They will explain these notions, sometimes even without referring to any word of the aphorism.
What is important is to give a teaching that is adapted to the level of understanding of the student.”
– TKV Desikachar on Learning from the Yoga Sūtra
– Extract from Viniyoga Europe No 1
108 Sūtra Study Pointers – 43 – Fear and Insecurity feed on the leftovers……
“Fear and Insecurity feed on the leftovers
from the meals of past experiences.”
– Commentary around Yoga Sūtra Chapter Two verse 9
2022 Art of Sūtra Psychology Course Module Four – Vibhūti Pādaḥ
Exploring Chapter Three of the Yoga Sūtra of Patañjali
The Art of Sūtra Psychology Course Module Four
Yoga Sūtra Chapter Three – Vibhūti Pādaḥ
March 26/27th 2022 and June 25/26th 2022
This Art of Sūtra Psychology Modular Course is limited to a maximum of five students to allow for a personalised approach and in-depth transmission between teacher and student. It is offered as a 4 day course module, comprising two 2 day meetings over 3-4 months.
Based in the Cotswolds, it offers an in-depth study of Chapter Three of the Yoga Sūtra. It is presented with the aim of reflecting the fundamentals of Śrī T Krishnamacharya’s teaching, namely, transmission occurs through the direct experience of the teacher with the students personal practice and study Sādhana.
It is an opportunity for a Yoga student from any Yoga background or style to experience an in-depth exploration of Chapter Three of the Yoga Sūtra of Patāñjali over a 4 day module.
Postscript to yesterdays post around the three Niyama within Kriyā Yoga……
A postscript to yesterdays post around the three Niyama
within Kriyā Yoga on the uses of the terms ‘self’ or ‘Self’ within
the legs in the tripod supporting our efforts at nurturing a state of Yoga.
“Activities that nurture a state of Yoga involve
self-discipline, Self-inquiry and Self-awareness.”
The first leg supporting the tripod refers to Citta
as the self in terms of nurturing self-discipline.
“Tapas is to discipline our eating habits.”
– T Krishnamacharya
The second leg supporting the tripod refers to Cit
as the Self in terms of nurturing Self-inquiry.
“Svādhyāya is an inquiry into one’s true nature.”
– T Krishnamacharya
The final leg supporting the tripod refers to Cit
as the Self in terms of nurturing Self-awareness.
The Art of Āyurveda Lifestyle Module One Workshop November 21st/22nd 2020
Follow this link for details of Online Personalised Learning Art of Āyurveda Lifestyle Study options
The Art of Āyurveda Lifestyle Workshop Module One
Know your Patterns within The Ebb and Flow of Seasons, Food and Life
The Art of Āyurveda Lifestyle – Module One Personal Sādhana Workshop is limited to a maximum of five students to allow for a personalised approach and in-depth transmission between teacher and student. This weekend workshop introduces the student to the primary principles and essential teachings from Āyurveda and how they were applied by T Krishnamacharya and TKV Desikachar.
Based in the Cotswolds, it is open to all except complete beginners and offers an opportunity for any Yoga Student, teacher or trainee teacher from any Yoga background to develop and deepen their personal Yoga practice and study.
It is presented with the aim of reflecting the fundamentals of Śrī T Krishnamacharya’s teaching, namely, transmission occurs through the direct experience of the teacher with the students personal practice and study Sādhana.
It offers an in-depth approach to Āyurveda texts, through an experiential appreciation of the core teachings that underpin the Art of Āyurveda Lifestyle, either for personal development or, if relevant, to enhance professional skills. It is also a prerequisite to further work in the The Art of Āyurveda Lifestyle – Module Two Course.
Upcoming Dates
- The Art of Āyurveda Lifestyle – Module One Personal Sādhana Workshop 7November 21, 2020
An in-depth overview of Āyurveda – Module One
Two Day Workshop Nov 21st/22nd 2020 – Four Places Available
108 Sūtra Study Pointers – 42 – Activities that nurture a state of Yoga…….
Activities that nurture a state of Yoga involve
self-discipline, Self-inquiry and Self-awareness.
– Reflections around Yoga Sūtra Chapter Two verse 1
108 Sūtra Study Pointers – 41 – Some define their experience of life by seeking Duḥkha……
Some define their experience of life by seeking Duḥkha,
some by seeking Sukha.
The Yoga Practitioner sees both as Avidyā
and defines their experience of life by seeking
what lies beyond duality through unwavering Viveka.
– Reflections around Yoga Sūtra Chapter Two verse 26
The worst obstacle of all occurs when, somewhere in the back of our minds……
“The worst obstacle of all occurs when,
somewhere in the back of our minds,
we think we have understood something and we haven’t.
That is, we fancy that we have seen the truth.
We think, because of a situation in which we feel
we have some sort of calmness, we have reached our zenith.
We say, ‘That is what I have been looking for; I have progressed.’
But in actual fact we have not progressed.”
– TKV Desikachar ‘Antarāyāḥ, Obstacles to progress, Techniques to Overcome them’
Religiousness in Yoga Chapter Fifteen Page 209
108 Sūtra Study Pointers – 40 – Awareness is a quality not a quantity.
Awareness is a quality not a quantity.
Commentary on Yoga Sūtra Chapter Four verse 34
108 Sūtra Study Pointers – 39 – Prāṇāyāma is a key to the door of Dhāraṇā.
Prāṇāyāma is a key to the door of Dhāraṇā.
Commentary on Yoga Sūtra Chapter Two verse 53
Different Yoga practices are meant to prepare a person towards Dhyānam.
“Different Yoga practices are meant to prepare a person towards Dhyānam.”
– T Krishnamacharya’s commentary to Yoga Sūtra Chapter Two verse 21
Another obstacle is when our senses seem to take over……
“Another obstacle is when our senses seem to take over.
They reassert themselves as masters,
sometimes without our knowing it.
This is not surprising since we are trained from birth to
look here, see there, hear this, touch that, etc.
So sometimes, because of their habitual action of always looking for things, etc.,
The senses take over and our direction slowly shifts in the wrong way.”
– TKV Desikachar ‘Antarāyāḥ, Obstacles to progress, Techniques to Overcome them’
Religiousness in Yoga Chapter Fifteen Page 209
108 Sūtra Study Pointers – 38 – If you remove the past from the present what is left?
If you remove the past from the present what is left?
– Reflection on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 43
The Art of Haṭha Energetics Module One Workshop October 17/18th 2020
“The Cakra are points of concentration for the mind.”
– TKV Desikachar ‘Concering the Cakra’
The Art of Haṭha Energetics Module One
– Vitalize your Energy Understanding Nāḍī Prāṇa Agni Cakra Bhūta
The Art of Haṭha Energetics – Module One Personal Sādhana Workshop is limited to a maximum of five students to allow for a personalised approach and in-depth transmission between teacher and student. It introduces the student, through a 2 day workshop, to the primary principles and teachings from T Krishnamacharya and TKV Desikachar on the Art of Haṭha Energetics.
Based in the Cotswolds, it is open to all except complete beginners. It offers an opportunity for a student to have an in-depth introduction to the primary principles and teachings from the major Haṭha Yoga texts.
Upcoming Dates
- The Art of Haṭha Energetics – Module One Personal Sādhana Workshop 7October 17, 2020
An in-depth overview of Haṭha Yoga Energetic concepts – Module One
Two Day Workshop October 17/18th 2020 – Four Places Available