108 Sūtra Study Pointers – 52 – Svā – To look at that which……
Svā – To look at that
Adhyāya – Which helps me understand
– What is outside myself.
– What is inside myself.
– What is beyond myself.
– Commentary on Yoga Sūtra Chapter Two verse 1
Posts archive: Collected Yoga Texts Posts
108 Sūtra Study Pointers – 51 – One of the artful illusions presented by the Citta……
One of the artful illusions presented by the Citta,
is its ability to as if dress in disguise,
so as to appear as if the Cit.
– Reflection around Yoga Sūtra Chapter Two verse 5
108 Sūtra Study Pointers – 50 – Yoga is about refining the skill to rest in the awareness……
Yoga is about refining the skill
to rest in the awareness of the Cit,
rather than nest in the nature of the Citta.
– Commentary on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verses 3-4
108 Sūtra Study Pointers – 49 – The mind modifies perception……
The mind modifies perception.
Though you might even say that,
the mind muddifies perception.
– Reflection around Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 4
Link to Series: 108 Sutra Study Pointers
Regarding Yama and Niyama, these days, he believes, they have no validity except for two of them
“Regarding Yama and Niyama, these days, he believes,
they have no validity except for two of them.
First, what is called Satya Niyama, or
what to speak, what not to speak, to whom to speak,
how to write, what not to write.
These are Satya Niyama.
Another Niyama that should be followed is Āhāra Niyama.
That is, how much to eat and what to eat,
according to age, profession, etc.
You see, the ancient people believed that
a young boy could eat as much as he liked.
But a Saṃnyāsi should only eat eight handfuls of rice,
no more, per day.”
– TKV Desikachar from lectures on ‘The Yoga of T Krishnamacharya’,
given at Zinal, Switzerland 1981.
When something is understood differently from what it truly is, it is called Avidyā……
“When something is understood differently from what it truly is, it is called Avidyā.
What is changing is taken to be non-changing. For example the mind.
What is subjected to decay is assumed to be pure. For example the body.
What is leading to suffering is taken to be the source of pleasure.
What is not conscious is assumed to be conscious.
All these errors in perceptions have many possibilities.
But the ultimate stage of Avidyā is to assume that we are the Masters, not Īśvara.”
T Krishnamacharya’s commentary to Yoga Sūtra Chapter Two verse 5
A particular Dharma is not there, but somewhere we feel it is there.
“A particular Dharma is not there,
but somewhere we feel it is there.”
– T Krishnamacharya’s commentary to
Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 8
It can be said that sickness is Citta Vikṣepa……
Different people explain the cause of disease differently……
“Different people explain the cause of disease differently.
In the Yoga Sūtra disease is Vikṣepā, a mind which is unstable.
Mind loses its presence of mind before an object.”
– TKV Desikachar France 1983
108 Sūtra Study Pointers – 48 – When you are linked through Śraddhā……
When you are linked through Śraddhā
you receive something from the source of that link.
Reflections around Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 20
108 Sūtra Study Pointers – 47 – Feelings from the past remain eternally potent ravagers…….
Feelings from the past remain eternally potent ravagers,
especially pervasive within the illusion of our present and
with it a tendency to recreate an old shape from our past,
whilst we are believing it to be a new shape for our future.
– Reflections on Yoga Sūtra Chapter Four verse 27
The more you try to know Īśvara the more you come to know your self.
“The more you try to know Īśvara,
the more you come to know your self.”
– TKV Desikachar on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 29
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
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