Posts archive: Desikachar Yoga Sūtra Posts

Śraddhā is essential for progress, whether in Yoga or……

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sraddha

“Śraddhā is essential for progress, whether in Yoga or any other endeavour.
It is a feeling that cannot be expressed or intellectually discussed.
It, however, is a feeling that is not always uncovered in every person.
When absent or weak,
it is evident through the lack of stability and focus in a person.
Where present and strong, it is evident through the commitment,
perseverance and enthusiasm the person exhibits.
For such a person, life is meaningful.”
– TKV Desikachar on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 20

Sthira Sukham Āsanam – Means what happens before and after a posture……

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sthirasukha

Yoga Sūtra Chapter Two verse 46 Sthira Sukham Āsanam
“Means what happens before and after a posture.
One should be able to move to another posture with ease.
– TKV Desikachar England 1980

Change is universal but not the same for everybody…..

Posted on by Paul Harvey

parinama

Question to TKV Desikachar on Pariṇāma:
“Change is universal but not the same for everybody.
Pariṇāma gives life to Saṃskāra.
Saṃskāra gives stability to Pariṇāma.
So there is an order in any change.
If there is no Pariṇāma or Saṃskāra there is no Vidyā or Avidyā.”
– TKV Desikachar France 1983

The relationship we have developed with the fruits of our actions is……

Posted on by Paul Harvey

The relationship we have developed with the fruits of our actions

“The relationship we have developed with the fruits of our actions is Īśvara Praṇidhānā”
– TKV Desikachar France 1983

īśvara Praṇidhānā – What is our attitude towards our own action?

Posted on by Paul Harvey

What is our attitude towards our own action?

“Īśvara Praṇidhānā –
What is our attitude towards our own action?”
– TKV Desikachar France 1983

Patañjali has proposed 3 approaches to verify the indications……

Posted on by Paul Harvey

“Patañjali has proposed 3 approaches to verify the indications.
Tapas – Process of action
Food, Āsana, Prāṇāyāma.
You will be doing something that you will not be habitually doing.
For example one day no salt, cigarettes, Prāṇāyāma.
Tapas is from the root to create thirst.
It means to deprive.
It will tell us about ourselves.
It will reveal our Saṃskāra and Pariṇāma or changes in ourselves.
From this Tapas we will start to get an indication of our individual nature.
For example active or lazy.
Tapas indicates the the beginning of the Bheda, through the Bhāva.”
– TKV Desikachar France 1983

According to Patañjali, comprehension is dependent opon two things……

Posted on by Paul Harvey

apeksa

“According to Patañjali (Yoga Sūtra Chapter Four verse 17),
comprehension is dependent upon two things:
1. Your interest
and
2. The proximity of the object.
Apekṣā is the interest of the Puruṣa for the object.
The success of Dhyāna depends on the force (Śakti) of the Puruṣa
that pushes the mind to direct itself towards an object.
Without interest, there is no question and no answer.
If you have the interest, you will discover the proximity.”
– TKV Desikachar Madras December 19th 1988

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How does the ‘I’ influence Dhyāna?

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dhyana

Question: How does the ‘I’ influence Dhyāna?
“Patañjali’s Yoga Sūtra, which describes
every aspect of mental activity,
provides an answer to this question…….”
– TKV Desikachar Madras December 19th 1988

Once again, let me remind you that Dhyāna is……

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dhyana

“Once again, let me remind you that Dhyāna is:
1. The ability to establish a contact with an object.
2. The ability to prolong this contact so as to create a link both ways.”
– TKV Desikachar Madras December 19th 1988

Since Dhyāna cannot occur without an object of concentration……

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dhyana

“Since Dhyāna cannot occur without an object of concentration,
there must be an area where you fix your mind.
So, first you have to fix or bind your mind
on a particular place, a chosen object;
this is known as Deśa Bandha.
And second, the mind should establish a relationship with
this object which should last, at least, for a moment.”
– TKV Desikachar Madras December 19th 1988

Perhaps the best explanation of Dhyāna is given by Patañjali in……

Posted on by Paul Harvey

dhyana

“Perhaps the best explanation of Dhyāna is given by Patañjali in the Yoga Sūtra Chapter Three verses One and Two, where he states that one must first fix the question (Dhāraṇā) and then link to it (Dhyāna).
One who is not able to fix the question is not able to succeed in Dhyāna.”
– TKV Desikachar Madras December 19th 1988

Let us go into Siddhi, here the important word is Samādhi……

Posted on by Paul Harvey
Picture courtesy of KYM Archives

Picture courtesy of KYM Archives

“Let us go into Siddhi, here the important word is Samādhi.
Unless we are born like that, then it’s a Siddhi, Samādhi is a Siddhi.
When we are in a state of absorption in something we are in Samādhi.
After which we appreciate the object in question and understand it more clearly.”
– TKV Desikachar France 1983

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Although Krishnamacharya came from a strict Indian tradition……

Posted on by Paul Harvey
TK_1980_aged_91

T Krishnamacharya at 91

“Although Krishnamacharya came from a strict Indian tradition,
he liberated the restrictions.
He segregated his personal beliefs from his teaching
and his interest in the different texts on Yoga and Vedānta.

It isn’t necessary to be a Hindu to practice Yoga,
the Hindu text, the Brahma Sūtra refute Yoga.
In the Yoga Sūtra of Patañjali God is not emphasised.

Hindus have taken advantage of Yoga,
Brahmin rituals use Yoga breathing,
even if it is only symbolic and they use Mantra.

Krishnamacharya didn’t mix the different teachings,
he didn’t start a class with prayers when he worked with foreigners.”
– From study notes with TKV Desikachar England 1992

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