“Nimitta is not permanently at our disposal
because of the Kleśa, especially Asmitā.”
– TKV Desikachar on Yoga Sūtra Chapter Four verse 3

– TKV Desikachar Yoga Sūtra Study Quotes Collected and Collated
– T Krishnamacharya Yoga Sūtra Study Quotes Collected and Collated

“Īśvara Praṇidhānā is from the Yoga Sūtra
and is mentioned more than once.
It is given on three levels and
both presented and utilised
in Chapters One and Two.

In Chapter Two Patañjali mentions
Īśvara Praṇidhānā as part of Kriya Yoga.
Tapas is elimination, we have things
to remove from body and mind.
Svādhyāya is a reflection of what
I am and what is my goal in life.
Īśvara Praṇidhānā is where we are
more concerned with the quality
of the action rather than the fruit.
Here, Īśvara Praṇidhānā symbolises
our attitude to our actions and the
result of our actions.

Again it is mentioned in Chapter Two
as part of the Niyama,
as part of our daily practices.
Īśvara Praṇidhānā is something
we do every day to bring us
into contact with God.”
– TKV Desikachar on Yoga Sūtra Chapter Two

– TKV Desikachar Yoga Sūtra Study Quotes Collected and Collated
– T Krishnamacharya Yoga Sūtra Study Quotes Collected and Collated

“Citta
is defined in this Sūtra, only
in the language of its function.
It cannot be, or is not,
defined in a qualitative way.
It is defined in a functional way.
Not what it is, but what it does.
It functions in many ways.”
– TKV Desikachar on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 5

– TKV Desikachar Yoga Sūtra Study Quotes Collected and Collated
– T Krishnamacharya Yoga Sūtra Study Quotes Collected and Collated

“The mind can have two types of Saṃskāra,
Vyutthāna or Nirodha Saṃskāra.
Vyutthāna is an earlier state
within the three levels of Citta.
Here, the Citta is like a ball.
It is not by you, it is in spite of you.
This applies also to the body and speech energies.”
– TKV Desikachar on Yoga Sūtra Chapter Three verse 9

– TKV Desikachar Yoga Sūtra Study Quotes Collected and Collated
– T Krishnamacharya Yoga Sūtra Study Quotes Collected and Collated

“How can our minds, which
are used to one way of
operating, be changed?”
– TKV Desikachar on Yoga Sūtra Chapter Three verse 9

– TKV Desikachar Yoga Sūtra Study Quotes Collected and Collated
– T Krishnamacharya Yoga Sūtra Study Quotes Collected and Collated

“Every human being can operate
in two, almost opposite ways.
However, they don’t operate at
the same time, it is this or that.”
– TKV Desikachar on Yoga Sūtra Chapter Three verse 9

– TKV Desikachar Yoga Sūtra Study Quotes Collected and Collated
– T Krishnamacharya Yoga Sūtra Study Quotes Collected and Collated

“Patañjali has given the notion of Bhūmi and
that the idea of comparison must be appreciated
according to the level of the student.
However, for somebody who is
at the other end of the story,
even this is not as evolved as Nirbīja.”

“The state where the mind has no impressions
of any sort and nothing is beyond its reach,
is more complex than the state of
directing the mind towards an object.”

– TKV Desikachar on Yoga Sūtra Chapter Three verse 8

– TKV Desikachar Yoga Sūtra Study Quotes Collected and Collated
– T Krishnamacharya Yoga Sūtra Study Quotes Collected and Collated

“Saṃyama is an evolved practice,
especially compared to the earlier limbs,
from Yama to Pratyāhāra.”

“To specify what is easy for one individual is not
possible in Saṃyama, or any other practice.
Here, Patañjali presents the idea of relativity.
Everything is relative.”

– TKV Desikachar on Yoga Sūtra Chapter Three verse 7

– TKV Desikachar Yoga Sūtra Study Quotes Collected and Collated
– T Krishnamacharya Yoga Sūtra Study Quotes Collected and Collated

“The abilities of people are different.
At least in the beginning.”

“You should never go beyond your capacity.
You should never go below your capacity.”

“If somebody has a higher potential,
let them go to a higher level.”

“Each step must precede the next.”

– TKV Desikachar on Yoga Sūtra Chapter Three verse 6

– TKV Desikachar Yoga Sūtra Study Quotes Collected and Collated
– T Krishnamacharya Yoga Sūtra Study Quotes Collected and Collated

“In 1.33 four issues are taken which
either disturb the mind or increase
disturbance already in the mind.
e.g. I see someone happy and I become unhappy.
The Bhāvana here is to visualise
something that will help the situation.

An agitated mind is not only a nuisance
for ourselves, but also for others.
So we need to visualise something else.
These four ideas will help us maintain a state
of Citta Prasādanam in different situations.

So, no Īśvara Praṇidhānā, just Bhāvana on
society and our relationships with others.”
– TKV Desikachar on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 33

– TKV Desikachar Yoga Sūtra Study Quotes Collected and Collated
– T Krishnamacharya Yoga Sūtra Study Quotes Collected and Collated

“Patañjali offers four Bhāvana,
as a conscious effort
to visualise something
we are not able to visualise.

An effort to not let the mind
follow the usual track,
but to say no,
let me look at this
in another way.”
– TKV Desikachar on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 33

– TKV Desikachar Yoga Sūtra Study Quotes Collected and Collated
– T Krishnamacharya Yoga Sūtra Study Quotes Collected and Collated

“Different factors affect the mind and
whatever affects the mind affects me,
since we are linked to the mind.

The mind is always in some relationship,
even silence, Maunam,
will become an object for the mind.

So, if we can look at
something auspicious,
I will not be affected.
This is the notion of Īśvara.

However, when such a possibility
doesn’t exist and a person cannot
link with undivided attention,
we require some other means.
e.g. Arjuna doubts Kṛṣṇa

Therefore, we have to accept some other means.
So while Īśvara Praṇidhānā is the highest,
the reality is that other means need
to be offered to quieten the mind.
Here it is Citta Prasādanam.”
– TKV Desikachar on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 33

– TKV Desikachar Yoga Sūtra Study Quotes Collected and Collated
– T Krishnamacharya Yoga Sūtra Study Quotes Collected and Collated

“It is not possible for everyone to
reach the same level of meditation.
Even meditation should be
taught or presented in stages.

It should be used at a level suitable to
the student and gradually increased;
start simply and increase in complexity.

This is dependant on the growth of the
student and according to the purpose.”
– TKV Desikachar on Yoga Sūtra Chapter Three verse 6

– TKV Desikachar Yoga Sūtra Study Quotes Collected and Collated
– T Krishnamacharya Yoga Sūtra Study Quotes Collected and Collated

“Each person has their own threshold or level.
But the nature of Rāga and Dveṣa,
which are beginningless and endless,
affects our desire.”
– TKV Desikachar on Yoga Sūtra Chapter Three verse 6

– TKV Desikachar Yoga Sūtra Study Quotes Collected and Collated
– T Krishnamacharya Yoga Sūtra Study Quotes Collected and Collated

“Nobody is ‘unfit’ to do Yoga.
It is a question of finding the right starting point.”
– TKV Desikachar on Yoga Sūtra Chapter Three verse 6

– TKV Desikachar Yoga Sūtra Study Quotes Collected and Collated
– T Krishnamacharya Yoga Sūtra Study Quotes Collected and Collated

“What is the fruit of Saṃyama?
As one progresses day after day,
then slowly something unfolds,
as in Ālokam, as a gradual change
in the dawning of a vision of Prajña.”
– TKV Desikachar on Yoga Sūtra Chapter Three verse 5

– TKV Desikachar Yoga Sūtra Study Quotes Collected and Collated
– T Krishnamacharya Yoga Sūtra Study Quotes Collected and Collated

“Ekatra refers to the choice
of one thing and going into
that over a period of time.

So, only one direction
regularly in the practice of
Dhāraṇā, Dhyānā and Samādhi.”
– TKV Desikachar on Yoga Sūtra Chapter Three verse 4

– TKV Desikachar Yoga Sūtra Study Quotes Collected and Collated
– T Krishnamacharya Yoga Sūtra Study Quotes Collected and Collated