Jñāna is one who understands what is to be given up and……
“Jñāna is one who understands
what is to be given up and
what is to be sought.”
– T Krishnamacharya commentary on
Bhagavad Gītā Chapter Seven verse 19
Posts archive: All Yoga News Views & Blog Journal Posts
Even if one’s Guru says a certain thing will happen……
“Even if one’s Guru says a certain thing will happen and it happens,
that is still Vikalpa, as it has not gone through the necessary progression.
When you take the word of the Guru for authority,
unless you put it through the process of discriminative investigation,
the mere acceptance of it, even if true, because it suits your fancy
i.e. Vikalpa, will not make it valid for you.”
– TKV Desikachar Madras December 19th 1988
Yoga is the least systematic of exercises……
Picture courtesy of KYM Archives
“Yoga is the least systematic of exercises.
If one practices postures without addressing needs,
no routine is established,
because needs change from day to day.
One should act on the present and the future
and not worry too much about the past.”
– From interviews with T Krishnamacharya by Sarah Dars,
published in Viniyoga Review no 24, December 1989
I don’t think anybody can identify ‘Krishnamacharya’s style’……
“He has developed so much in his teaching, made so many changes,
that I don’t think anybody can identify ‘Krishnamacharya’s style’.
One person will say one thing, and a few minutes later somebody else will say,
no, no, this is what he taught me.
So fortunately it solved the problem of the ‘Krishnamacharya style’,
unless you are unwilling to see, of course.”
– TKV Desikachar from lectures on ‘The Yoga of T Krishnamacharya’,
given at Zinal, Switzerland 1981.
Yoga is not this or that tradition, Yoga is Yoga……
“We must ensure that we provide education that is not conflict ridden.
You have repeatedly quoted the phrase:
“That tradition…, the tradition of Krishnamacharya…”.
Others say: “Our tradition”,
but Yoga is not this or that tradition, Yoga is Yoga!”
– TKV Desikachar 1999
108 Teaching Path Pointers – 26 – It is ironic when a collective term used to describe an approach……
It is ironic when a collective term used to describe
an approach to teaching an individual,
becomes an individual term used to describe
an approach to teaching a collective.
Following the Guru’s destination is another way of losing yourself……
108 Sūtra Study Pointers – 30 – Yoga is more about looking inwards at what we fear most…….
Yoga is about looking inwards,
at what we fear most.
Rather than looking outwards,
at what we desire most.
– Reflections on Yoga Sūtra Chapter Two verse 9
Is desire the problem or…….
“Is desire the problem or,
not fulfilling the desire the problem?”
– TKV Desikachar speaking with his senior Western students London 1998
Those who talk have not seen, have not felt a quality of Ānanda……
“Those who talk have not seen,
have not felt a quality of Ānanda.
This is why we have to be careful
how we represent ourselves in Yoga.
It is by this that Yoga is judged.”
– TKV Desikachar
Patañjali says that the only way to understand yourself……
“Patañjali says that the only way to understand yourself
is to understand what is outside of yourself.
He also says that the more you talk about yourself
the less you know about yourself.”
– TKV Desikachar
The Saṅga must be springing from a common source if we want it to live……
“The Saṅga must be springing from a common source if we want it to live.
It’s not a question of legal status nor physical meetings.
It is not the doing that will make the Saṅga.”
– TKV Desikachar speaking with his senior Western students London 1998
There is no style to the Yoga Sūtra……
“There is no style to the Yoga Sūtra.
The only style is your style.
We can see this from the number of alternatives Patañjali
proposes to give us strength of mind,
or allow us to do something we cannot do before.”
– TKV Desikachar
When Kleśa are on the move, time should not be lost……
“When Kleśa are on the move, time should not be lost.
Reflection is a must.
Reduction of all the factors that increase Rajas and Tamas,
including right food, company, study and Niyama is a must.
Without them,
reflection leading to a reduction of the power of Kleśa will not work.”
– T Krishnamacharya commentary on Yoga Sūtra Chapter Two verse 11
The current world of Yoga seems to be made up of many small parts……
I find myself reflecting on the notion of ‘authentic lineage’……
I find myself reflecting on the notion of ‘authentic lineage’, often taught within the statement of Paramparā or ‘from one to another’ as in a succession from teacher to student et al. Both from questions asked of me and questions I have around what I see, generally within the world of ‘Modern’ Yoga and more specifically emerging around the claims on facets in the evolution of TKV Desikachar’s teaching over four decades.
Currently I see various representational phrases being used in modern organisational setups around pupils or students of TKV Desikachar such as ‘Influenced by the Teaching of…..’ or ‘The Living Tradition of…..’ or ‘The Lineage of……’ as if a provenance of authority alluding to authenticity, studentship and tradition.
108 Teaching Path Pointers – 25 – The commercialised in-Corporation of Viniyoga……
The Commercialised in-Corporation of Viniyoga
is in danger of becoming a parody of
the Personalised incorporation of viniyoga.
It is very sad that the style has become more important than the individual.
“It is very sad that the style
has become more important
than the individual”.
– TKV Desikachar
What are the concepts of Sṛṣṭi Krama, Sthiti Krama and Anta Krama?
What are the concepts of Sṛṣṭi Krama, Sthiti Krama and Antya Krama and what is their significance in relationship to the practice of Āsana, Prāṇāyāma and Dhyānam?
We can approach these three concepts and the question of their relationship with practice from a chronological and within that, a psychological viewpoint. According to the Yoga teachings from T Krishnamacharya there are three chronological and accompanying psychological stages of life, or Tri Krama.
1. The first Krama is the stage of growth and expansion known as Sṛṣṭi Krama. Here, chronologically, the starting point is the age from which people traditionally began the Āsana aspect of Yoga practice.
Compare Dvipāda Pīṭham and Śalabhāsana in relation to their potential……
Compare Dvipāda Pīṭham and Śalabhāsana in relation to their potential within the following situations:
1. In strengthening the leg muscles.
2. Potential stress on the sacroiliac joint.
3. Influencing the circulation.
4. Potential risk on the knees.
5. As a preparation for Dhanurāsana.
6. In helping with flat feet.
7. In improving the inhalation.
8. In decreasing lower back pain.
108 Postural Practice Pointers – 13 – The Lakṣana of Parśva Trikoṇāsana
Postural Practice Pointer 13 – The Lakṣana of Parśva Trikoṇāsana
The Lakṣana of Parśva Trikoṇāsana, or side triangle pose,
is as a movement OF the spine to the side over one leg,
rather than as a bending or arcing IN the spine towards the side.
Thus the aim is for the spine to stay straight relative to the leg,
with the intention of extending it from crown to coccyx.
108 Teaching Path Pointers – 24 – A sign of a maturing in our relationship with a 121 Yoga Teacher is……
In the novice phase of our relationship with a 121 Yoga Teacher,
it’s not so much about what we bring to the Lesson,
it’s more about what we take away from the Lesson.
A sign of a maturing in our relationship with a 121 Yoga Teacher,
is that we accept more responsibility for what we bring to the Lesson,
being a determining factor in what we take away from the Lesson.
108 Teaching Path Pointers – 23 – In the novice phase of our relationship with a Yoga Class……..
In the novice phase of our relationship with a Yoga Class,
it’s not so much about what we bring to the Class,
it’s more about what we take away from the Class.
A sign of a maturing in our relationship with a Yoga Class,
is that we accept more responsibility for what we bring to the Class,
being a determining factor in what we take away from the Class.
108 Yoga Practice Pointers – 39 – Yoga is not so much about what we bring to the practice mat……
In the novice phase of our relationship with personal practice,
Yoga is not so much about what we bring to the practice mat,
it’s more about what we take away from the practice mat.
A sign of a maturing in our relationship with personal practice,
is that we accept more responsibility for what we bring to the practice mat
being a determining factor in what we take away from the practice mat.
108 Teaching Path Pointers – 22 – As a Yoga Teacher we need to ensure that our personal Yoga Practice…..
As a Yoga Teacher we need to ensure that our personal Yoga Practice
doesn’t become a repetition of, or rehearsal for, our Yoga Teaching plans.