Posts archive: All Collected Yoga Articles, Views & Posts Timeline

I do not reject the concept of meditation without a question for inquiry……

Posted on by Paul Harvey

dhyeya

“I do not reject the concept of meditation without a question for inquiry or an object for meditation,
but how, given the previous definition of meditation,
could we explain the absence of a question or an object in this scheme?
Certainly, if the ‘I’ is not there, there can be no meditation.
Many heads have rolled on this question of objectless meditation and I want to save my head.
It may be possible to meditate without an object but,
personally, I am skeptical that one can.”
–TKV Desikachar Madras December 19th 1988

108 Dhāraṇā Practice Pointers – 1 – Interesting to observe myself saying ‘hello old friend’ as……

Posted on by Paul Harvey

Interesting to observe myself
saying ‘hello old friend’ as I
take up my Dhyāna Pīṭham.

Link to Series: 108 Dhāraṇā Practice Pointers

When an object is invisible, it is not invisible because it is not there……

Posted on by Paul Harvey

visaya

“When an object is invisible,
it is not invisible because it is not there,
but because something hides it.
What you seek may be next door,
but you won’t find it precisely because it is next door.”
– TKV Desikachar Madras December 19th 1988

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?

Posted on by Paul Harvey

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

Relationships 
are
 going 
to
 be 
very 
important……

Posted on by Paul Harvey

Desikachar_France_1999

“Relationships 
are
 going 
to
 be 
very 
important.
This
 means 
that
 a 
teacher 
has 
to 
be 
very
 careful,
because 
the 
moment 
a 
student 
likes 
a teacher,
there
 is 
a 
risk 
that 
the 
teacher 
will
 be 
considered 
as
their 
husband, 
or 
wife, 
or
 father, 
or 
guru, 
or
 whatever.
”
– TKV Desikachar France May 1999

Download PDF of Interview with TKV Desikachar on
Yoga in 
the
 
fields 
of 
Health,
 Psychology 
and
 Spirituality.

Patañjali
 was 
very 
prophetic, 
because 
he spoke
 not 
only
 of……

Posted on by Paul Harvey

“Patañjali
 was 
very 
prophetic,
because 
he spoke
 not 
only
 of 
yesterday’s 
mind,
but 
also
 of
 tomorrow’s.
His 
message 
concerns 
clarity,
and it 
will 
become 
more 
and 
more 
pertinent
 as
 time 
goes 
by,
because 
people 
are 
now
 questioning 
much 
more 
than
 before.”
– TKV Desikachar France May 1999

Download PDF of Interview with TKV Desikachar on
Yoga in 
the
 
fields 
of 
Health,
 Psychology 
and
 Spirituality.

108 Sūtra Study Pointers – 4 – The Yoga Sūtra become as if metaphysical Mantra when……

Posted on by Paul Harvey

The Yoga Sūtra become as if metaphysical Mantra,
when they can be an internal intonation,
as well as an external edification.
– Reflection on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 28

Link to Series: 108 Sutra Study Pointers

108 Sūtra Study Pointers – 3 – Avidyā is the illusion of recognising the……

Posted on by Paul Harvey

avidya

Avidyā is the illusion of recognising:
the ephemeral as the eternal,
the profane as the profound,
pain as pleasure and
the silhouette as the source.
– Commentary on Yoga Sūtra Chapter Two verse 5

Link to Series: 108 Sutra Study Pointers

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

Posted on by Paul Harvey

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

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

We need to begin with a definition of Dhyāna……

Posted on by Paul Harvey

dhyana

“We need to begin with a definition of Dhyāna.
Dhyāna involves an individual and a question or object.
On a simplest level, what happens between the individual and that question or object is the beginning of Dhyāna.
It can be any question, but it must be one question.
There must only be one channel between the “I” and the question, not multi-channels.
The “I” must temporarily drop the other interests and there must be a question.
There is no Dhyāna if there is no question or object.”
– TKV Desikachar Madras December 19th 1988

In the Vedic tradition, meditation – the need to reflect on something in……

Posted on by Paul Harvey

dhyana

“In the Vedic tradition, meditation
– the need to reflect on something in order to understand it better
– is necessary for happiness.”
– TKV Desikachar Madras December 19th 1988

Dhyāna means ‘to look for something new on a specific subject’.

Posted on by Paul Harvey

dhyana

“Dhyāna means ‘to look for something new on a specific subject’.
– TKV Desikachar Madras December 19th 1988

Let us examine the Yoga Sūtra……

Posted on by Paul Harvey

samyama

“Let us examine the Yoga Sūtra……
In the 3rd chapter there is the idea of Saṃyama (C3 v4) or the Sādhana of regularly involving the attention of the person towards a specific object or idea.
There are certain Sūtra which tell us of certain powers or clarity developed through Saṃyama.
When a person has reached a certain level of attention he can pursue one examination within his individual capability for a certain period of time.”
– TKV Desikachar France 1983

108 Sūtra Study Pointers – 2 – Patañjali reminds us of the pitfalls of the illusion……

Posted on by Paul Harvey

avidya

Patañjali reminds us of the pitfalls of the illusion
of recognising psyche as awareness.
– Reflections on Yoga Sūtra Chapter Two verse 5

Link to Series: 108 Sutra Study Pointers

Legend of Patañjali – Dhyānaṃ Ślokam for Yoga Sūtra as MP3 Sound file…

Posted on by Paul Harvey

patanjali-1

Legend of Patañjali
– Dhyānaṃ Ślokam for Yoga Sūtra as MP3 Sound file

It was learnt by heart as a Bhāvana for Dhyānam,
to create a meditational mood linked to Patañjali
prior to commencing, either Chanting practice
or textual study of the Yoga Sūtra.
As taught to TKV Desikachar by T Krishnamacharya.
From Paul’s chant study recordings of TKV Desikachar

Yoga Sūtra Chanting Practice – PDF and MP3 Support Resources

The transmission shows the Siddhi of the Sādhana……

Posted on by Paul Harvey

The transmission shows the Siddhi of the Sādhana

“The transmission shows the Siddhi of the Sādhana.
This is viniyoga.
These outlines are valid whether Śikṣaṇa or Rakṣaṇa Krama.
If what is given is mechanical it is not viniyoga.
That is why the viniyoga spirit is very important these days.”
– TKV Desikachar France 1983

Even practice can be mechanical even if it is regular……

Posted on by Paul Harvey

TKV Desikachar teaching at Gaunts House

“Even practice can be mechanical even if it is regular.
So Yukta Anu Bhāva (skilful becoming) is
how much you have learnt from the practice.
What it has taught you.”
– TKV Desikachar France 1983