Posts archive: All Pauls Collected Yoga Study Posts
108 Sūtra Study Pointers – 56 – We experience the world via the conjunction of the ‘eye’ of the Cit……
We experience the world via the conjunction
of the ‘eye’ of the Cit with the ‘I’ of the Citta.
– Reflections on Yoga Sūtra Chapter Two verse 17
108 Sūtra Study Pointers – 55 – Abhyāsa or Practice is the effort to remain within……
Abhyāsa or Practice is,
the effort to remain within
the stillness of the present.
Vairāgya or Dispassion is,
the absence of thirst towards
the dance of the past.
– Reflections around Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verses 12-15
108 Sūtra Study Pointers – 54 – Every step towards observing the play of the mind……
Every step towards observing the play of the mind,
is a step towards observing the ploy of the mind.
– Reflection around Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 4
108 Yoga Study Path Pointers – 27 – The irony of seeking well being……
The irony of seeking well being,
is that our being is always well.
108 Yoga Study Path Pointers – 26 – Yoga Practice turns and prepares the soil……
Yoga Practice turns and prepares the soil.
Yoga Study offers a range of seeds for planting.
We may need advice on how to integrate the two.
This integration of soil and seed unfolds into Sādhana.
108 Sūtra Study Pointers – 53 – Having a meditation practice is one thing……
Having a meditation practice is one thing,
practicing meditation is something else.
Better not to confuse the two in terms of
the gap between intention and outcome.
Meditation is that which might or might not
arise out of our efforts at meditation practice.
The outcome depends on the extent of the intention.
– Reflections around Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 14
One example of this depth is Krishnamacharya’s lesser known work in the teaching of Mantra……
Even these days, the influence of Krishnamacharya’s teachings around Yoga are primarily known through his exacting teaching of Āsana. This has also been mainly experienced in the West with the developmental work of his early students, such as through the choreographical artistry in the work of Pattabhi Jois or through the geometrical precision in the work of BKS Iyengar.
However this area of Āsana teaching, though itself multifaceted and hugely influential, if disproportionately predominant within Yoga today, only reveals one aspect of the many dimensions of practice expressed within his teaching. This teaching evolved and refined over 70 years, from his return from his long stay around the borders of Nepal and Tibet in 1919, to his death in 1989.
A more all-inclusive insight into the many aspects of these other facets can be ascertained through exploring the multifarious approaches and priorities emphasised within the teaching work of other of Krishnamacharya’s students, such as TKV Desikachar, or S Ramaswami, or AG Mohan.
From exploring the teaching priorities of all these first generation students of Krishnamacharya, a more all-embracing perspective can arise encompassing both the breadth and depth of his mastery of both the teachings of Yoga and their context, place and application within the Indian perspectives on such as soteriology, philosophy and theology.
One example of this depth is Krishnamacharya’s lesser known work in the teaching of Mantra
108 Yoga Study Path Pointers – 25 – Ere to our Yoga Sādhana turning inwards towards engaging……
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
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
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 Study Path Pointers – 24 – The tendency is to measure a persons ‘progress’ by a……
The tendency is to measure a persons ‘progress’ by a
perceived comparison to some mythical finishing point,
rather than accepting that we cannot really appreciate
the reality of what was their actual starting point,
nor can we truly evaluate the effort they are putting
into developing and refining their personal Sādhana.
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
108 Study Path Pointers – 23 – The primary purpose for Āsana is to take us towards Yoga……
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
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
108 Study Path Pointers – 22 – It’s not until I understand how to cultivate a space in My self……
It’s not until I understand how to
cultivate a space within My self
can I begin to experience that
which is the essence of the Self.
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
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
Postscript to yesterdays post around the three Niyama within Kriyā Yoga……
A postscript to yesterdays post around the three Niyama
within Kriyā Yoga on the uses of the terms ‘self’ or ‘Self’ within
the legs in the tripod supporting our efforts at nurturing a state of Yoga.
“Activities that nurture a state of Yoga involve
self-discipline, Self-inquiry and Self-awareness.”
The first leg supporting the tripod refers to Citta
as the self in terms of nurturing self-discipline.
“Tapas is to discipline our eating habits.”
– T Krishnamacharya
The second leg supporting the tripod refers to Cit
as the Self in terms of nurturing Self-inquiry.
“Svādhyāya is an inquiry into one’s true nature.”
– T Krishnamacharya
The final leg supporting the tripod refers to Cit
as the Self in terms of nurturing Self-awareness.
108 Sūtra Study Pointers – 42 – Activities that nurture a state of Yoga…….
Activities that nurture a state of Yoga involve
self-discipline, Self-inquiry and Self-awareness.
– Reflections around Yoga Sūtra Chapter Two verse 1
108 Sūtra Study Pointers – 41 – Some define their experience of life by seeking Duḥkha……
Some define their experience of life by seeking Duḥkha,
some by seeking Sukha.
The Yoga Practitioner sees both as Avidyā
and defines their experience of life by seeking
what lies beyond duality through unwavering Viveka.
– Reflections around Yoga Sūtra Chapter Two verse 26