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
Posts archive: All Pauls Collected Yoga Study Posts
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 Teaching Path Pointers – 39 – Krishnamacharya taught that a Samāhita Citta was a prerequisite……
Krishnamacharya taught that a Samāhita Citta
was a prerequisite starting point for Meditation.
If so, how do we relate to the modern phenomenon
that a Vikṣepa Citta can be a starting point for Meditation?
Unless perhaps we discern that here it isn’t actually Meditation?
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……
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
108 Sūtra Study Pointers – 40 – Awareness is a quality not a quantity.
Awareness is a quality not a quantity.
Commentary on Yoga Sūtra Chapter Four verse 34
108 Sūtra Study Pointers – 39 – Prāṇāyāma is a key to the door of Dhāraṇā.
Prāṇāyāma is a key to the door of Dhāraṇā.
Commentary on Yoga Sūtra Chapter Two verse 53
108 Teaching Path Pointers – 33 – TKV Desikachar did not teach different people different things……
TKV Desikachar did not teach different people different things.
Nor did he just teach the same thing to different people.
He taught different people the same thing in different ways.
The same could be said of T Krishnamacharya’s teaching.
Hence the context of the phrase the viniyoga of Yoga.
108 Sūtra Study Pointers – 38 – If you remove the past from the present what is left?
If you remove the past from the present what is left?
– Reflection on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 43
108 Study Path Pointers – 21 – There was a time when folks were confused as to what is Yoga……
108 Sūtra Study Pointers – 37 – Better to be clear about being confused……
Better to be clear about being confused,
rather than being confused about being clear.
Commentary on Yoga Sūtra Chapter Two verse 24
Haṭha Yoga has another role other than mere freedom of movement……
Freedom of or in movement is obviously an asset and of course a useful pursuit in the world of homo-sedens that abounds these days. However movement according to the principles inherent in Haṭha Yoga has a further role other than mere freedom of movement as an end in itself. Thus in Haṭha Yoga the role of freedom in movement, albeit embedded with useful anatomical insights, is not the priority that appears to dominate the forms of Āsana utilised within many popular Yoga classes.
Of course freedom in movement is obviously a support in allowing us to apply the principles of Haṭha Āsana practice, but it is not the end in itself it seems to have become under the guise of calling it all Yoga. For example it can help with facilitating an exploration of the energetic processes that ultimately define, guide and differentiate Haṭha Yoga from movement forms such as exercise, fitness, dance, etc.
Yet these days it increasingly seems to be that, on the journey towards the deeper purpose inherent in Haṭha Yoga and its relationship to Rāja Yoga, we are more and more being sidetracked by the goals within the myriad of movement forms that proliferate or even ‘pose’ as Āsana practice today.
108 Sūtra Study Pointers – 36 – Viparyaya is seeing what we want to see……
Viparyaya is seeing what we want to see.
or not seeing what we need to see.
Commentary on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 8