Links to Related Resources & Longer Articles:

• In exploring the links between Āsana and the Breath and Prāṇāyāma…

Collated Related Short Posts & Quotes:

“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

“This Sūtra is proposing not one Bhāvana,
but four Bhāvana on four sensory objects,
each of which is distinctly appropriate to
each one of the four situations outlined.”
– Paul Harvey on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 33

“How can we distinguish
the actual state of Dhyāna
from infatuation with an object
that pleases and fills the mind?”
– TKV Desikachar on Yoga Sūtra Chapter Three verse 2

“According to TKV Desikachar,
the process of cultivating a
state of meditation involves a
connective triad consisting of:
1. Dhyāta
Or, that which initiates the link,
namely the source of our awareness
as in Cit, Ātman, or Puruṣa, in other
words, something other than the mind.
2. Dhyeya
What it is I choose to link with, as in
the place, point, object or Deśa, as in
the Yoga Sūtra of Chapter Three verse 1.
3. Dhyāna
The activities of the psyche or Citta,
as in that which acts as the link or
connection between, for better
or for worse, the Dhyāta or the
meditator, and the Dhyeya or
that which is meditated upon.
Thus, according to this teaching,
the continuity and quality of the link
between the Dhyāta and the Dhyeya,
is dependent on the consistency
and clarity of the mind which links
the meditator and the meditated.
Hence, acccording to the teachings of
T Krishnamacharya, you must first
change the mind In order to meditate,
rather than trying to meditate in
order to change the mind.”
– Paul Harvey on Yoga Sūtra Chapter Three verse 2

“Yoga is that which enables us
to sustain what is required and
reduce that which is not required.”
(Here Yoga is Avasthā)
– T Krishnamacharya on Yoga Sūtra Chapter Three verse 13

“The changes we see in one person,
(in terms of Dharma, Lakṣaṇa and Avasthā)
are because of Karma Vāsana.
The Lakṣaṇa or Avasthā that appear
very much depend on Karma Vāsana.”
– T Krishnamacharya on Yoga Sūtra Chapter Three verse 13

“Those who use their Nimitta have another facility at their disposal.
They have the ability to influence another.
In that they can change other people’s states of mind.
Asmitā is the common source of this influence over another.
The link between teacher and student is through Asmitā.
The more open the link the stronger the influences.”
– Paul Harvey on Yoga Sūtra Chapter Four verse 4

“Seated Āsana are closest to Prāṇāyāma.
in that, thanks to the breathing, there is
an enhancement of the state of Pratyāhāra.”
– 108 Prāṇāyāma Practice Pointers

“The paradox of Tamas is that,
given the nature of Tamas is to obscure,
you don’t know that you are in a state of Tamas.”
– 108 Yoga Study Path Pointers