“The Veda speak eloquently of the lotus in one’s heart, where Īśvara resides.
It is only when the mind is quiet, clear, and steady that we can
reach into and visualise this most intimate part of ourselves.
Yoga as a Saṃskāra leads to Yoga as a means to experience this.
The experience of Dhyānam, in this ideal sense,
eventually evolves into Samādhi – total absorption in Īśvara.”
– T Krishnamacharya on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 2

“The greater the Śraddhā, the more meaning there is in the techniques such as Āsana, Prāṇāyāma, Dhyānam, Bhāvana and all the others. Without Śraddhā, these techniques have little effect on the state of the mind and the progress to Citta Vṛtti Nirodha.
However, sometimes some minor benefits that we get through Āsana or Prāṇāyāma practice, open up the Śraddhā within us. Śraddhā is within each of us but is covered. It could be any experience that uncovers it.”
– TKV Desikachar on Śraddhā in the Yoga Sūtra

“Diet has a great effect on Maitrī Bhāvana.”
– T Krishnamacharya on Yoga Sūtra Chapter Three verse 23
cross referencing to Chapter One verse 33

“Bhāvana is a beneficial attitude that is consciously cultivated,
despite tendencies to the contrary”
– T Krishnamacharya on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 33

Maitrī –
“Cultivating a feeling of friendliness
towards our own attempts,
let alone other’s demands,
to distract ourselves.”
– Paul Harvey on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 33

Karuṇā –
“Cultivating a feeling of compassion
towards our bodies and minds,
whatever state we find them in.”
– Paul Harvey on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 33

Muditā –
“Cultivating a feeling of looking,
from a joyful space in ourselves,
at what we can do well and now,
rather than what we can’t do well or now.”
– Paul Harvey on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 33

Upekṣā –
“Cultivating a feeling of holding a distance from
the self-deprecation that can so often accompany
our attempts to improve the quality of our inner life
and old responses to inner tensions and memories.”
– Paul Harvey on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 33

“What are the effects of Kriyā Yoga?
Samādhi Bhāvana –
The ability to pursue the right practice that brings one closer to Īśvara.
Kleśa Tanū Karaṇa –
Reduction of those obstacles that we have somehow acquired through wrong actions,
leading to undesirable and bitter experiences.”
– T Krishnamacharya on Yoga Sūtra Chapter Two verse 2

“Its purpose is to cultivate a feeling
of integration and help placate
the dominance of the afflictions.”
– Paul Harvey on Yoga Sūtra Chapter Two verse 2

“The Siddhi depends on the Bhāvanam.”
– TKV Desikachar on Yoga Sūtra Chapter Two verse 43

“When working with the Breath in Āsana,
it’s perhaps less appealing initially,
but ultimately more attractive, satisfactory
and effective, to integrate a Bhāvana on
the Samāpatti of Śaithilya and Ananta,
within a developmental Prāṇāyāma Sādhana,
focused towards the Siddhi of Dīrgha or Length,
supported by its counterpoint, Sūkṣma or Subtlety.”
– Paul Harvey on Yoga Sūtra Chapter Two verse 50

“The paradox of being in a state of distraction
is that we are actually in a state of focus.
Its just that we are focused on being turned outwards,
as in the tendency of being scattered,
as in Vyutthāna Saṃskāra,
rather than being focused on being turned inwards,
as in the tendency of being contained,
as in Nirodha Saṃskāra.
Both Saṃskāra are acquired tendencies
and thus we can cultivate a choice within our oscillations.”
– Paul Harvey on Yoga Sūtra Chapter Three verse 9

“In the Bhagavad Gītā, Karma is defined as a Śodhana Kriyā where,
as actions are performed, they also offer a chance to refine oneself.
Thus, whatever I do and whatever happens is a chance to refine myself.
The Bhāvana here is Ātma Śuddha where all actions are an opportunity
for purification of that which inhibits the expression of our essence.”
– Paul Harvey on Bhagavad Gītā Chapter Five verse 11

“Further, he also added long ago,
the idea of Bhāvana in the practice of Prāṇāyāma.
Long, long ago, he said, the breathing,
inhalation, exhalation and retentions
have some sort of relationship with the highest force,
Lord Nārāyaṇa.
Inhalation is like an inspiration from God himself.
Retention is some sort of meditation, because you are with Him.
Exhalation is some sort of movement towards God,
and retention after exhale is like a surrender to God.”
– TKV Desikachar Switzerland 1981.

“Bhāvana means that I create for myself a place,
an idea, an image, a vision
and I direct my attention towards it.”
– ‘Concerning the Cakra’ by TKV Desikachar

“A Bhāvana doesn’t depend on the reality of what I fix upon.
I can direct my Bhāvana to a real sensation,
such as the contact between my feet and the ground, for instance.
But I could easily imagine myself in good health,
when in reality I am ill.”
– ‘Concerning the Cakra’ by TKV Desikachar

“Forward Bends are back stretching Āsana in terms of Bhāvana.
Thus in Paścimatāna Āsana one of the foci is on avoiding pushing
from the lower back as you bend forward.
Thus move forward from the abdominal area by drawing it back,
to encourage the lower back to respond by lengthening.
If we push from the lower back in forward bends,
such as Paścimatānāsana, it can tighten this area,
thus inhibiting the focus on the quality of the Apāna Lakṣaṇa,
as well as transferring stress to the sacrum, hips and hamstrings.”
– 108 Postural Practice Pointers

“When bending towards the lower limbs during forward bend Āsana,
move firstly by as if rounding from the lower back,
before ultimately rounding from the upper back.
In terms of a Bhāvana during the movement,
the focus is on exhaling from Apāna Sthāna towards Prāṇa Sthāna.
Thus breathing as if from the lower abdomen towards the upper chest.”
– 108 Postural Practice Pointers

“When moving away from the lower limbs during forward bend Āsana,
move firstly by as if arching from the arms and upper back,
before ultimately arching from the lower back.
In terms of a Bhāvana during the movement,
the focus is on inhaling from Prāṇa Sthāna towards Apāna Sthāna.
Thus breathing as if from the upper chest towards the lower abdomen.”
– 108 Postural Practice Pointers

Bhāvana when staying in Ardha Matsyendrāsana
“In terms of weight bearing pressure on the front foot and rear hand.
Keep all the toes on the front foot as if nailed to the ground, and the
ground contact weight in the rear fingers, as if as light as a feather.”:
– 108 Postural Practice Pointers

– Bhāvana on the relationship between the chest and the legs
“In Bhujaṅgāsana the Bhāvana is in the chest
and on keeping the legs down.
In Śalabhāsana the Bhāvana is in the legs
and on keeping the legs up.
In Dhanurāsana the Bhāvana is in the legs
and on keeping the chest down.”
– 108 Postural Practice Pointers

“We might want to consider the notion that the
most important standing Āsana is Samasthiti.
Its role is to ensure we engage with the next Āsana
from a place of attention and aware anticipation,
and after it, return to a place of fullness and reflection.
As if we are experiencing the fullness of the aftertaste
that naturally follows the ingestion of well-cooked food.
It’s learned Bhāvana is a quality of stillness within any
moment of inaction, ere to a transition to the next action.”
– 108 Postural Practice Pointers

Bhāvana on Śavāsana within a Śikṣaṇa Āsana practice.
“Inherent within the application of Śavāsana
as an Āsana within a Śikṣaṇa Krama practice,
is the active cultivation of a quality of Nirodha,
or what can be described as ‘witness awareness’.
As in the notion of the Cit observing the Citta.
Thus, a key to directing the attention in
Śavāsana, is to intentionally cultivate
a quality of passive observation.”
– 108 Postural Practice Pointers

“Bhāvana for the Breath in Āsana, Mudrā and Prāṇāyāma
– Pūraka – Lifting from the Viśuddhi Cakra
– Antar Kumbhaka – Expanding from the Anahāta Cakra
– Recaka – Contracting from the Svādhiṣṭhāna Cakra
– Bāhya Kumbhaka – Sustaining from the Mūlādhāra Cakra”
– 108 Prāṇāyāma Practice Pointers

Bhāvana on Ujjāyī as a Dhāraṇā Deśa
“Ujjāyī is a form of Ajapā Mantra.”
– 108 Prāṇāyāma Practice Pointers

“The ‘seed’ of potential for Ujjāyī as an
Ajapā Mantra abides within the ‘shell’ of
a Bhāvana for Ujjāyī as a Dhāraṇā Deśa.
The Deśa also needs to be supported by
utilising a locationally relevant Ādhāra,
as in this instance, the Viśuddhi Ādhāra.
Further considerations can be around the
linking of the sound of Ujjāyī to a semantic
thought-form, by adding Mano Japā Rūpa to
this Ajapā, as some do through using Haṃsa.
However, one could argue that this formation,
shifting from a non-language feeling-based
experience into a language thought-based
experience, can detract from the Bhāvana,
in that a unique Lakṣaṇa of Ujjāyī resides in
the notion of ‘sounding’ without language.”
– 108 Prāṇāyāma Practice Pointers

“Cultivating a home Yoga practice
presents a solution to an obstacle.
Maintaining a home Yoga practice
presents an obstacle to a solution.”
– 108 Yoga Practice Pointers

“When less Āsana time than you would like,
better to reduce the number of Āsana,
or the number of repetitions,
or the length of the stays,
rather than, reducing the length of the breath.
Or….. even considering lengthening the breath,
thus even fewer Āsana, all with a longer breath than usual.
Here the Bhāvana could be to observe the effect
of a more spacious than usual Āsana breathing
on a more cramped than usual daily mindset.”
– 108 Yoga Practice Pointers

Bhāvana on Directional Breathing within Śikṣaṇa Practice
“When inhaling, start the movement in the
Prāṇa Sthāna from the Viśuddhi Sthāna
and move the inhale as if towards the
diaphragm without distending the belly.
When exhaling, start the movement in the
Apāna Sthāna from the Svādhiṣṭhāna Sthāna
and move the exhale as if towards the
diaphragm without collapsing the chest.”
– 108 Yoga Practice Pointers

General Guidelines for Practice Planning:
“Look to cultivate a quality of Sattva by
diminishing Tamas and channelling Rajas.”
– 108 Yoga Planning Pointers

“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 Study Path Pointers

“How to cultivate as
intimate a relationship
with our Yoga Practice
as with our mind’s habits?”
– 108 Study Path Pointers

“The heart of Yoga lies in cultivating
a connection strategy rather than
cultivating just a coping strategy.”
– 108 Study Path Pointers

“What does Patañjali mean by Pratipakṣa Bhāvanam in Yoga Sūtra Chapter Two verse 33?
Discuss.”
To Download or View this Question as a PDF Study Sheet

Links to Related Posts:

• 108 Postural Practice Pointers – 11 – Vinyāsa for Jaṭhara Parivṛtti
• 108 Postural Practice Pointers – 17 – Bhāvana for moving into Sālambana Bhujaṅgāsana
• 108 Postural Practice Pointers – 19 – In Dvipāda Pīṭham a key Bhāvana is on the feet……
• 108 Postural Practice Pointers – 20 – Bhāvana for moving within Forward Bends
• 108 Postural Practice Pointers – 23 – Bhāvana for the Hips in Parśva Uttānāsana
• 108 Postural Practice Pointers – 24 – In Dvipāda Pīṭham a key Bhāvana is on the arms……
• 108 Postural Practice Pointers – 26 – Bhāvana when moving or staying in Dvipāda Pīṭham
• 108 Postural Practice Pointers – 27 – Bhāvana when working with Vīrabhadrāsana
• 108 Postural Practice Pointers – 28 – Bhāvana when staying in Ardha Matsyendrāsana
• 108 Postural Practice Pointers – 29 – Bhāvana on the rear leg when moving in and out of Parśva Uttānāsana
• 108 Postural Practice Pointers – 31 – Bhāvana on the relationship between the pelvis and the spine
• 108 Prāṇāyāma Practice Pointers – 2 – Bhāvana for the Breath in Prāṇāyāma
• 108 Prāṇāyāma Practice Pointers – 5 – Bhāvana for the Breath in Kumbhaka
• 108 Prāṇāyāma Practice Pointers – 6 – Bhāvana for the Breath in Nāḍī Śodhana
• 108 Prāṇāyāma Practice Pointers – 10 – Bhāvana for Locational Breathing in Prāṇāyāma
• A sample Parivṛtti and Paścimatāna Themed Group Practice
• Bhāvana for the Breath in Āsana, Mudrā and Prāṇāyāma
• cYs Practitioner Training Programme Retreat Extract 2 – Self Planning & Self Practice
• cYs Practitioner Training Programme Retreat Extract 3 – Self Planning & Self Practice
• cYs Practitioner Training Programme Retreat Extract 4 – Self Planning & Self Practice
• Finding your starting point within Āsana to set a direction and route towards a goal…
• Guidelines for skilful dynamics within the performance of Vīrabhadrāsana……
• How do we apply Viniyoga to students already set in a particular mode of Āsana practice?
• Laṅghana Kriyā has two functional dimensions…
• Pratikriyā Bhāvana for Vīrabhadrāsana
• The Viniyoga of Inversion as an Āsana or as a Mudrā……
• TKV Desikachar talks on Śraddhā in the light of the Yoga Sūtra……
• Yoga can be a mystery to be resolved or a question to be solved……
• Yoga Practice is about a re-turning towards our inner life……
• Yoga Sūtra on Stress – An interview with TKV Desikachar