Links to Related Resources & Longer Articles:

• Yoga and the 21st Century – Do you think that Yoga can help a person in his or her religious practices?

Collated Related Short Posts & Quotes:

“Svādhyāya is an inquiry into one’s true nature.”
– T Krishnamacharya on Yoga Sūtra Chapter Two verse 1

“In this particular Sūtra, along with the following
three verses, Patañjali offers different approaches,
all of which appeal to those with different needs.
All propose that a steadying of the mind can arise
from utilising a Jñānam approach of inner inquiry.
In this verse, the inquiry is directed towards the
relationship of the mind with the internal sources
of sensory processes. Rather than their externalised
role in gathering and presenting objects to the mind.
Knowing how the senses can easily distract the mind,
inquiry into their both their external activities and
internal processes can help to sustain a steady mind,
within the external pull of unhelpful sensory pathways.”
– Paul Harvey on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 35

“When you begin to observe the habitual pull
of the mind along a particular sensory path
towards an object, you can cultivate a choice.
In that, rather than being habitually drawn
towards the external object of the senses,
you can instead choose to turn the mind
back and inwards towards experiencing
the root and source of a particular sense.
This can serve both as an object to bind the
mind, out of which, steadiness can arise.
As well as being an inquiry into both the
role and sources of the senses, which in
turn can help us to more fully understand
how we choose to relate to our environment.
Also, a steady mind can offer a means by
which you can sense, perceive and process
experiences more deeply, more subtly.
However,
it is also very possible to have a subtle perception,
but an unsteady mind.”
– Paul Harvey on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 35

na iti na iti – not this, nor this
“Defining our relationship with spirit,
is an inquiry into re-defining our relationship with matter.”
– Paul Harvey on Bṛhad Āraṇyaka Upaniṣat IV.5.15

“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

“The inquiry into the nature, purpose
and potential within the long term
practice of Prāṇāyāma has at least
five initial progressions such as in:
Firstly, looking at choosing
accessible and appropriate
techniques and breath ratios.
Secondly, progressing through
both the length of a breath,
and slowing down the number
of breaths needed per minute.
Thirdly, in cultivating experiential
skills to access a range of variable
ratio choices, according to short
term daily needs within broader
longer term developmental steps.
Fourthly, the ongoing refinement
of the subtlety within the external
vibrational sound, enhancing the
inner sense of flow, within the
overall experience of the breath.
Fifthly, the integration of Prāṇāyāma into
our personal Sādhana, its role as a primary
means towards Dhāraṇā, and its place as a
priority choice within our Yoga practice.”
– 108 Prāṇāyāma Practice Pointers

“Don’t let Āsana become just
another form of security,
rather than an inquiry
into the nature of insecurity.”
– 108 Yoga Study Path Pointers

“Don’t let Meditation become
just another form of security,
rather than an inquiry
into the nature of insecurity.”
– 108 Yoga Study Path Pointers

“As in the learning of the art of gardening,
an attentive and constant Yoga Practice
turns and prepares the soil of our being,
making it easier for any new seeds to root.
An attentive inquiry into Yoga Teachings
offers us a choice of seeds for planting.
We may need advice how integrate the two.
This synergy of soil and seed unfolds
as Sādhana from the fusion of both
Yoga Practice and Yoga Teachings.”
– 108 Yoga Study Path Pointers

“Yoga is both a
healing and a learning
process that evolves
from an inquiry
into our limitations
towards one that
extends our potentials.”
– 108 Yoga Teaching Path Pointers