Commentaries around
“This Sūtra presents the quality of persons who accept nothing less than complete freedom from all sorts of bondage.”
– T Krishnamacharya commentary on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 20
“There are two types of Yogis.
The first, Bubhukṣu, are Yogis who seek material benefits through Samādhi.
This Sūtra speaks about the second type, the Mumukṣu,
who do not seek material benefits.”
– T Krishnamacharya commentary on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 20
“It is not enough to realise that there is somewhere to go,
you must also be really interested in taking the step.”
– TKV Desikachar on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 20
“Śraddhā:
What holds, what nourishes.
As a mother with a child.”
– TKV Desikachar commenting on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 20
“When there is Śraddhā, the person is not disappointed on failing to get immediate benefits.”
– TKV Desikachar commenting on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 20
“When you are linked through Śraddhā
you receive something from the source of that link.”
Reflections around Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 20
“For Anuṣṭhānāt to become and remain important there needs to be Śraddhā.”
– TKV Desikachar Yoga Sūtra Chapter Two verse 28
“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
“Śraddhā will give life to all
the means that are in the Yoga Sūtra.”
– TKV Desikachar on Śraddhā in the Yoga Sūtra
“Where does Śraddhā sit in a human being?
Is it a part of the mind?
No. It is beyond the mind.
It is Śraddhā which instructs the mind.
It comes from the hidden depths of the Saṃskāra and Vāsana
to influence one’s actions.”
– TKV Desikachar on Śraddhā in the Yoga Sūtra
“Śraddhā is the source of motivation.”
– TKV Desikachar on Śraddhā in the Yoga Sūtra
“Through Śraddhā we get the Vīrya to pursue to the end
and if we hold firm to this Śraddhā we always have the Smṛti,
the memory of our original goal.
This is very important as with progress on the path to the goal,
we get distracted by or satisfied with some of the gains made
that were previously not within our capacity.
It is through Śraddhā that we have the Smṛti,
the memory of the original goal, that prevents us from being satisfied
with anything less than what we started out for.”
– TKV Desikachar on Śraddhā in the Yoga Sūtra
“When there is Śraddhā,
the person is not disappointed on failing to get immediate benefits.
They are sure that it is only a question of time and so the failures on the path do not reduce their enthusiasm or their efforts.”
– TKV Desikachar on Śraddhā in the Yoga Sūtra
“In the Yogavallī, T Krishnamacharya’s commentary on the Yoga Sūtra,
Śraddhā has been seen in a different, very interesting way.
In it, he has said that Śraddhā is a symbol for a special meditation
and he calls this meditation, Ahaṃ Graha Upāsana.
Aham is the I, Graha is to grasp and Upāsana is to stay near.
Where a person wants to grasp the true nature of the I,
it is called Ahaṃ Graha Upāsana.”
– TKV Desikachar on Śraddhā in the Yoga Sūtra
“Śraddhā can’t be taught,
but can be kindled.”
– From my notes studying Taittirīyra Upaniṣad Chapter Three verse 5 with TKV Desikachar
“What we are seeking is linked to the discovery of faith within us.”
– TKV Desikachar from unedited manuscript for ‘What are We Seeking?’
“The first Saṃskāra we have is Śraddhā.
So even if we react against this later,
deep inside we have some Śraddhā.”
– TKV Desikachar
“Śraddhā is essential for progress, whether in Yoga or any other endeavour.
It is a feeling that cannot be expressed or intellectually discussed.
It, however, is a feeling that is not always uncovered in every person.
When absent or weak, it is evident through the lack of stability and focus in a person.
Where present and strong, it is evident through the commitment, perseverance and enthusiasm the person exhibits.
For such a person, life is meaningful.”
– TKV Desikachar
“Other causes (of disease), according to Krishnamacharya.
You either have no faith in God or don’t control your Rāga.”
– TKV Desikachar France 1983
”For something to work you must participate positively.
In other words Śraddhā.”
– TKV Desikachar Madras 2000
“What is the measure of my Śraddhā.
For example, when a student says these practices are not working?”
– TKV Desikachar London June 1998
“A recent surge of questions from Yoga teachers around the notion of Śraddhā.
Collating and ordering the range of questions being asked we arrive at:
– What is Śraddhā?
– How do we offer a relevant meaning for Śraddhā to a group class?
– How do we teach Śraddhā to a group of students?
– How do we plan a practice with Śraddhā as the focus for a group class?
Before responding more in a future post I wanted to let the questions sit as reflections for all interested in this topic.
Meanwhile helpful reference points could be:
– The Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 20
– The Bhagavad Gītā Chapter Six verse 37
– The Bhagavad Gītā Chapter Seventeen verse 2”
“Place the term Śraddhā, from Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verses 20-22, in the teaching of Patañjali.
Show the difference between this notion and that of Īśvara Praṇidhānā.”
To Download or View this Question as a PDF Study Sheet
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