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The Art of Personal Sādhana

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    sūtra

    Devanāgarī: सूत्र Translation: thread Similar words:śloka, āryā Related concepts:patañjali, śāsana, brahman, vedānta, śāstra, vyāsa, saṃskṛta, kapila, āpastamba, adhyayanam, yogasūtra

    Appears in

    Bhagavad Gītā:

    Chapter 7: 7


    Click here for complete Saṃskṛta Index

    Commentaries around

    “The beauty of the Sūtra is that they are only related to the mind.
    Thus they stand above various religions and can be studied and related to
    by all types of persons from all types of religions.”
    – TKV Desikachar on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 1

    “In Sūtra 1.1 what does the word Atha symbolise for you
    in relation to your moment to moment choices?”
    – Paul Harvey on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 1

    Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 2
    is a Lakṣaṇa Sūtra in that it
    describes the characteristics of Yoga
    as Citta Vṛtti Nirodha.”
    – TKV Desikachar on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 2

    “Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 2
    is not Yoga Sarva Citta Vṛtti Nirodha.
    This is a relative Sūtra,
    which allows for a gradual evolution.”
    – TKV Desikachar on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 2

    “In Sūtra 1.2 what does the word Nirodha signify for you
    in terms of choosing both what to keep in and to keep out?”
    – Paul Harvey on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 2

    “In Sūtra 1.3 how would you portray the word Avasthāna
    to a person with little understanding of Yoga?”
    – Paul Harvey on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 3

    “In Sūtra Three and Four the mind is operating.
    In Sūtra Three the mind is the means.
    In Sūtra Four the mind is the means and the boss.”
    – TKV Desikachar on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 4

    “In Sūtra 1.4 what are the fluctuations that
    we personally most often conform to?”
    – Paul Harvey on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 4

    “In Sūtra 1.5 Patañjali suggests that the psychic
    fluctuations will be either Kliṣṭa or Akliṣṭa.
    How can we discern?”
    – Paul Harvey on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 5

    “In this Sūtra, Patañjali lists the five types of mental activities:
    Pramāṇa Vṛtti, Viparyaya Vṛtti, Vikalpa Vṛtti, Nidrā Vṛtti, and Smṛti Vṛtti.
    Vṛtti and Pariṇāma are synonymous, meaning “change of form”.
    These five Vṛtti represent changes in the characteristics and functions of the mind.”
    – T Krishnamacharya on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 6

    “In Sūtra 1.6 Patañjali identifies the psychic
    fluctuations as being fivefold.
    In looking at this statement,
    which of these are you engaging?”
    – Paul Harvey on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 6

    “In Sūtra 1.7 Patañjali defines Pramāṇa as having three sources.
    How do we discern that all three are not, in reality, self-selective
    ascertainments and thus, just all muddled variants of Anumāna?”
    – Paul Harvey on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 7

    “In Sūtra 1.8 Patañjali defines Viparyaya as a false knowing.
    How can we discern a right perception from a wrong perception
    and can a false knowing be both Kliṣṭa and Akliṣṭa?”
    – Paul Harvey on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 8

    “Vikalpa is a particular kind of Citta Vṛtti in which understanding
    arises from the spoken word. Is this kind of understanding valid or not?
    Patañjali, in the definitive Mahābhāṣya commentary on Saṃskṛta grammar,
    states that the essence of the spoken word is not separate from the fact
    or object it refers to. Objects themselves cannot express their various aspects;
    only Śabda can present them to us. Śabda can convey nuances
    of meaning that only a special faculty of the mind can grasp.
    Such an ability to comprehend is not given to everyone.
    The essence of this Sūtra is that Vikalpa is the mental activity by
    which what is spoken is understood to mean what it represents,
    even when the actual thing is not present.
    Thus when we hear the word Sarpa we know it means snake
    even though there is no snake present at the moment.”
    – T Krishnamacharya on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 9

    “In Sūtra 1.9 Patañjali defines Vikalpa as an
    understanding arising from the spoken word.
    How do we discern whether Vikalpa is actually what arises
    from the spoken word from what was said to us, or what
    arises from the spoken word in how what was said is heard?
    In other words how to discern if there is any difference
    between what is said to us and what we imagine we hear?”
    – Paul Harvey on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 9

    “In Sūtra 1.10 Patañjali defines Nidrā as a
    Citta Vṛtti or, a specific type of cognition, one
    where Tamas is the object, to the point where
    the mind’s link with external stimuli is cut off.
    How do we discern between states such as
    Pratyāhāra as a disengagement, or Samādhi,
    where one is as if empty of one’s own character,
    and what is seen as the experience of Tamo Nidrā?”
    – Paul Harvey on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 10

    “In Sūtra 1.11 Patañjali defines Smṛti as
    the retention of the experience of an object.
    How do we know whether Smṛti is Pramāṇa,
    given the presence of Viparyaya and Vikalpa
    within our parti pris shaping of an experience?”
    – Paul Harvey on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 11

    “In this Sūtra Patañjali states that there are two ways
    to discipline the five types of mental activity.
    They are Abhyāsa and Vairāgya.
    Abhyāsa is practice.
    Vairāgya is to disconnect or sever the link
    between the Citta and external objects.
    These two, Abhyāsa and Vairāgya,
    always go together as a pair.”
    – T Krishnamacharya on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 12

    “In Sūtra 1.12 Patañjali defines Abhyāsa
    and Vairāgya in relation to Nirodha.
    A question we can explore as
    an avenue towards grasping this
    Sūtra is, what is the relationship
    of these two seeming polarities?
    Namely, what are the qualities of
    Abhyāsa, in relation to the qualities
    of its seeming counterpart, Vairāgya?”
    – Paul Harvey on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 12

    “In Sūtra 1.13 Patañjali succinctly
    defines the aim of Abhyāsa as
    the effort to remain there.
    What is the ‘effort‘ mentioned here?
    Where is the ‘there‘ mentioned here?”
    – Paul Harvey on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 13

    “In Sūtra 1.14 Patañjali outlines qualities he feels are
    important in cultivating the intention within Abhyāsa.
    What are these qualities and how can we
    realise them within our efforts to remain there?”
    – Paul Harvey on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 14

    “In Sūtra 1.15 Patañjali introduces Vairāgya
    as dispassion arising from an absence of thirst.
    Towards what and how would you interpret its
    relevance towards your outer and inner life?”
    – Paul Harvey on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 15

    “In Sūtra 1.16 Patañjali introduces two concepts which are
    fundamental to the philosophical foundations in Sāṃkhya.
    What are they and what is their relationship to Vitṛṣṇasya
    within the Sāṃkhya teachings discussing cause and effect?”
    – Paul Harvey on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 16

    “In this Sūtra,
    Patañjali lists the nine kinds of obstacles
    that are confronted by those who,
    though fit and able to meditate on Īśvara,
    neglect to do so.”
    – T Krishnamacharya on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 30

    “This Sūtra introduces
    what Patañjali calls Kriyā Yoga.
    Kriyā in the sense of action.
    Take the first step.”
    – T Krishnamacharya on Yoga Sūtra Chapter Two verse 1

    “What causes Duḥkha?
    In the school of Sāṃkhya it arises from within, or from external influences,
    or from extraordinary phenomena such as drought, storm, earthquake.
    However, the experience of Duḥkha is not the same for everyone.
    The same circumstance may not bring Duḥkha in erveryone.
    Hence the cause of Duḥkha is association. Association implies “two”,
    that which is “associated to” and that which is the “cause of association.”
    In Yoga they are known as Draṣṭṛ and Dṛśya;
    that which perceives and that which is perceived.
    The next three Sūtra describe them.
    How these two get associated is a subject matter of great debate.
    Suffice it to say that this mystery is the Lord’s will.”
    – T Krishnamacharya on Yoga Sūtra Chapter Two verse 17

    “The Sūtra does not require the Gem.
    But the Gem requires the Sūtra.
    Just like there is a hole in every Gem,
    there is a place for God in every Being
    and that hole is the Heart.”
    – T Krishnamacharya on Bhagavad Gītā Chapter Seven verse 7

    “The original essence of the Yoga Sūtra
    was passed on by oral tradition.
    First you learn the rhythm of the Sūtra.
    This was in Saṃskṛta,
    first learning the words or Sūtra, then the meanings.
    By learning to recite the Sūtra perfectly it was clear
    that you were earnest in wanting to learn their meanings.
    The scheme would be to repeat it twice,
    in exactly the same tone used by the teacher.
    This would take many years.
    Thus these days it’s difficult to expect to
    understand the Sūtra from a book or a course.”
    – TKV Desikachar 1979

    “Yoga Sūtra Chanting for the Mind.
    Veda Mantra Chanting for the Soul.”
    – 108 Chanting Practice Pointers

    “The art of Viniyoga is about
    how you bring life to the Yoga Sūtra
    rather than expecting the Yoga Sūtra
    to bring life to you.”
    – 108 Study Path Pointers

    Links to Related Posts:

    • A Sūtra Class began with a dedication, it had the effect of orienting…
    • Experiencing the Yoga Sūtra through Chanting
    • I am going to explain you something else about the aphorisms…….
    • Kayena Vāca – Yoga Sūtra Chanting Closing Prayer with Translation
    • Learning to Chant the Four Chapters of the Yoga Sūtra……
    • New Resources Page for Yoga Sūtra Chanting Practice PDF’s & Sound Files
    • Paul’s Yoga Sūtra Study Keywords – Collected & Collated into Chapters
    • Paul’s Yoga Sūtra Study Questions – Collected & Collated into Chapters
    • That is why in Yoga the word for earnin confidence is ‘Atha’ – TKV Desikachar
    • The first Sūtra also acts as a key for the memory to link all the Yoga……
    • TKV Desikachar talks on Śraddhā in the light of the Yoga Sūtra……

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