I remember my very first yoga experience, an Integral Yoga beginners hatha class I attended in the library of my high school. Each time we practice, the teacher had a reminder for us. Your true nature is peace, she would say. Combined with the mellow and relaxing experience of yoga, that sounded right. Then, of […]
The second chapter of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali deals with how to practice yoga. Sutra 2.1 states: Austerity, the study of sacred texts, and the dedication of action to God constitute the discipline of Mystic Union. (from sacredtexts.com) Reverend Jaganath Carrera describes austerity in this case as “accepting pain as help for purification.” We practice […]
As the end of the first chapter of the Yoga Sutras, Patanjali attempts to describe samadhi, a complete state of oneness that is the goal of yoga. The individual practices that comprise yoga lead to samadhi. In short, we practice letting go of the mind and ego, and what remains is a blissful state of […]
In the first chapter of the Sutras, Patanjali addresses the issue of concentration and gives yogis practices for maintaining calm. In the early sutras, we learn that concentration and breathing exercises are tools for stilling the mind. That stillness, which we must create before we can reach enlightenment, is the goal of yoga. Many practices […]
In the last few weeks, we’ve explored the first chapter of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, which is about contemplation. As we’ve seen, the purpose of yoga is to still the mind, and there are specific obstacles we need to recognize. Patanjali tells us that meditation (concentration or contemplation) is the key to staying on the path […]
In the Yoga Sutras, Patanjali warns us there will be roadblocks on the path to enlightenment. He then gives us a way to gauge whether these roadblocks are present on our own path. Patanjali alerts us to the symptoms of mental distraction in sutra 1.31. In a translation by Reverend Jaganath Carrera, the verse reads: […]
Every spiritual seeker faces obstacles. The Yoga Sutras—the ancient text that guides classical yoga practice—gives us some guidelines about what to look for. In sutra 1.30, Patanjali names roadblocks to enlightenment. According to a translation by Reverend Jaganath Carrera, they are “disease, dullness, doubt, carelessness, laziness, sensuality, false perception, failure to reach firm ground, and […]
In the Yoga Sutras, Patanjali introduces us the sound of the universe. It is the sound of OM. In some translations, OM is God’s voice. Chanting a mantra is one of the most profound and effective tools for turning inward and quieting the mind. There are many mantras, but none is as well-known as the […]
In the Yoga Sutras, Patanjali instructs yogis to practice non-attachment. It’s only when we move beyond our attachment to our human nature that we clear the path to connection with a higher power. We need to move beyond our minds. We also need to acknowledge the importance of teachers in yoga. Our teachers lead us […]
In the Yoga Sutras, we are introduced to the ways in which the mind tries to interfere with our pursuit of enlightenment. After describing the five modifications of the mind, Patanjali offers a solution. How can we control the mind? By practicing non-attachment. And make no mistake; it’s a practice. Non-Attachment is Not Human Nature Humans […]