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, 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 […]
The purpose of yoga is to yoke the mind. Put simply, the goal is to lasso the beast and gain control over its nonsense. This requires focus, or concentration as a spiritual practice. That is yoga. The Modifications of the Mind Early in the Yoga Sutras, Patanjali describes the five “modifications” of the mind. They […]
In the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, the second sutra answers the important question, What is yoga? After calling students to attention with the first sutra, Patanjali states: Yoga is restraining the mind stuff (Chitta) from taking various forms (Vrittis). You’ll see this in other words depending on which translation of the Yoga Sutras you read. […]
If you’re a student of classical yoga, no doubt you’ve heard of Patanjali and the classic text, The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. Who was Patanjali? It’s a good question that may not have a simple answer. When I first learned about the sutras, my yoga teacher described Patanjali as a sage who collected the teachings of […]