Dear Students, from the philosophy discussion at the November study day, here are the selection of Patañjali’s Yoga Sutras (source Iyengar, B.K.S., transl., Light on Yoga Sutras of Patañjali) for contemplation on these questions: What is Yoga? How do we do Yoga? What does Yoga do?

What is Yoga?

I.2 yogah cittavrtti nirodhah

Yoga is the cessation of movements in the consciousness.

II.29 yama niyama āsana prānāyāma pratyāhāra dhāranā dhyāna samādhayah ashtau añgāni

Moral injuctions (yama), fixed observances (niyama), posture (āsana), regulation of breath (prānāyāma), internalization of the senses towards their source (pratyāhāra), concentration (dhāranā), meditation (dhyāna) and absorption of consciousness in the self (samādhi) are the eight constituents of yoga.

“Yoga is the means and the end. Yoga is the path and its destination. Yoga is the medicine, the healing & the wholeness. ”

— Jennifer Beaumont

How do we DO Yoga?

I.12 abhyāsa vairāgyābhyām tannirodhah

Practice and detachment are the means to still the movements of consciousnesss.

I.13 tatra sthitau yatnah abhyāsah

Practice is the steadfast effort to still these fluctuations.

I.14 sa tu dīrghakāla nairantarya satkāra āsevitah drdhabhūmih

Long, uninterrupted, alert practice is the firm foundation for restraining the fluctuations.

I.23 Iśvara pranidhānāt vā

Or, the citta may be restrained by profound meditation upon God and total surrender to Him.

II.1 tapah svādhyāya Īśvarapranidhādhānāni kriyāyogah

Burning zeal in practice, self-study and study of scriptures, and surrender to God are the acts of yoga.

II.29 yama niyama āsana prānāyāma pratyāhāra dhāranā dhyāna samādhayah ashtau añgāni

(see also Sutras II.29 - III.3 )Astanga Yoga, 8 Limbs of Yoga

IV.1 janma aushadhi mantra tapah samādhijājah siddhayah

Accomplishments may be attained through birth, the use of herbs, incantations, self-discipline or samādhi.

if we find our way to Yoga, "What does Yoga DO?" or what is that state of being like, in Yoga?

I.3 tadā drashtuh svarūpe avasthānam

Then, the seer dwells in her own true splendor.

I.17 vitarka vicāra ānanda asmitārūpa anugamāt samprajñātah

Practice and detachment develop four types of samādhi: self-analysis, synthesis, bliss, and the experience of pure being.

II.2 samādhi bhāvanārthah kleśa tanūkaranārthaśca

The practice of yoga reduces afflictions and leads to samādhi.

II.28 yogāngānusthānāt aśuddhikshaye jñānadīptih āvivekakhyāteh

By dedicated practice of the various aspects of yoga impurities are destroyed: the crown of wisdom radiates in glory.

I.41 kshīnavrtteh abhijātasya iva maneh grahītr grahana grāhyeshu tatstha tadñjanatā samāpattih

The yogi realizes that the knower, the instrument of knowing and the known are one, himself, the seer. Like a pure transparent jewel, he reflects an unsullied purity.

I.48 rtambhara tatra prajñā

When consciousness dwells in wisdom, a truth-bearing state of direct spiritual perception dawns.

I.50 tajjah samskārah anyasamskāra pratibandhī

A new life begins with this truth-bearing light. Previous impressions are left behind and new ones are prevented.

III.3 tadeva arthamātranirbhāsam svarūpaśūnyam iva samādhih

When the object of meditation engulfs the meditator, appearing as the subject, self-awareness is lost. This is samādhi.

IV. 30 tatah kleśa karma nivrttih

Then comes the end of afflictions and of karma.

IV.31 tadā sarva āvarana malāpetasya jñanasya ānantyāt jñeyam alpam

Then, when the veils of impurities are removed, the highest, subjective, pure, infinite knowledge is attained, and the knowable, the finite, appears as trivial.