"Now the exposition of Yoga is being made" (Satchidananda, 3).
The word ‘Yoga’ is derived from the Sanskrit root ‘Yuj’, meaning ‘to join’ or ‘to yoke’ or ‘to unite’ (Basavaraddi). This unity evolves, meaning the two things we are yoking together changes as our journey advances and our awareness expands. Ultimately, the goal of yoga is to release our aversions and our attachments so that we can yoke our true selves to the Divine energy and all other energy.
This sutra explains that Patanjali will reveal what yoga is and the practices that need to be done in order to achieve it through the rest of the sutras. This simple sutra lets us know that simply reading about yoga will not help us achieve it, we must put into practice the enlightened words that have been shared with us. Several spiritual texts have asked their readers to do the same thing. To practice the words they are given.
New Testament (King James Version)
2 Timothy 3:16 - 17
"16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works" (King James Bible online).
Qur’an
2:2 - 2:3
“...a guidance for those conscious of Allah- Who believe in the unseen, establish prayer, and spend out of what we have provided for them…”
Tanakh
Mishlei - Proverbs 3: 1-2
"My son, forget not My instruction, and may your heart keep My commandments; for they shall add length of days and years of life and peace to you."
Sutta Nipata 1.10
"Then Alavaka addressed the Blessed One in verse: 1. What wealth here is best for man? What well practiced will happiness bring? What taste excels all other tastes? How lived is the life they say is blessed?
[The Buddha:]
2. Faith is the wealth here best for man; Dhamma well practiced shall happiness bring; Truth indeed all other tastes excels; Life wisely lived they say is best."
The Upanishads
“Here again are the four levels of comprehension. We pass from one to another in ascending steps only through inner cultivation–in other words, only through meditation, but meditation supported by an entire way of life that facilitates it–in other words: dharma. For if there is neither the practice nor the support for the practice, little will result in the way of developing consciousness. And if consciousness is not developed the teachings of the great sages will be little understood by us, and perhaps greatly misunderstood or just not understood at all”
Simply reading a text will not make us more holy or more enlightened, or more likely to get into heaven. We must take what we read and put it into practice. First we must understand clearly the message of the holy words given to us, and then we must live it. This is never easy and we may fail at times, but that is why it is called practice. If we fail, we get up and try again, continuing to practice and live the words that we read.
My hope and intent is to make this a learning blog where we can all share our philosophies and understanding of the yoga sutras. This will help us all study, learn, and meditate on the meanings of the sutras. Understanding and living these sutras are the key to yoga, and I feel that even though we are all on different paths, it will benefit us greatly to go on this journey of understanding together.
Please leave any thoughts in the comments.
Works Cited
Basavaraddi, Dr. Ishwar. "Yoga: Its Origin, History and Development." Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, www.mea.gov.in/search-result.htm?
25096/Yoga:_su_origen,_historia_y_desarrollo. Accessed 16 Oct. 2020.
Satchidananda, Sri Swami. The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. Integral Yoga Publications, 2012.
Comments