The Yoga Sutra of Patanjali

The Indian metaphysician named Patanjali authored the Yoga Sutra between the 1st and 3rd century A.D. While many mythologies have been attached to his name, we know little of Patanjali that can be accepted as historical accuracy. We know only from his writing that he was a renuciate and yogin, that he was a systematic, dispassionate thinker and practical metaphysician. Originally, yoga was passed on only to worthy seekers as part of an oral tradition reaching back unknown thousands of years. An unbroken lineage of gurus and disciples worked closely together to preserve and practice the sacred teachings, keeping the practices alive throughout the centuries.

The so called "classical era" of yoga begins with the first written codification of these traditions. He articulated the yogic cosmology so succinctly that Patanjali's is still considered the definitive work on traditional yoga, and is well known as the first ever written. Patanjali's spiritual and intellectual mastery of the subject of yoga was so complete that he concentrated vast amounts of interrelated information from many yogic traditions into a set of pity equations, known in Sanskrit as sutras (threads). The interweaving of 195 of these threads, distributed over four chapters forms the incomparable spiritual tapestry known as the Yoga Sutra of Patanjali. In the second and third chapters of the Yoga Sutra, Patanjali lays down a methodology for practising traditional yoga called the 'eight-fold path' or the 'eight limbs of yoga'. This eight-fold path is translated below. In our western culture, the physical aspects of yoga have always attracted greater attention than the principles upon which it is built. This is regrettable because yoga practice and theory are so closely tied together that the one makes little sense without the other.

Patanjali's Eight-limbed Yoga
Through the first two limbs of yoga, Yama and Niyama, we build our moral character and come into alignment with spirit.
1. Yama: Principles of right relationship to the world; restraints
1. Ahimsa: non-violence; non-harming; peace Awareness and gentleness in action, thought, and speech. Violence rises out of fear, anger, ignorance, restlessness, and selfishness. Practice: compassion, love, understanding, patience, self-love, and worthiness

2. Satya: truthfulness; non-lying Truthfulness of thoughts, speech and deeds Practice: honesty: owning feelings, loving communication, assertiveness, giving constructive feedback, forgiveness, non-judging, letting go of masks. ¯The elf of the tongue needs the giant to control it.

3. Asteya: non-stealing; generosity Not coveting; not being jealous Practice: use objects the right way; proper time management; cultivate sense of completeness, self-sufficiency; let go of cravings

4. Brahmacharya: moderation; conservation of all vital energy; channeling emotions No overindulgence of mind, intellect, speech, or body; moderation on all levels concerning sex, food, and all aspects of daily life including the environment. Practice: not repression, but management and balancing of sensual cravings

5. Aparigraha: non-possessiveness; non-greediness Fulfilling needs rather than wants. Practice: non-attachment to possessions, relationships

2. Niyama: Principles of right relationship with the Self; disciplines; observances
1. Shaucha: purity Purity of body; cleanliness; good health habits. Practice: eveness of mind, thoughts, speech, and discrimination

2. Santosha: contentment Accept what is; make the best out of everything. Practice: gratitude and joyfulness; remain calm with success or failure. This state of mind does not rely on any external status.

3. Tapas: discipline; spiritual fire; austerity The willingness and discipline to do what is necessary to reach a goal Practice: determination to pursue daily practices; enthusiasm for the spiritual path. Joyfulness with outer discipline will lead to inner discipline.

4. Swadhyaya: Self-education; study that leads to self-realization Expanding knowledge through reading, pondering, and striving to understand the scriptures; ongoing observation of self in relation to all life as a method of personal growth. Practice: study of yogic texts, reflection, meditation, wanting to know the Truth

5. Ishwara-Pranidhana: devotion to God; surrender to a greater power Setting appropriate goals and directions in life and surrendering the work of their accomplishment and the desires of the ego to a higher power, be it the Self, the Universe, a Deity, Prana, etc. Practice: faith; dedication; sincerity; patience to transcend the ego which is so resistant to surrender

3. Asana: posture; work out gross tensions of the outer body
4. Pranayama: breath regulation; soothe and balance the nervous system
5. Pratyahara: withdrawal of the senses from outside objects; become absorbed into the internal experience
6. Dharana: concentration; one-pointedness that leads to meditation
7. Dhyana: meditation; leads to that deep connection to all things
8. Samadhi: complete absorption; union with our true Self