Ask Yogi: Looking at our Yoga Roots (3)

Ask Yogi: Looking at our Yoga Roots

What are the “Yoga Sutra’s of Sri Patanjali”?

Pata = fallen;  Anjali= prayer; Sutra =thread. 

The Yoga Sutras are a set of aphorisms -short, concise, easily-remembered set of instructions - for the practice of the eight limbs of yoga, written by Sri Patanjali.  It is not know when Patanjali lived, or if he was one or several persons; estimates date the Sutras from 5,000 BC to 300 AD.  Patanjali in no way invented yoga but rather compiled already existing ideas and practices into almost 200 Sutras, which are divided into four Padas (Chapters),  The Padas of the yoga Sutras teach a philosphical system about the duality of reality.  In describing the “goal” (to end suffering) and power of yoga, the Sutras also explain how to practice yoga and overcome ignorance and the five “Vritti” – distractions of the mind: ‘right’ knowledge, misconception, verbal delusion, memory and sleep.  In sum, the Sutras teach the language and practices of yoga that help us understand the nature of (and connection between) the material world and the spirit, and achieve complete absorption (i.e. being in the moment) and joy.

There are numerous translations of and commentaries about the Yoga Sutras; I particularly like those written by Sri Swami Satchidananda and TKV Desikachar (you can find these online via Google or Amazon, etc.).  Some of the Sutras are given more emphasis than others in the study of yoga. Two of my favorite Suturas are 1.33 – “By cultivating attitudes of friendliness toward the happy, compassion for the unhappy, delight in the virtuous and disregard toward the wicked one remains calm”; and 2.33 –“When disturbed by negative thoughts, positive ones should be thought of….”.

Do you have a question about the Yoga Sutras or any other aspect of yoga?  Any ideas about possible yoga history or philosphy topics?   Feel free to send questions, comments, suggestions to nbarnes@csulb.edu.