Yoga Sutra 8 Limbs

The Yoga-sûtra Of Patañjali

Samâdhi-pâdaï

Book 1: “Concentration: Its Spiritual Uses”

Also interpreted as “Integration”

(51 sutras)

Yoga Sutra 1.1

atha = now

yoga = process of yoking; union

ânuåâsanam = teaching, exposition

NOW, the process of union or yoking is explained

atha yogânuåâsanam

Yogaś citta-vritti-nirodhaḥ Yoga Sutra 1.2

yogaï = process of yoking; union

citta = consciousness

vëtti = patterning, turnings, movements

nirodhaï = stilling, cessation, restriction

Yoga Sutra 1.2 Translations

• Yoga is the restraint of mental modifications

• Yoga is restraining the mind-stuff (Chitta) from taking various forms (Vrttis)

~Swami Vivekananda

• Union, spiritual consciousness, is gained through control of the versatile psychic nature

~Charles Johnson

Chitta is the various processes in the mind, or mind stuff

The waves of thought in the Chitta are called Vrtti (literally, “the whirlpool”)

What is thought? Thought is a force, as is gravitation or repulsion.

Purusha

Prakriti

Sâdhana-pâdaï

Book 2: “Concentration: Its Spiritual Uses”The Path To Realization Or

Practice• (55 sutras)

Sadhana Sadhana is the Sanskrit word for "practice" or "discipline". Here the author outlines two forms of Yoga: Ashtanga Yoga (Eightfold or Eight limbed Yoga) and Kriya Yoga (Action Yoga).

– Note: Kriya yoga, sometimes called Karma Yoga. In the Bhagavad-Gita, Arjuna is encouraged by Krishna to act without attachment to the results or fruit of action and activity. In other words, Kriya yoga is the yoga of selfless action and service.

The PracticeTHE ASHTANGA

THE 8-LIMBS OF YOGA

yama-niyamâsana-prâñâyâma-pratyâhâra-dhârañâ-dhyâna-samâdhayo ‘æøâv aògâni

• yama = external discipline• niyama = internal discipline• âsana = posture• prâñâyâma = breath regulation• pratyâhâra = withdrawal of the senses• dhârañâ = concentration• dhyana = meditative absorption• samâdhayaï = oneness, integration

The eight components of yoga are external discipline, internal discipline, posture, breath regulation, concentration, meditative absorption, and integration.

Ahimsa- “to do no harm…”

Satya

Aparigraha “non-grasping”

Niyamas

Saucha “Cleanliness”

Samtosha “Contentment”

Tapas “Heat”

Asana II.46

Asana continued II.47

Pranayamaprâñâyâmaï

tasmin = in this sati = existing svâsa = inhalation pravâsayoï = exhalation gati = flow vicchedaï = cessation, interruption prâñâyâmaï = breath regulation

With effort relaxing, the flow of inhalation and exhalation can be brought to a standstill; this is called breath regulation.

Sutra II.49

Pranayama (Continued)

• As the movement patterns of each breath - inhalation, exhalation, lull - are observed as to duration, number, and area of focus, breath becomes spacious and subtle.

• Sutra II.50• As realization dawns, the distinction between

breathing in and out falls away.• Sutra II.51

• Then the veil lifts from the mind’s luminosity.• Sutra II.52

Pratyahara pratyâhâraï

When consciousness interiorizes by uncoupling from external objects, the senses do likewise; this is called withdrawal of the senses.

sva-visayâsamprayoge cittasya svarûpânukâra ivendriyâñâm

– sva = own– visaya = object (of experience), phenomenon– asamprayoge = uncoupling– cittasya = consciousness– sva = own– rûpa = form– anukâra = imitation, following suit– iva = like, thus, as it were– indriyâñâm = sensory apparatus– pratyâhâraï = withdrawal of the senses

Vibhûti-pâdaï

III. The Extraordinary Powers

Progressing

The Extraordinary Powers

Vibhuti is the Sanskrit word for "power" or "manifestation". ’

Supra-normal powers' (Siddhi) are acquired by the practice of yoga.

the entering of another’s soul ability to fly or move great distances in moments increase or decrease in size the ability to acquire great wealth with little effort

Disclaimer: The temptation of these powers should be avoided and the attention should be fixed only on liberation.

Kaivalya Pada (34 sutras)

• Kaivalya literally means "isolation", however the Sutras Kaivalya means emancipation or liberation, which is the goal of Yoga – Moksha (liberation)– Jivamukti (one who has attained Moksha).

• The Kaivalya Pada describes the nature of

liberation and the reality of the transcendental self.

Think Samadhi