yogaphilosophy

Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras & Brief Yoga Philosophy

The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali are a collection of 196 precepts on the theory and practice of yoga. They are traditionally divided into four chapters (padas), each containing various sutras.

The foundations of the first chapter (Samadhi Pada) link the aim of yoga to the cessation of the fluctuations of the mind. The ultimate goal is self-realisation, when the mind becomes steady, it leads to inner illumination.

The second chapter outlines The Eight Limbs, which form the foundation of a yoga practice. The Ashtanga Yoga (Eight Limbs of Yoga), which are:

1. Yama (ethical restraints): These Ethical guidelines or moral imperatives include:

-non-violence (Ahimsa),

-truthfulness (Satya),

-non-stealing (Asteya),

-continence (Brahmacharya),

-and non-covetousness (Aparigraha).

2. Niyama (observances): These Personal observances, include:

-cleanliness (Saucha),

-contentment (Santosha),

-austerity (Tapas),

-self-study (Svadhyaya),

-and surrender to a higher power/divinity (Ishvara Pranidhana).

3. Asana (physical postures)

4. Pranayama (breath control)

5. Pratyahara (withdrawal of senses)

6. Dharana (concentration)

7. Dhyana (meditation and sustained attention)

8. Samadhi (meditative absorption or union)

The third chapter deals with the extraordinary powers and experiences that can arise from practising yoga, known as Vibhutis or Siddhis.

And the final chapter explores the nature of liberation (Kaivalya) and the process of achieving it. The ultimate goal of yoga the isolation of purusha (spirit) from prakriti (matter).

To understand purusha (spirit) and prakriti (matter) imagine a cinema, there is movie screen. The screen represents Purusha (spirit). The screen is pure, unchanging and ever present. No matter what movie is played the screen is unaffected.

The movie represents Prakriti (matter). The movie consists of images, sounds, and stories that continuously change and unfold. The movie captivates the audience, creating emotions, thoughts, and experiences.

The Audience represents the individual self (the jiva or atman). The audience watches the movie, often getting absorbed in the plot, forgetting they are merely spectators.

The Goal of Yoga is to support in the liberation as follows:

Initial State:

- The audience is completely engrossed in the movie, reacting emotionally to the scenes, feeling happiness, sadness, excitement, or fear.

- Similarly, individuals are deeply involved in the experiences of life, identifying themselves with their thoughts, emotions, and physical body (prakriti).

Practice of Yoga:

- Yoga practices (such as meditation, concentration, ethical living) help the audience realise they are merely watching a movie and are not actually part of the movie's story.

- Through yoga, individuals begin to discern the difference between their true self (purusha) and the changing phenomena of the world (prakriti).

Realisation:

- Eventually, the audience achieves a state of detachment, where they can watch the movie without being affected by it, understanding it is just a temporary play of light and sound on the screen.

- Similarly, through sustained yoga practice, individuals reach a state where they can experience the world without becoming entangled in it, realising that their true essence (purusha) is separate from the transient nature of life (prakriti).

Ultimate Goal:

The ultimate goal is for the audience to fully realise and rest in the knowledge that they are distinct from the movie; they are the unchanging witness (the screen).

In yoga, the ultimate goal is to isolate purusha from prakriti, achieving a state where the spirit (purusha) stands alone, fully aware of its pure, unchanging nature, and no longer identifying with the material world (prakriti).

Just as the screen in a movie theater is the unchanging reality behind the ever-changing movie, purusha is the unchanging reality behind the ever-changing experiences of life (prakriti). The practice of yoga helps individuals realise this distinction, leading to the ultimate goal of self-realisation and liberation (Kaivalya), and realisation of the light, love and divinity within.